The Hood Exchange is excited to announce we have been selected to receive a generous grant from the University of Maryland Baltimore’s Global Learning for Health Equity Network (GL4HEN). This opportunity will allow the HE to form our inaugural cohort, which will be composed of formerly incarcerated young adults who have never traveled out of the country, and embark on our first ever racial healing journey to Ghana in April 2024. Participation in the GL4HEN will also allow the HE to collaborate with health equity experts and learn from other grantees invited to join the network.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to those of you who graciously offered feedback and thought-partnership in the early days of founding the HE. Your support has been instrumental in turning into reality what started as a mere dream a year ago of taking folks from “the hood” on journeys throughout the African diaspora (to places many never imagined visiting) to connect with others who look like them and exchange wisdom, resources, a sense of belonging, and love.
This inaugural trip will only be the start of ongoing opportunities the HE is creating to change the way we as Black folks think about ourselves, our communities, and our futures. We know that by replacing limiting beliefs born and shaped by white supremacy with expanded imaginations and the knowledge that our ancestors proved we can do anything, we can transform our understanding of what we’re capable of. We can not sustainably and meaningfully engage people in contributing towards realizing Black communities where people are well, healthy, and thriving if they do not first believe such a reality is possible. The HE is therefore infusing some of the most oppressed and exploited Black populations with the inspiration, healing, and community necessary for us to collectively change belief systems that do not serve us. Ultimately, this work is about finding ourselves in each other, being "careful with each other so we can be dangerous together."
We have tons of exciting work to do over the coming months! If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to Sia Henry at sia@hoodexchange.org.
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