Dear Closing the Health Gap Community:

As we gather for today's African American Chamber’s Founders Day Celebration from 12–4 p.m. at Cincinnati Public Radio, we honor the visionaries who laid the foundation for Black economic empowerment and collective advancement. This celebration is more than an event—it’s a testament to resilience, collaboration and the vibrant future we’re building together.

Today also marks the beginning of Black August, a powerful month of reflection and remembrance. Originating in California prisons in the 1970s, Black August honors Black freedom fighters, political prisoners, and the ongoing struggle against systemic oppression. It is a time to recommit ourselves to justice, equity, and liberation. Join the Chamber today for music, food, connection—and a moment to uplift the legacy that guides our work.

Blessings to all of you for a safe and healthy week ahead.

Renee Mahaffey Harris

President & CEO

AACC Founders Day Celebration on 8/1/25

The African American Chamber of Commerce Founders Day Celebration takes place Friday, August 1 from 12-4pm at Cincinnati Public Radio (2117 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati 45207). The event honors the visionaries who laid the foundation for economic empowerment and community advancement. This special event is more than a celebration—it's a tribute to resilience, collaboration and the vibrant future we continue to build together.

What’s in Store

🎶 Live Music & Entertainment

🍔 Food Trucks & Sweet Treats

🏆 Epic Raffle Prizes

🎯 Lawn Games & Summer Vibes

🤝 Networking with Cincy’s Best

✨ ALL ARE WELCOME – Bring a friend, a colleague, or just yourself. Let’s celebrate together!

Please Register by clicking HERE.

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, drives the collaborative efforts of patients, survivors, advocates, advocacy organizations, health care professionals, researchers and pharmaceutical companies to work towards the common goal of eradicating Black Breast Cancer.

Dr. Toni Boulware Stackhouse highlights National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July marked National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a critical time to spotlight the persistent and growing mental health inequities faced by racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. This month highlights alarming realities: fewer than one in two Black adults access needed mental health care; Asian Americans are approximately 60 percent less likely to receive treatment than non-Hispanic Whites; and Hispanics are roughly 50 percent less likely to get care compared to non-Hispanic Whites.

Stark disparities in minority mental health care

Studies show, mental health challenges among minority groups often go untreated:

• In 2015, just 31 percent of Black and Hispanic adults and only 22 percent of Asian adults with mental illness received mental health services, compared with 48 percent of White adults.
• By 2020, 37 percent of non-Hispanic Black adults received mental health treatment versus nearly 52 percent of non-Hispanic Whites; among Hispanics, the gap is equally stark.
• Suicide rates among Black youth have surged—Black children aged 5-12 nearly double the suicide risk of their White counterparts—and Black adolescents’ suicide rates exceeded that of Whites for the first time in 2022.

These disparities are fueled by structural racism, discrimination, economic hardship and trauma. 

“These mental health disparities aren’t historical footnotes—they’re accelerating now,” says Dr. Toni Boulware Stackhouse, founder of Life Matters Wellness. “We must confront structural inequities, expand culturally competent care and offer targeted support for racial and ethnic minorities."

$5 Million in Initial Grants to go towards Improving Health and Closing Life Expectancy Gaps

Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Atrius Health Equity Foundation, and the Boston Community Health Collaborative today announced $5 million in grants for four community-led coalitions to build wealth and economic security in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan, the neighborhoods with the greatest health disparities in Boston. This is part of the City and BPHC’s Live Long and Well population health equity agenda to close the life expectancy gap in Boston by 2035. Atrius Health Equity Foundation committed $10 million in July 2024, representing the first multi-sector partnership to support this agenda. This $5 million is the first of two rounds of funding from Atrius Health Equity Foundation; the second is expected to be released in 2028.

“We want every resident and family in Boston to live long, healthy lives,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “That’s why we’re investing in systemic change and in resources to strengthen families and individuals. I’m grateful to all our community-based organizations who are partnering with us to address disparities and improve economic mobility in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan.”



“There are significant differences in life expectancy by race and by neighborhood throughout Boston,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. “Our goal is to ensure that all Boston residents can live long healthy lives. By investing in economic mobility, a key social determinant of health, we hope to close persistent disparities in health outcomes and improve quality of life throughout our communities.”

Bridging the gap: Black physicians confront racial health disparities

As the U.S. grapples with deep political division, policy gridlock, and widening social inequality, the health and wellness of Black communities remain at critical risk. From unchecked violence in underserved neighborhoods to the manipulation of Medicaid and Medicare policy, the challenges facing Black Americans demand more than clinical solutions.

Black physicians are stepping beyond the hospital walls—onto the front lines of advocacy, education, and systemic change—to confront a crisis that continues to escalate.

The National Medical Association (NMA) held its 123rd Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly from July 20 to July 24 at the Hilton Chicago, drawing more than 3,200 Black physicians, medical students, policymakers, and public health advocates, according to organizers. Under the theme “Transforming Population Health,” the gathering featured a youth walk, STEM fair, health fair, workshops, symposiums, plenaries, and panel discussions focused on eliminating racial health disparities, advancing medical education, and empowering Black communities through advocacy and innovation.

Daily walking and mortality in racially and socioeconomically diverse US adults

Existing literature on walking and other leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) primarily focuses on middle-to-high-income white populations, lacking representation of low-income, particularly low-income Black, individuals. Walking behaviors may differ significantly between individuals from low-income and higher-income backgrounds. Low-income populations often face economic constraints and are more likely to reside in impoverished, highly polluted communities with limited access to safe walking spaces. Additionally, these populations tend to have a higher prevalence of lifestyle behaviors that may increase disease risk and mortality, such as lower quality diet, cigarette smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption. At the same time, there are other challenges for individuals with low income such as lack of access to health insurance or health care that may also increase mortality. These factors collectively contribute to an increased mortality within low-income individuals and may potentially elucidate the racial disparities observed in longevity. Few studies, especially those with large sample sizes and long-term follow-up, have adequately assessed the association between daily walking and mortality outcomes in racial/ethnic minority populations in the US disproportionately affected by low income.

Discrimination, Chronic Stress, and Cardiovascular Health among African American Men and Women in the Jackson Heart Study: A Cross-Sectional Study

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality among African American adults. Achieving optimal cardiovascular health (CVH) is important to mitigate CVD risk in African American men and women. The American Heart Association (AHA) identified Life’s Simple 7™ (LS7), a construct used for 7 simple targets to improve CVH. LS7 assesses individual CVH by combining four health behaviors (smoking, diet, physical activity, and body mass index [BMI]) and three biological health factors (blood pressure [BP], total cholesterol, and fasting glucose [FG]). Moreover, values for each health behavior and biological health factor component are categorized as ideal, intermediate, or poor.

A community-based study found that African Americans had a significantly lower number of ideal CVH components and 82% lower odds of having ≥ 5 ideal LS7 components than their White counterparts. Moreover, a 2000-2013 cohort analysis from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) showed that only 15.5% of African American men and 4.3% of women met ≥ 5 ideal CVH components. African American adults with at least 4 ideal CVH components have shown a lower risk for CVD incidence compared to those with one or no ideal CVH components.

Race and Neighborhood Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in California Adults, Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study investigated social determinants of cardiovascular disease mortality (CVD) and effect modification by race/ethnicity, age, and sex, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Californians aged ≥18 years.

The Healthy Places Index (HPI) is a composite of 23 indicators of neighborhood economic conditions, education, transportation, housing, social capital, environmental pollution, built-environment, and access to health care. In this cross-sectional study, 615,295 CVD deaths were aggregated to 2010 census tracts from death certificates and populations from U.S. census, 2015-2021. Death rates were age-adjusted and stratified by HPI deciles, sex, and race/ethnicity, and segmental regression was used to describe HPI-CVD dose-response.

Bridging the gap: 5 strategies to address mental health disparities among minority youth

Each July, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a critical reminder of the mental health challenges affecting communities of color. As the month comes to an end, it's important to remember the purpose year-round. It's a time to elevate awareness, confront stigma and advocate for access to care - especially for youth, who often face compounded barriers due to age, race and socioeconomic status. Here are five key strategies to help close the gap.

1. Normalize mental health conversations early and often. Stigma remains one of the most persistent barriers to care in minority communities. We need to emphasize the importance of normalizing mental health conversations, especially with youth.
2. Prioritize culturally competent and individualized care. Access to care is not enough if the care provided doesn't reflect the cultural context of the individual. Many communities may have services available, but those services often fail to meet the unique needs of minority youth.
3. Address historical and generational trauma. Mental health disparities are deeply rooted in historical and ongoing trauma. The lasting effects of economic hardship, community and domestic violence and family separation are key contributors to mental health challenges in minority communities, particularly those with high poverty rates.
4. Engage families, schools and communities. Healing is most effective when it happens within a supportive network. That network involves families, educators and community leaders in mental health education and support. Parents, grandparents, teachers and peers all play a role in shaping how youth understand and respond to mental health challenges.
5. Support the mental health of caregivers and providers. Those who serve youth, whether as mental health professionals, educators or caregivers, must also be supported. Mental health professionals, educators and caregivers are often the first line of support for youth but they are also human beings with emotional needs of their own.