Within a four year period, Nicole Carter, MPH, PhD, was diagnosed with a number of medical conditions including Lupus, Crohn’s, and Scleroderma, and unlike many others trying to navigate the American health care system, she had a difficult time doing so. Not only was she having issues with the system itself, she also struggled with understanding her options for care and working with practitioners who had an inclusive and cultural knowledge of the experiences of women of color.
“I started to meet more and more women like me who didn’t know how to navigate certain medical- and health-related situations,” she explains. “As a result, I kept track of the ways that I learned to navigate health systems and the types of advocacy that works, and shares those ideas with women facing similar barriers.”
From there, Carter had an idea. She wanted to create a database of resources. But she didn’t just stop there, eventually it transformed into the development of a nonprofit, which she named the HUES Women’s Health Advocacy Institute.
“HUES Women’s Health Advocacy Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering health equity through increasing access to quality and inclusive care, and avenues for personal and collective health advocacy,” explains Carter.
Cater’s passion for advocating for quality medical care didn’t start with her medical diagnoses. She says she was truly inspired to create such an organization after her mother died suddenly in her 40s from an avoidable medical emergency, her grandmother who died from chronic illnesses, and her aunts who lived and died from the same conditions she lives with. “They are each the reason behind the creation of this organization,” she says.
HUES officially launched in July 2022, and Carter says the organization supports women in several areas. “We provide referrals for medical, health, and wellness services,” she says. “We also provide self-advocacy trainings and digital downloads for community members and offer inclusive patient-health advocacy courses for health and wellness professionals.”
As the organization blazes a trail in the health advocacy arena, Carter says that it is its dedication to centering the lives and experiences of women of color, inclusive of all BIPOC women or women historically objectified due to race and ethnicity and the color of their skin that really makes it stand out.
HUES is hosting its Pilot Institute on October 3, called the “Blooming Circle of Advocates.” Carter says there are currently 22 health and wellness professionals signed up to complete the 7-week certification program. Then, on March 22, HUES will host its first Healthy Community and Family Conversations Brunch.
Those interested in supporting HUES and its mission can do so in a number of ways. “If you are a medical, health, or wellness professional who is conscious of the needs and concerns of women of color, you can sign up to be listed as a resource on our site for free,” says Carter. “You can also sign up for the Blooming Circle of Advocates Pilot Program. And if you are a woman of color looking for assistance, please give us a call or text at 937-549-4313.”
The organization is also in search of financial help, as they area new non-profit. You can donate to their mission by clicking here.
To learn more about HUES and how it’s helping women in the Dayton region, visit their website or follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
