Queen’s Initiative Seeks To Improve The Health of Black Women

The Queen’s Initiative for Women’s Health works to eliminate health disparities by providing health equity workshops. PHOTO PROVIDED BY GOLDSTAR COMMUNICATIONS.
The Queen’s Initiative for Women’s Health works to eliminate health disparities by providing health equity workshops. PHOTO PROVIDED BY GOLDSTAR COMMUNICATIONS.

Queen’s Initiative Seeks To Improve The Health of Black Women

By Tia Carol Jones

Evelyn Green knew as a child that a resident’s zip code could determine whether they had access to health care, the quality of care and life expectancy. Growing up on the South side of Chicago she was aware of comorbidities that were related to access to quality health care. Coupled with her concern for social and economic injustices, she decided she wanted to go into public health, with a goal to eliminate health disparities.

The Queen’s Initiative for Women’s Health is a series of health equity workshops that are sponsored by the Chicago Department of Public Health. The goal is to help promote health for Black women through education, information sharing, as well as providing access to health screenings and health testing, in safe spaces.

As the lead for the Queen’s Initiative for Women’s Health, Green said the goal was to provide resources to women of childbearing age. She said that the community provided feedback that intergenerational engagement was helpful, and they included all women. She said that at times when the Queen’s Initiative has hosted workshops, men have come to participate and receive information. It resulted in couples being able to get tested for HIV and STIs. She said it is a powerful time to inform people about their health.

The first workshop took place in 2024 on the West side, with more than 200 women in attendance. The second workshop took place in Bronzeville, with more than 100 women who participated. In December 2024, there was an event that focused on educating men and women in the health and beauty industry about HIV, STI, prevention and services, as well as other health services. Some of the participants from the December 2024 workshop expressed interest in being health ambassadors. They will be able to receive information about health and wellness and interventions and share that information with their clients. 

Green said the workshops cover STIs, HIV, diet and nutrition, heart health, breast health, blood pressure and glucose screenings, as well as hair and nail health. She said with that knowledge, it helps improve Black women’s health by providing access to necessary care. With people being uninsured or underinsured, having access to information and testing is useful. She said it is important for people to take care of their health from every angle in a holistic approach.

Green said that public health is important in the Black community because access to health care and quality of care drives the gap in life expectancy, and public health has tools that are useful to the Black community to address those inequities. She said she is very concerned about health in the Black community, as are the other people who are in public health.

“We make every effort to ensure the services are available and accessible to the Black community,” she said.

Green added that with hospitals and clinics closing in the Black community, public health clinics continue to serve the community as much as possible, while also making the services as accessible as possible, whether that means non-traditional hours or outreach in the community. The goal is to ensure the community knows that they are available to address the community’s needs. With that in mind, Green said there are public health clinics that will be changing their names to include the communities they are located in.

“The goal is to always let folks know that we are here for you; the public health clinics, the public health staff, we’re all here for you,” she said.


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