Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Desir.
Rebecca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Native to Fort Lauderdale and daughter to two Haitian immigrants, I have always been aware of how minorities had less resources to gain access to quality healthcare. I was not always clear about what my job title would be but I knew I wanted to help people through education and providing some sort of service.
During my senior year in college, one of my professors introduced me to the public health field and encouraged me to apply for a master’s in public health (MPH). Years later, I am in my career working as a Community Health Program Manager and leading my own nonprofit organization, The Black Health Commission, Inc. I also started my own consulting agency to help organizations with health education, digital marketing and training individuals on various topics such as social determinants of health and more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was not always clear of what my career should be but I always knew that I am interested in health and wanted to educate the public on how to navigate the system. Starting my own nonprofit is a daily challenge and it can sometimes be a lonely road to figure out how to build an organization from the ground up. I am very thankful for my supporting family and friends. I also think it is important to connect with others in the field to gain support you may not find anywhere else. I have been able to discuss the challenges I face as a Founder and CEO of a nonprofit and that is a blessing. It makes it a bit easier to navigate and achieve the set goals.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Black Health Commission?
The Black Health Commission is committed to promoting health equity and social justice in Black communities through education, research, and advocacy. BHC has been able to build a strong presence on Instagram with over 10K followers and it continues to grow as we educate our audience about current events, social determinants of health. Many times, people think about health and do not think about how these factors can affect one’s quality of life. If you do not have adequate education, this can limit your options for your career, which later affects your ability to access quality healthcare. BHC does a great job at pointing out these factors and tying them back to health. The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down our in-person events so we’ve focused on digital education. The board and I are identifying unique ways to make an imprint in our local community and continue to connect with others all over the nation to achieve our mission.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
In life, you have to take risks! Starting this nonprofit has been extremely risky since I have to invest my own money to get our legal paperwork completed and more. I truly believe in BHC’s mission and that is what has pushed me to continue with this work.
Contact Info:
- Email: rebecca.desir@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/king_desir/
Image Credits:
Risse Nicole Photography
