Event puts spotlight on Black women
You’re invited to join a discussion and celebration of the resilience of Black women affected by breast cancer that will take place this weekend thanks to the Portland NAACP which is continuing breast cancer education and prevention efforts in the community.
Dr. Nathalie Johnson
Power in Pink: Celebrating our Resilience, a virtual event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. PST on Facebook Live featuring Dr. Nathalie Johnson of Oregon Health & science University as guest speaker.
With over 21 years as a breast cancer surgical oncologist, and as a breast cancer survivor herself, Dr. Johnson understands the complexities of the journey and the necessity for exceptional holistic care.
“[Breast cancer treatment] is not just about drugs and medicine; it’s about understanding a patient’s emotions and their fears and their hopes and their goals for their life so you can individualize their care,” Dr. Johnson said. “In healing someone you also have to speak to their spirit - speak to who they are.”
Power in Pink also aims to shine a light on the breast cancer disparities Black women face by identifying and implementing the intervention needed to reduce those disparities.
“A lot of women, especially African American women, get breast cancer at younger ages,” Dr. Johnson said. “I encourage you to be aware; it’s not uncommon to see breast cancer in 30 - 40 year olds.”
The public is invited to join Dr. Johnson, Portland NAACP President, Sharon Gary-Smith, African American Women’s Initiative Manager Tai Harden-Moore, and musical talents, LaRhonda Steele and Arietta Ward for this scheduled hour of education and celebration of breast cancer survivors and forever fighters.
Power in Pink is a program managed under the African American Women’s Initiative as part of a multi-year project to address breast cancer disparities for African Americans.
The program, which was previously known as Worship in Pink, was established in 2010 by the nonprofit Susan G. Komen Oregon Southwest Washington organization which disbanded as part of a merger with the national organization last year. The program found a new home and name with NAACP Portland.
Follow @PDXNAACP on Facebook to learn more and register to join the live event.