Pink And Black Education and Support Network

About Pink and Black

The Pink and Black Education and Support Network was launched in October 2017. The Network leverages the successful work of the Pink and Black Ambassadors, a group of Black female breast cancer survivors who came together to collaborate with the Boston Public Health Commission in 2005 to increase awareness of breast cancer among Black women. The name of the 2005 group drew from the key message in Boston’s breast cancer awareness campaign at the time – “Pink isn’t the only color associated with breast cancer.”

The purpose of today’s Network is to make female breast cancer survivors aware of local resources that are available to improve quality of life in survivorship, and to identify activities on the local breast cancer landscape in which the Network can be involved in service to others.

The Network is open to all female breast cancer survivors. The Network meets quarterly.

If you are interested in joining or learning more about Pink and Black, please contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@bphc.org

History and Accomplishments

History

The Pink and Black Education and Support Network was launched in October 2017. The Network leverages the successful work of the Pink and Black Ambassadors, a group of Black female breast cancer survivors who came together to collaborate with the Boston Public Health Commission in 2005 to increase awareness of breast cancer among Black women. The name of the 2005 group drew from the key message in Boston’s breast cancer awareness campaign at the time – “Pink isn’t the only color associated with breast cancer.”

The goal in 2005 was to increase mammography screening in Black women to save lives by detecting breast cancer early. According to the Commission’s first Health of Boston Special Report: Cancer Among City of Boston Residents 1999-2013[1], for 2008, 2010, and 2013 combined, a higher percentage of Black female residents ages 40-70 (88%) reported having a mammogram in the past two years compared to White female residents (84%), indicating the tremendous success of the Ambassadors.

The purpose of today’s Network is to make female breast cancer survivors aware of local resources that are available to improve quality of life in survivorship, and to identify activities on the local breast cancer landscape in which the Network can be involved in service to others.

The original Pink and Black Ambassadors are:

Reverend Quensella Cooper

Stephanie Parrot

Carmen Johnson

Augusta Williams

Ollie Cunningham

Deanna Gross

Connie Reid-Jones

Helen Span

Debra Groomes

[1] Health of Boston Special Report: Cancer Among City of Boston Residents 1999-2013. Boston Public Health Commission, Research and Evaluation Office, Boston, Massachusetts, 2018

Accomplishments

Selected activities and accomplishments

Creation of breast cancer survivorship video: ‘There is Life’ nominated for an Emmy Award in 2019 from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, New England Chapter
Partnered with Boston University School of Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital to redesign materials distributed to women in Massachusetts by State law about breast density after mammography; related paper published: ‘Acceptibility of an Interactive Computer-Animated Agent to Promote Patient-Provider Communication about Breast Density’
Participated as community respondents for Women and Cancer for the 2019 Boston CHNA-CHIP Collaborative
Steering Committee members and Co-Chairs for both the Community Connections and Outreach, and the Policy and Advocacy strategic priority working groups for the Boston Breast Cancer Equity Coalition, (BBCEC), whose vision is to eliminate the differences in breast cancer care and outcomes by promoting equity and excellence in care among all women of different racial and ethnic groups in the City of Boston

Partnering with BBCEC and other local, state and national partners, and working with Government Affairs staff for the City of Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Pink and Black is preparing to testify before the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Financial Services in support of a Breast Cancer Diagnostic Bill (HD1235/SD607): ‘An Act Relative to Breast Cancer Equity and Early Detection’. The purpose of the Bill is to ensure that patients can access diagnostic breast imaging with no out-of-pocket expenses. Testimony is expected in October of November 2021.
Select members are involved with local cancer awareness (‘I Am Jimmy’) and biobanking (All of Us) campaigns with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Medical Center.
Select members are leading key entrepreneurial endeavors: Coils To Locs, garnering local awards (Boston Celtics) and national exposure (The Today Show)

Mammography Van

Dana-Farber's Mammography Van is the only mobile digital mammography program in Massachusetts. It provides screening mammograms and breast health education to women 40 years and older. The van provides services year round in all Boston neighborhoods. It also serves Natick, Waltham, Quincy, and Brockton.

Learn More

Van Schedule