Leadership

The inception of Black Health Lit® can be traced back to Crowder’s childhood visits to her mother’s workplace. Her mother, a nurse, introduced her to the sights, sounds, and smells of nursing homes, as well as the impact of illnesses on patients. These experiences fostered Crowder’s empathy and shaped her understanding of healthcare.

At fifteen, Crowder interned at Planned Parenthood through the Sinclair Community College Upward Bound program, gaining valuable healthcare experience by assisting in checkups for women seeking health screenings and birth control. This experience deepened the foundation laid by her earlier exposure to her mother’s work.

After completing her education, Crowder began working at CareSource, a Medicaid MCO in Ohio. Starting as a Wellness Advocate, she learned about disease management and witnessed firsthand how disparities and a lack of knowledge affected healthcare in marginalized communities. She created a tobacco cessation program approved by the State of Ohio, securing a contract for her department.

In 2014, Crowder moved to Polaris, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, to take on a new challenge at Quantum Health. Here, she ventured into management, furthering health education and providing resources for pregnant women to ensure healthy deliveries. Crowder quickly advanced in the healthcare field, becoming a licensed health insurance agent at Hylant, where she developed strategies to improve workforce health and manage medical spending. This role offered her an in-depth understanding of the infrastructure supporting healthcare.

Crowder then became a Senior Consultant at OhioHealth, a not-for-profit system of hospitals and healthcare providers spanning forty-seven counties. She engaged with physicians, nurses, and department leaders, supporting technology, processes, and programs to ensure smooth interactions between providers and patients and adherence to regulatory standards. She was later promoted to Advisor, focusing on strategy and innovative programs to improve patient health outcomes.

The vision for Black Health Lit® crystallized for Crowder in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder in police custody on May 31, 2020. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she marched and protested for justice alongside a diverse community, feeling compelled to use her knowledge and skills to serve her people. Inspired by these events, she laid the foundation for Black Health Lit® in the fall of 2020.

Despite initial skepticism, Crowder launched the first episode of Black Health Lit® in January 2021, aiming to empower and inspire greater health literacy in the Black community. The BlackHealthLit podcast, released every first and third #SelfCareSunday, features discussions with health experts on topics such as maternal mortality and stress management, directly impacting Black Americans. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Anchor.

Black Health Lit® is a critical resource in combating systemic racism in healthcare and promoting healthy lifestyles among Black people. Good health enhances quality of life, longevity, and the ability to meet life's demands with energy. It also allows individuals to enjoy time with family and friends while maintaining positive physical and mental well-being. Crowder’s goal with Black Health Lit® is to foster healthy Black individuals, families, and communities through her dedicated work.