Whether it’s about your visit, the care you received, or our customer service.
Now more than ever, community is everything — and we want you to be a part of ours! Join Fenway Health’s Women’s Health Team for the 23rd Annual Audre Lorde Cancer Awareness Brunch on Saturday, October 16 from 11:30 AM–1:30 PM.
Started in 1999, the brunch is named to honor Audre Lorde, a self-described “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” who battled cancer for 14 years. We continue Audre’s legacy as we gather to celebrate Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Queer, Transgender, People of Color (QTPoC), non-binary and gender fluid people, and LGBTQIA+ community members and their supporters whose lives have been affected by cancer.
The event features a movement and healing session run by Cultivate Queer Healing Lab, Self-Care with Love Art Session run by Zahirah Nur Truth, and musical performances.
This year’s event is designed to encourage cancer survivors, caregivers, allies, and supporters, to unite in solidarity, practice self-care and healing, and rise as warriors during the COVID-19 pandemic and racial and social injustice.
Every household will receive a wellness package with fun surprise items (just check the box when you RSVP)!
We are pleased to announce that we will be awarding the Judy Bradford Community Grant at this year’s Brunch. Named in honor of Dr. Judy Bradford, Co-Chair of The Fenway Institute from its inception in 2001, Judy was a pioneer and national leader in building a framework for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+-focused research and teaching. The grant is made to support cancer advocacy and address health disparities for marginalized communities. Click here for more info and to apply.
Be a part of this community space as we share, network, and rediscover our collective strength. This is a free event, but you must register by October 1 on Eventbrite. The Brunch will be held via Zoom to protect the health of our guests and a link will be sent following registration.
Questions? Contact Nandini Choudhury at nchoudhury@fenwayhealth.org or 857-313-6537.
In 1999, Denise Bentley, a former Fenway Health employee, founded the event in honor of her late wife Lorraine “Faye” Fayette Johnson. She created a space to honor two warrior women who battled breast cancer: her wife and Audre Lorde, a self-described “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” who dedicated her life to addressing the injustices of racism, sexism, and homophobia. Denise recognized that cancer uniquely affects women of color and the LGBTQ+ community and established a venue to discuss these health disparities, build community, and celebrate life.
Community resources are vital to helping break down barriers to care for the LGBTQ+ community and women of color. Although breast cancer rates have decreased in Boston since 2007, these groups continue to be disproportionately affected. Check out the information below for local resources and education on health disparities.
Fenway Health
In this resource guide, you will find information on cancer disparities for women of color and LGBTQ women, health education on cancer screenings and preventive health measures, and local resources for cancer survivors of color. We hope this guide will foster sisterhood, strength, and holistic health in your life.
Audre Lorde, a self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” who battled cancer for 14 years, considered speaking up — whether about women’s health or identity — to be an act of survival. Take a moment to hear about healing and survival from the women of color whose lives have been impacted by cancer.
Whether it’s about your visit, the care you received, or our customer service.
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