We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Briian Dargon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Briian below.

Hi Briian, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

There are thousands of cancer organizations throughout the country. However, in so many black and brown communities, there seems to be a disconnect regarding early detection. Black people in particular only make up 13% of the population yet according to the American Cancer Society, Black people in the United States had a 19% higher risk of death from cancer than White people in 2022. The Joan L Dargon Foundation partners with the Underserved, Mentally Challenged and Substance User communities in advocating for early cancer detection screenings. We also work to change and challenge conversations around cancer diagnosis, more hope, less despair.

Briian, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Briian Dargon and I am the Founder/Director of the Joan L Dargon Foundation named after my mother. Cancer has been a presence in my life for as long as I can remember. My grandparents on my mother’s side, my mother, aunts and cousins have all succumbed to various types of cancer. The deaths were happening so quickly once diagnosed, i couldn’t wrap my head around one before there was another one. It has been swift but it has not been kind. When my mother was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in October of 2009 and within 2 months succumbed, I knew I wanted and needed to do something.

My mother did not have a lot but what she had she gave. She fed, clothed and sheltered strangers as well as people she called friends all while dealing with clinical depression and eventually the cancer. Starting the foundation was a way to honor her and her kindness even in the midst of her own trials. She planted the seed if you will within me. She had an open heart, an open door and open hands.

Regarding the kinds of services we provide, we are an advocacy organization that works in partnership with individuals from the Underserved, Mentally Challenged and Substance User communities to seek out early cancer detection screenings. We also have panel discussions to give people an opportunity to share their stories, some for the first time. We believe that although there are many cancer organizations out there, there seems to be a disconnect specifically in the aforementioned black and brown communities.

At the foundation, we understand that part of that disconnect is us. There is a distrust within our community, so much so that some won’t go to a doctor at all and if they do, they are not always forthcoming with information. We want to change that, we want to be the bridge between those communities and providers/hospitals and clinics. We want people to feel comfortable in speaking with doctors but we also want doctors to do a little bit more in regards to how they interact and communicate with individuals in those communities.

I’m proud that we exist in this space. One voice can be just as powerful as a million. Seeing yourself reflected back at you may inspire hope and hope is medicine too.

This organization doesn’t want to be looked at as setting itself apart, we look at it as another tentacle hopefully reaching people that the other organizations are missing. Cancer is a plague and with all plagues, it has to be eradicated and it’s going to take all of us.

Simply, we are here to help save people. We do not have all the answers but my mother use to say “You’ve already failed if you don’t try”.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the lessons I’ve had to unlearn is that you can’t make change because of the circumstances you grew up in. I believe your circumstances can be the catalyst for whatever your greatness looks like for you. I think we make choices and choices can dictate that you don’t have to fall into a societal rabbit hole of who and what others think you should be. I also had to unlearn thinking I was not fallible. As humans, we all fall short, i had to learn how to give grace to myself so that i could extend it others.

Growing up, i felt as though I was invisible in plain sight. I wasn’t necessarily poured into, no that’s not correct, i was poured into the best way they knew how. I think in my family you existed with the cards you were dealt. it felt lonely. I learned to go inside. As i previously stated “you’ve already failed if you don’t try” became a mantra and I decided at an early age that was going to pursue everything that was instinctual to me hence the foundation.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

We are a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. We started with zero dollars and an idea. We were just incorporated in March of this year although we’ve been having black tie gala events to bring awareness since 2022, we could not legally request donations so every event has come out of pocket. Since our incorporation, we have started excepting donations and we’ve been fortunate to receive sponsorship from Peoples Bank for our upcoming panel discussion on July 20th 2024 as well as the Boylan Bottling Company for this years black tie gala.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: the.joan.ldargon.foundation

Image Credits

Rev. Joseph Waddy