We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Kornegay recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
Endo Black Incorporated is a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on African American women and women of color affected by endometriosis. The organization provides a safe space, producing opportunities for endo-sisterly love, educational and enriching programs with a wealth load of beneficial resources.
Our philosophy is to engage, educate, and encourage endo sisters. We anticipate connecting African American women and women of color affected by endometriosis, providing the community with accurate, enriching, and valuable resources, and continuing the fight for health equity. Endo Black, Inc., located in the DC Metropolitan Area, provides African American women and women of color with a safe space. We’ve connected thousands of African American women and women of color.
The problems Endo Black, Inc. solves are that African American women are constantly being misdiagnosed, have limited resources, and little research for African American women. The organization makes a difference within the community and is committed to advocacy work around endometriosis and fighting for health equity.
The organization plays a vital role in the lives of many women battling endometriosis, as evidenced by feedback surveys issued within the community. The organization makes a difference within the community and is committed to advocacy work around endometriosis and fighting for health equity.
Since the establishment of Endo Black, Inc., we have donated over 15,000-period care products for young girls and domestic violence survivors in the DC Metropolitan Area, were nominated for several awards for the 9th and 10th Annual WEGO Health Awards, hosted the only black-led endometriosis conference, receiving Proclamations from both Prince Geroge’s County Executive and Governor of Maryland recognize March 2022 as Endometriosis Awareness Month, and most recently conducting a research study specifically for African American women and women of color affected by endometriosis in DC Metropolitan Area in partnership with George Mason University.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Me? Well, I am a 33-year-old Oxon Hill, MD native. I graduated from Morgan State University in 2010 with a B.A. in Speech Communications and a concentration in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication. I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and very dedicated to serving the community through volunteerism and advocacy.
As someone diagnosed with endometriosis, I know what it’s like to feel confused and alone due to the diagnosis of endometriosis. I founded Endo Black, Inc. as an Instagram page in October of 2015 in hopes of simply connecting with African American women affected by endometriosis. From 2015 until 2019, the Instagram page grew, leaving the community wanting to engage more. Thus, the establishment of Endo Black Incorporated. While Endo Black, Inc. stood as a beacon of hope for many women, many still struggled, so I continued to create.
In October 2020, I authored my first book, Your Personal Journey Log for Endometriosis and THE ENDO WAY: A Guide To Becoming An Endo Advocate. This would be the first of many projects.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe that what has helped me develop our reputation within the endometriosis community is our authenticity. Endo Black, Inc. thrives on the belief that we respect and accept everyone and stay true to ourselves, no matter what’s presented to us.
The community is moved by the whole truth, which is what we encourage medical professionals to do when working with their patients.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
As mentioned previously, Endo Black, Inc. was only an Instagram page. Once I recognized the amount of health inequity in the community, it took another turn. Endo Black went from just an Instagram page to a safe space and organization dedicated to changing the narrative of how African American women are affected by endometriosis. I can only hope that we’ll continue to make a wave in the community, working to build relationships with medical professionals, assisting with providing resources to those in the community, and raising awareness about such an egregious disorder.
With community support and support from donors, we can go far.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.endoblack.org/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/endo_black
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEndoBlack/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/endo-black-inc
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/the_endoblack
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW1OQ4iI2kS22qm7huuVn6Q
- Other: We encourage people to support our mission by contributing here: https://endoblack.networkforgood.com/projects/148805-endo-black-donation-page
Image Credits
Photos were taken by LilyAnnRivers Photography and Stephanie Kayla Photography.