When Christina and Keith Blocker encountered the gaps in healthcare for Black communities firsthand, it ignited a fire within them to create meaningful change. Their personal experiences transformed into a powerful mission to build solutions where none existed before. That's how Elevate Black Wellness was born.

 

It started in 2018 when Christina had a troubling experience giving birth to their second child. Despite following her doctor's advice precisely, the hospital sent her home during active labor. When she returned in intense pain an hour later, her requests for the epidural in her birth plan were repeatedly dismissed. "You're going to have this baby," they told her - without pain management, without listening, without respecting her voice.

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Though their son arrived healthy, this experience opened Christina's eyes to a dangerous pattern of medical invalidation that affects countless Black families, sometimes with fatal consequences. She was one of the lucky ones.

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Meanwhile, Keith was serving on the Tacoma City Council and the Pierce County Health Board, witnessing firsthand the stark health disparities affecting their community. When the pandemic hit, disaggregated data confirmed what they already knew from lived experiences - these weren't isolated incidents but systemic problems requiring community-driven solutions.

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In 2022, their commitment to health equity led them to secure a Washington State Department of Health grant for COVID-19 outreach. As they connected with their community, they recognized an opportunity to address broader systemic health issues. People weren't just looking for pandemic information—they needed a trusted source for physical, mental, economic, and spiritual wellness resources that truly understood their experiences.

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Together, Christina and Keith built Elevate Black Wellness as a warm, welcoming community where Black voices are heard, health needs are addressed, and well-being in all its forms is celebrated. Their approach draws on the rich wisdom and cultural practices within Black communities while addressing systemic barriers to equitable care.

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Today, Elevate Black Wellness has invested over $100,000 in community health events and shared more than 150,000 culturally responsive resources throughout Washington. Their advocacy has inspired official Black Wellness Week proclamations across 12+ cities and counties, with statewide recognition from both former Governor Inslee and current Governor Ferguson.

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But Elevate Black Wellness is about more than addressing disparities. The organization celebrates the rich traditions of health and healing in Black communities, honors ancestral wisdom, and creates spaces where Black joy and wellbeing take center stage.

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Through dedication to community empowerment and comprehensive well-being, Elevate Black Wellness is creating a roadmap to health equity - a legacy that will benefit generations to come.