Empowering Black Men’s Health: A Beacon of Hope During Black History Month

During Black History Month, we’re spotlighting the groundbreaking efforts of a nonprofit dedicated to tackling the healthcare disparities affecting men of color. Meet Robert Lily, a beacon of hope in his community and a passionate advocate for the Black Men’s Health Clinic (BMHC). BMHC addresses healthcare disparities faced by black and brown communities. The nonprofit also provides unique programs like discounted haircuts for patients. Robert discovered BMHC while in prison. “I’m 53 years of age. I’ve spent approximately 21 of those 53 years incarcerated and I heard a minister once say that your ministry grows out of the context of your crisis.” Since his journey from incarceration to empowerment, he’s been helping younger people who may be facing similar challenges. “I’m a criminal justice, participatory defense organizer and I work for an organization called Grassroots Leadership. So my work primarily revolves around seeing prison become a phenomenon of the past As part of his advocacy, Robert emphasizes the importance of addressing health concerns and finding a safe space for healing and support, such as at the BMHC. Being sick in society and not knowing how to get treated, it is a very terrifying thing and you know, there are ailments...