National Minority Health Month: Empowering Change Through Education

Three women are sitting on the sofa looking at their computer screens.

It’s springtime and we are blooming! April is more than the season of renewal—it's a powerful time for reflection, action, and advocacy. National Minority Health Month 2025, observed every April, reminds us that while progress has been made, deep-rooted health disparities persist across racial and ethnic lines. This year’s theme, “Advancing Commitments to Eliminate Health Disparities,” calls on all of us—community leaders, public health and healthcare professionals, researchers, advocates, and allies—to address systemic barriers and build a more just and inclusive health system that benefits those who need it the most. 

At Beacon Public Health, our work centers on addressing the social, cultural, and environmental conditions—known as social determinants of health—that continue to fuel health inequities. The data speaks volumes:

• African Americans are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.

• Nearly 40% of Black adults live with high blood pressure, a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease.

• More than 1 in 4 Black and Hispanic Americans lack access to a usual source of healthcare.

• Black Americans are overexposed to air pollution, contributing to higher rates of asthma and respiratory illnesses.

• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities remain underrepresented in clinical trials, limiting insights into how new treatments affect diverse populations.

These disparities are not inevitable—they are a result of systems that were not built with equity in mind. That’s why we don’t just raise awareness—we equip public health leaders with the tools to dismantle inequities at the root.

Building Capacity for Change

One of the ways we’re meeting this moment is through the Public Health Impact Academy (PHIA)—a professional development initiative designed to cultivate equity-driven leaders. PHIA helps participants build core competencies in health equity, policy, communication, data analysis, and community engagement. This is more than a training—it’s a movement to prepare and support the public health workforce to be capable of addressing today’s toughest public health challenges with courage, cultural humility, and innovation.

Training without transformation isn’t enough. We must equip people not just with knowledge—but with purpose, strategy, and boldness to lead equity-centered change.

Programs like PHIA complement our community-focused health education campaigns such as Mamas 4 Life—a maternal health initiative advocating for Black and Brown women’s birthing equity—and Unwind with the Tribe, which fosters culturally rooted wellness practices for Black women. Together, these programs reflect our commitment to community, culture, and connection.

Take Action

This National Minority Health Month, we invite you to be part of the solution. Whether you’re a health professional, policymaker, student, or community advocate—your role matters.

Let’s work together to eliminate health disparities through education, partnership, and action. Join our community of change makers and take a course through the Public Health Impact Academy to build your skills, knowledge, and awareness about issues that are impacting your community.

Courses are open now! Join our community of change makers and register for a course today.

Explore our educational resources, training opportunities, and community campaigns at www.beaconpublichealth.com, and follow us on social media to join the conversation.

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About the author: Dr. Jovonni Spinner, CEO and Founder of  Beacon Public Health and Maryland Healthcare Commissioner is an award-winning health equity strategist, thought leader, and TEDx speaker dedicated to advancing health equity across all stages of life through research, education, and community building.