The First Ladies Health Initiative (FLHI) works to close health gaps in Black and underserved communities, tapping into the influence and trust that First Ladies (pastors’ wives) already hold in their congregations. The organization provides essential health services and advocates for wellness across mental health, maternal health, chronic illness, and more, working through its longstanding network of partner churches across Chicago’s South and West Sides, trusted community anchors that have supported over 600,000 health screenings since 2008.
Adolescent girls in these communities, particularly Black girls, face real gaps in access to culturally responsive health education, trusted mentorship, and safe spaces to navigate their development. Those gaps show up later as disparities in mental health outcomes, limited reproductive health knowledge, and lower engagement with preventive care. Girls need more than information; they need spaces where they feel safe, seen, and supported by people they already trust, which is exactly what FLHI’s network can offer.
The Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund will support She Thrives: Health, Leadership & Resilience for Chicago’s Adolescent Girls, FLHI’s inaugural 12-month program to reach 120 girls, ages 13 to 18, across Chicago’s South and West Sides. She Thrives will open with a virtual kickoff for participants and their families, then move through four quarterly gatherings at partner churches, each combining a Leadership Circle on topics like reproductive health, mental wellness, and healthy relationships with a Teen Health & Wellness Day offering screenings and direct time with healthcare providers.
Dr. Charis Chambers, a board-certified OB/GYN and adolescent gynecologist known as “The Period Doctor,” will guide the curriculum to ensure it’s accurate and age-appropriate, while a Teen Ambassador Council of approximately 20 girls will co-lead sessions and mentor their peers. With this funding, 120 girls will gain the knowledge, resources, relationships and confidence to advocate for their own health and well-being. closing the program with a Community Showcase where they’re celebrated by their families and communities.
For more information about First Ladies Health Initiative, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
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