Director
Wellness Applied
FOCUS
“When white folks catch a cold, black folks get pneumonia.” This is a common saying in the black community, and it’s based on reality. African American health disparities run deep. The COVID epidemic highlighted this disparity, and CDC reporting indicates that African Americans are more likely to die at early ages from all causes.
Traditional work addressing African American health disparities is gap-focused, with goals and resources directed to impact economic, educational, and access barriers. Such outreach often suffers from poor engagement, limited sustainability, and low efficacy, as data shows that substantial increases in access, education, and resources in the African American community do not necessarily translate to better health outcomes.
Generations of oppression have internalized and normalized inferior health outcomes in African American culture. Health is not fully understood or pursued. Nettye’s vision of a Culture of Health is one where every person understands and values health and has the expectation and ability to live in good health.
To effectively address African American health disparities, Nettye envisions a holistic, salutogenic approach to building a Culture of Health that truly reflects and supports her community. Nettye advocates for connection to culturally appropriate health education and resources, as well as reconnection to ancestral wisdom and health practices. She also believes in the amplification of individual and community assets and abilities to support good health. As a woman of faith, Nettye incorporates Christian principles in her work to guide and support others in healthy, balanced living.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE: Wellness Applied
Black health disparities run deep. Despite recent gains, CDC data indicates that African Americans remain more likely to die at an early age from all causes. Traditional African American health disparity work is gap-focused, aimed, and resourced to address economic, education, and access barriers. Such outreach often has poor engagement and low efficacy, as data shows substantial increases in access, education, and resources in the black community do not necessarily translate to better health outcomes. To improve African American health, parallel to social determinants-based health efforts should be work that builds a Culture of Health truly reflective of the community. Interventions must connect to culturally appropriate health education and resources, reconnect to ancestral wisdom and practices, and amplify individual and community assets to support good health. Wellness Applied is a holistic, salutogenic wellness organization addressing African American health disparities. We provide culturally relevant health education and programming for congregations, corporations, and communities to shift health attitudes, actions, and outcomes to help others achieve a life and legacy of wellness.
MORE ABOUT NETTYE
Nettye is a wife, mom, marathoner, health educator, vegan-ish foodie, author, and award-winning speaker, with over 25 years of experience working with individuals and organizations to improve African American health. Her organization, Wellness Applied, provides culturally relevant health education and programming for congregations, corporations, and communities. Its science-based, faith-empowered outreach shifts health attitudes, actions, and outcomes, fostering lives and legacies of wellness.
Click here to watch Nettye’s Legacy Project video.
NETTYE’S WORK AND VISION
- The Faith Applied Podcast
- The Veganish Cookbook: Simple, Delicious Plant-Based Recipes and Resources For EVERYONE
- Put Your Faith Where Your Fork Is: Science-Based, Faith-Empowered Principles For Healthy Weight Management
- Education for Transformation
- Let’s Move National Baptist
- Wellness Applied
- The Learning Spot
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