Who We Are
The BWP-LA 2026 team at our introductory meeting
Black Wellness Project LA (BWP-LA) is a collective of Black medical students from UCLA, Charles R. Drew University, and UC Irvine. We came together with a shared understanding: that our communities face not just health disparities, but barriers of access, trust, and representation within the medical system itself.
We are future physicians choosing to act now — not waiting for residency or practice to begin the work of community health. Operating as part of SoCal SNMA (Student National Medical Association), we launch health initiatives that bring care directly to the communities that need it most.
“We hope to organize with local residents towards stronger health outcomes by bridging the resources we are institutionally in proximity to, but are often fragmented or made inaccessible to our people.”
Our Mission
We are a collective of medical students launching a series of health initiatives dedicated to improving Black health in Los Angeles. Our goal is to connect community members, organizers, health students, and healthcare workers to build stronger pathways to care, education, and advocacy across the city.
Our Values
Dignity
Every community member deserves to be treated with full respect, in every interaction
Self-Determination
Community members lead; we support, not prescribe
Health Justice
We address the root causes of health disparities, not just their symptoms
Inclusivity
Our work belongs to and centers the full breadth of our community
The 2024 Health Fair: Where It Began
In 2024, we held our inaugural event: the Dr. Edith Mitchell Community Health Fair in Baldwin Village, South Los Angeles. It was named in honor of Dr. Edith Mitchell, a pioneering oncologist and trailblazer for Black physicians in America.
The fair offered free health screenings — blood pressure, blood glucose, oral cancer, PSA, and STI/HIV testing — alongside yoga, a sound bath, healing circles, a DJ, kids’ activities, and social needs assessments. It was built to honor the whole person.
Left: Dental health education booth • Right: Gold Standard Urology partnering to serve the community
The Mbongi Pledge ceremony — community members pledging together for collective wellness
GUT Healing Circle • Community heart hands • UV & ME skin health education
Outdoor yoga and meditation — the Soul component of our Mind, Body & Soul framework
The response from community members told us everything we needed to know about why this work matters — and why we’re coming back in 2026, bigger and more prepared than before.