Our Goal, Vision & Commitment
Register & Help Make Change
Volunteer, Participate, or Donate
Engaging policymakers and speaking on behalf of those affected by these debilitating illnesses
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Expanding opportunities for innovative interventions and more direct services that will enhance quality of life and accessible treatments
Representation Matters
Minorities are underrepresented in most clinical trials - this creates a line of disconnect and skewed information regarding ethnic/racial responses to medication and treatments.
IBD genetics have been evaluated in more than 1,000 studies in white and Asian—primarily East Asian—populations. Although the risk is slightly lower than that of white Americans, African-Americans are at significant risk for IBD.
American children with a chronic disease almost quadrupled (from 1.8% to 7.0%) with racial/ethnic minority youth being affected disproportionately. Increased rates of childhood chronic diseases imply that higher rates of these illnesses will occur during adulthood.
More than 133 million Americans (45% population) have one or more chronic diseases. Racial/ethnic minorities are 1.5 to 2.0 times more likely than whites to have most of the major chronic diseases
Latest Stories
 I am a survivor and fighter living with Crohn's disease. Living with a chronic illness is very difficult. It affects so much of our lives emotionally, physically, mentally and also spiritually. One day I can feel like I am Super Woman, and the next day I can't even get out of bed. I've had my share of highs and lows, but in the beginning I was lost, depressed and felt like my life would never be worth living. I didn't always consider myself a Warrior; | |
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 In 2009, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a form of IBD. I experienced rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, excruciating abdominal pain, nausea, anemia, and fatigue. All are symptoms associated with IBD. Fortunately, I never experienced the diarrhea which is another common symptom of IBD. I went through multiple tests such as colonoscopies, endoscopies, x-rays, ultrasounds, gall bladder tests, etc. |  I was in my 3rd semester of grad school & my assistantship required me to administer several tests for hours at a time. I was in pain for about 95% of the semester & urgent care meds gave me no relief. Finally, I went to the ER after class one night and was admitted. I spent a week in the hospital before having a colonoscopy that eventually confirmed my diagnosis. I had my first Remicade in the hospital before being discharged. |
Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
– Barack Obama
