Our guest blogger for this PRIDE month is Dr. Melva Black, Deputy Director for the Nashville Metropolitan Public Health Department in Tennessee. Dr. Black has over 15 years of experience in health care but her focus has been serving as a #ChangeAgent in HIV/AIDS health and education. She is a member of several organizations and serves on multiple boards and committees including Chair Emeritus of the Community HIV/AIDS Partnership with United Way of Middle Tennessee. In her blog today, Dr. Black shares how creating safe, inclusive spaces not only unifies us, it also leads to the improved health and wellbeing of our LGBTQIA+ community.

InnoPower LLC (Power of Innovation) is a Black-owned Indianapolis, Indiana-based community development consulting group that leverages innovation in and for Black communities to accelerate economic productivity and talent development within the community.

It is an honor to be a guest blogger for Herd Strategies during Pride Month. I love the opportunity to be involved in many communities and the LGTBQIA+ community is one of my ultimate favorites.