Woman Of Impact: Providing The Whole Package

Jemea Dorsey is passionate about all aspects of wellness.

by Ralph McGill Jr.

June 1, 2008

T welve years ago, fresh out of graduate school, Jemea S. Dorsey knew she wanted to be part of the solution. She considered government service and private nonprofit organizations. But she did not find her true calling until late in 1996 when she was introduced to Cheryl Boykins.
   
"She was one of the most passionate women I had ever met," she recalls.      

That passion was infectious, and soon Boykins had convinced Dorsey to join her pioneering women's health project, the Center for Black Women's Wellness, located on Windsor Street in Atlanta. Nine years later, Dorsey, a graduate of Wesleyan University with a master's from Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, took over the center as its chief executive officer.     

The CBWW is a nonprofit organization that provides free and low-cost services to empower black women and their families to gain physical, mental and economic wellness. The center's underlying philosophy is that by empowering black women, it will lead to empowerment of the family, and by extension, the community. CBWW places its emphasis on catering to the physical, mental and economic needs of the women by offering services on preventive health, maternal and child health services, mental health screening and referrals and self-employment training. The center serves more than 2,000 families each year.     

"Early on, we placed a major effort on helping solve the pandemic problem of teenage pregnancy in Atlanta, where the rate of underage pregnancy for black teens is distressingly high," she says. The Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program – better known as "Plain Talk" – was formed to empower the community to tackle the problem through intervention and education.     

"We developed ‘Askable Adult Workshops,' where we teach parents how to talk about puberty, dating, sex, pregnancy and responsible decision-making," she says. Other youth programs include "Living Room Parties," where community residents, young and old, can learn how teens can make healthy choices. "We also offer summer leadership training courses, where pre-teens can learn how to make the right choices and become role models for others," she says.     

Tamieka Jones is a fan of Dorsey and the center. She recently joined the center's board and helped with a fundraiser with the local chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants.    

"I've gotten to know Jemea, and I really support her health and wellness focus as well as the family network," she says. Jones, who is a manager with Ernst & Young, says Dorsey is "providing the necessary feel and atmosphere for the center. It has a nice environment for families."      

Dorsey is firm, Jones says, in the "belief that health and wellness encompasses all aspects of health, including economic health. The center not only encourages but provides the resources so that women can expand their skill set and provide a better life for themselves and their families."     

She adds that Jemea is "so passionate about the center, the women and their families and bringing the center to the forefront of the community, not only as a resource but as a place for innovation."     

Dorsey, who served as an educational consultant in New York and later as an evaluation consultant for the Family Connection program here in Georgia, is intent on making a difference.     

"We continue to make wellness the focus of our efforts," she says. "The sad fact is, a large percentage of women in our community, especially in these economic times, are underinsured or simply not covered by health insurance at all. Addressing the health concerns of women before they become something that requires expensive medical treatment is crucial."            

As part of that initiative, the center puts on wellness clinics twice a week that are run by professional community volunteers.      

"Most people are lucky to see a doctor for 15 minutes these days," she says. "Our wellness screenings often will take up to two hours and provide the intense one-on-one care that these women need." Among the topics that might be covered include depression, HIV education and confidential testing as well as breast self-examination instructions. Weight loss programs are also becoming popular.     

Another important service the center offers is helping pregnant and postpartum women with services such as home visitations and linking the women to other needed social services.     

Dorsey recently added an economic dimension to the center.     

"Our Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Program is a micro-enterprise development initiative used as a strategy to increase the opportunity for women to become self-employed by starting and operating a microbusiness," Dorsey says,  "The program serves primarily low-to-moderate income women by providing them with financial literacy, life skills, business development and technical assistance."     

Among the skills taught are presentation and selling skills, how to write a business plan, marketing strategies, record-keeping and goal-setting.    

In addition to the workshops, the program offers peer-to-peer support, one-on-one coaching, access to financial resources and networking opportunities.     

Looking into the future, Dorsey wants to add primary care clinics with volunteer doctors and other health care professionals to the offering. "One of the frustrating things I encounter is often that our clients get lost in going from our screening to a health care provider's office," she says. "They often can't afford the visits or simply get overwhelmed by the process. With our own primary care clinics, we will be able to ensure the seamless care for all women in our community."