Bridging Opportunities and Sustaining Successful Sistahs (B.O.S.S.) Sistah Network is a nonprfoit 5013c community based organization. We further our mission by serving as a safe space for adolescents and young professional women of color to network, obtain resources, scale up their businesses and business presence, attend personal and professional development events, and participate in civic engagement advocacy projects.
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May holds a distinct and vital significance for Black women: it is Mental Health Awareness Month. Just as June calls us to remember our history of resilience, May invites us to turn inward and prioritize the well-being that sustains our future. This observance underscores the deep intersections of systemic trauma and the modern-day stressors that continue to impact Black women and girls—not only as historical echoes but as immediate, collective concerns in our Chicagoland and South Suburban communities today.
As of April 30th, 2026, our community faces a landscape of both progress and peril. While we celebrate the strength of our sisters, we cannot ignore the 'alarming realities' of the present. Nationally, the unemployment rate for Black women remains disproportionately high at 6.1%, nearly double that of our white counterparts, creating a cycle of economic stress that directly erodes mental health. Locally, we are navigating a precarious moment for care; recent federal shifts have signaled a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid over the next decade, a move that threatens to dismantle the very safety net low-income children and families in South Suburban Cook County rely on for behavioral health services.
Furthermore, we are witnessing a critical shortage in our mental health workforce. We must champion legislation like the Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act and Illinois’ House Bill 5315, which aim to increase reimbursement rates for the clinical social workers and counselors who serve our neighborhoods. Sustaining the mental health of Black women and girls requires more than just awareness; it requires a funded, robust, and culturally competent workforce. At BOSS Sistah Network, we recognize these profound burdens, but we also recognize our power to 'heal, rise, and thrive together.
Upcoming May Events:
Mental Health Awareness Peer Support Groups: Adult and Youth sessions throughout the month.
Mental Health & Healthcare Job Search Support: Virtual Info Meeting 4/30/2026 at 8:00 PM. Email info@bosssistahnetwork.org to register.
Forefront’s Annual Racial Equity Leaders Lunch: Join our discussion on coalition building in South Suburban Cook on 5/11/2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Register here (Email us for discounted community partner tickets).
South Suburban Cook Racial Equity Meetup: Partnership event with Rev. Blackful and James Escortt on 5/26/2026 Register Here.
Youth Health Summit: 5/30/2026, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Chicago Urban League Empowerment Center (8331 S. Stewart). Registration Link.
Volunteer: Email info@bosssistahnetwork.org to support our youth-based programming.
B.O.S.S. Sistah Network
B.O.S.S. Sistah Network
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