Black History Month is a time to honor the legacy, leadership and contributions of Black communities—and to acknowledge the work still ahead. Across the country, Black and Brown people continue to face systemic barriers that affect health, economic opportunity and overall well-being. These inequities stem from longstanding structural challenges, and meaningful progress requires intentional, community-centered solutions.
This month, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) is proud to highlight partners who are breaking down those barriers and helping create healthier, more equitable communities. Each organization we’re featuring is working directly with—and alongside—people of color to expand access, strengthen support systems and build pathways to prosperity.
Strengthening Leaders, Strengthening Communities
The Center for Nonprofit Advancement’s Chief Executive Leaders Ascend Program
The Center for Nonprofit Advancement is a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit that strengthens the leadership and sustainability of mission-driven organizations across the region. Through training, coaching and peer learning, the Center equips nonprofit leaders to build resilient organizations that better serve their communities.
CareFirst supports this work through funding for the Chief Executive Leaders Ascend Program (CELAP), a wellness-centered leadership initiative designed to support Black women nonprofit executives across Washington, D.C., with a focus on leaders serving communities east of the Anacostia River. CELAP addresses the unique challenges these leaders face by combining leadership development, capacity-building, peer connection and structured wellness support.
Since its launch, CELAP has supported 16 Black women-led nonprofit organizations across two cohorts ,with a third cohort launching this year. Participants report improved stress management, stronger operations and greater confidence engaging funders—strengthening both their organizations and the communities they serve.
CELAP also drives collaboration beyond individual organizations. Through relationships built in the program, participating leaders have collectively secured $1.4 million from the historic Health Equity Fund to advance community-based health equity, violence prevention and trauma-informed healing. By centering whole-person well-being and leadership sustainability, CELAP demonstrates how investing in leaders strengthens community health from the inside out.
Learn more about CELAP and the Center for Nonprofit Advancement.
Honoring a Legacy of Black History, Culture and Community Impact
How the Lewis Museum Educates, Engages and Inspires Communities Across Maryland
For 20 years, The Reginald F. Lewis Museum has served as Maryland’s leading institution dedicated to preserving and sharing the history, art and culture of Black Marylanders. Through exhibitions and educational programming, the museum creates space for learning, dialogue and reflection.
In its 2025 anniversary year, the museum welcomed
20,554 exhibition admissions across major exhibits including iWitness: Media and the Movement, Lynching in Maryland and TITAN: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis. Its educational reach expanded to 3,445 students and more than 5,600 program attendees with community celebrations like Juneteenth drawing over 2,500 participants.
CareFirst provides general operating support to help the museum strengthen core programs, develop new initiatives and expand partnerships with local schools and community organizations—ensuring continued access to this vital cultural resource.
The museum also recently opened a satellite gallery at The Village at Mondawmin, home to the West Baltimore CareFirst Engagement Center. Its inaugural exhibit, Blacks In White: African American Health Professionals, highlights the legacy of Black medical pioneers and institutions that advanced healthcare access and equity. With continued growth—including a forthcoming permanent Kid Zone—The Lewis remains a cultural home and catalyst for preserving Black history and inspiring future generations.
Learn more about The Reginald F. Lewis Museum.
Rooted in Community, Built for Growth
How She’s WELL Networked Supports Black Women Entrepreneurs
She’s WELL Networked is a Baltimore-based nonprofit working to close the economic and opportunity gaps faced by Black women entrepreneurs. The organization addresses the “Net Divide”—disparities in revenue, networks and access to capital—by creating spaces centered on healing, storytelling and collective investment.
Since its launch, She’s WELL Networked has supported 300+ Black women entrepreneurs annually worked with 10 cohorts helped 115 founders launch businesses and distributed more than $45,000 in capital funding. The organization is built on the recognition that Black women are not only resilient founders, but powerful economic drivers—the fastest‑growing group of entrepreneurs in the country over the past decade and among the most dynamic contributors to business growth nationwide.
A key focus of this work is helping strong, revenue‑generating businesses scale with intention. Its Grow to Scale program supports established Black women-owned businesses by strengthening operations, financial readiness and leadership capacity—while centering well-being as a core growth strategy.
CareFirst is proud to support Grow to Scale, aligning with our commitment to health equity by investing in economic stability, wealth-building and sustainable business growth. She’s WELL Networked is committed to the success of these businesses as job creators/employers, innovators and wealth builders for Black communities and beyond.
Learn more about She’s WELL Networked.
As we honor Black History Month, we remain committed to uplifting the people and organizations leading the way toward a more equitable future. Their work reminds us that breaking down systemic barriers is not only possible—it’s happening every day in the communities we serve.
To learn more about how CareFirst is transforming the healthcare experience with and for those we serve, visit carefirst.com/transformation.