National Black Church Initiative Launches African American Parkinson's Advocacy Organization

The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a coalition of 150,000 African-American churches representing 27.7 million members, launched the African American Parkinson's Patient Advocacy Organization (AAPPAO) in Houston and St. Louis on April 9, 2026. The new organization is designed to address the disproportionate impact of Parkinson's disease on African Americans and to improve access to clinical trials, treatment options, and community support.

Research has shown that African Americans are significantly underrepresented in Parkinson's disease clinical trials, leading to gaps in understanding how the disease affects Black patients and limiting access to modern treatments. The AAPPAO aims to bridge this gap through community education, patient advocacy, and partnerships with medical institutions.

The launch is part of NBCI's broader health initiative agenda for April 2026, which also includes the "Vaccines are Good for America" social media campaign launching April 19, and the "Parkinson Brain Health" social media campaign launching April 25. These campaigns will be distributed across NBCI's extensive network of churches and community organizations.

NBCI's health initiatives also include the ongoing National Clinical Trials Strategic Plan (NCTSP), which works to broaden engagement of African-American and Latino communities in clinical trials, the Heart First Program operating in Miami and Charlotte, and the Black Breast Cancer Fund.

Rev. Anthony Evans, a leader associated with NBCI, emphasized that the Black church has a unique role to play in health advocacy, given its trusted position within African American communities. "Our churches are the most trusted institutions in our communities," Evans stated. "We have both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead our people toward better health outcomes."

NBCI also announced the release of a proposal for the "Black Beautiful Babies Campaign" to address the nation's Black maternal health crisis, which sees Black women dying in childbirth at significantly higher rates than white women.