National Black Church Initiative Launches Parkinson's Disease Program in Houston and St. Louis

The National Black Church Initiative launched a new Parkinson's Disease educational program in Houston and St. Louis this month, targeting health disparities that affect African Americans at higher rates.

The NBCI, a coalition of 150,000 African American churches representing 27.7 million members, created the African American Parkinson's Patient Advocacy Organization as part of the effort. The organization launched on April 9, 2026.

The program aims to increase awareness of Parkinson's disease symptoms, treatment options, and clinical trial opportunities within Black communities. Research shows Black Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's at lower rates than white Americans, partly due to barriers in healthcare access and awareness.

The NBCI is also running a "Vaccines are Good for America" social media campaign, set to launch April 19, 2026, to counter vaccine misinformation it identifies as a national health crisis for the African American community.

Other NBCI health initiatives include the National Black Breast Cancer Fund, a prostate cancer awareness film project for Black men, and a "Black Beautiful Babies Campaign" addressing the Black maternal health crisis.

The organization has also launched a pilot "Heart First" program in Miami and Charlotte, North Carolina.