Resilient Sisterhood Project (RSP)

What are your organization’s guiding values?
The Resilient Sisterhood Project (RSP) is a Boston-based nonprofit—now located in Cambridge—founded in 2012 to raise awareness of diseases of the female reproductive system and educate women of African descent affected by them. We approach these diseases and associated issues through a cultural and social justice lens. We believe that poor knowledge of reproductive health is primarily related to health, racial, and socioeconomic disparities. RSP works locally and nationally with community partners, ranging from grassroots organizations to academic, medical, scientific, and environmental institutions. We serve a demographic between 15 and 99+ years old. Though we work with people from all socioeconomic levels, we place a special emphasis on disenfranchised communities.

What are the ongoing services or programs that your organization provides? 
Our six core programs include: 1) Community Education and Outreach - addresses knowledge gaps about reproductive health and rights, diseases of the reproductive system, and other health conditions.
2) Sisterhood Empowerment Circle - creates a safe space to explore our reproductive rights as well as our resiliency and strengths, while we critically examine the structured inequities that make us more vulnerable to diseases and other conditions of the reproductive system. 3) Environmental Justice and Reproductive Health - Educates community members about the historical legacy of environmental injustice and its deleterious effects on Black women’s reproductive health. 4) Incarceration and Reproductive Health - Examines the reproductive health needs and rights of formerly incarcerated women of color in the US prison system. 5) Reproductive Health and Immigration - Works to address harsh anti-immigration policies and the many challenges that documented and undocumented immigrant women of color often face accessing reproductive health and rights services. 6) Art and Reproductive Justice - Uses art as a catalyst—and draws on the Sankofa principle of looking to the past to understand the present. Through curated artwork, we tell the stories of historical injustices, but we also honor our ancestors and show the empowerment of Black women over time.

Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives that your organization would like others to know about? 
We are planning several events for 2025, these include: 1) Screenings of reproductive health-focused documentaries, ranging from reproductive and maternal health to health equity 2) Art exhibitions, featuring our educational paintings regarding the history of gynecology and medical experimentation on Black bodies 3) Engaging workshops, panel discussions, conferences, art talks, and more in collaboration with our local and national partner organizations

Share a recent story that embodies the work of your organization.
On March 30th, 2023, RSP welcomed community members, partners, students, and more to the opening ceremony of an art exhibition entitled Call and Response: A Narrative of Reverence to Our Foremothers in Gynecology. The exhibition was co-sponsored by the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. Originally scheduled to close October 31st, 2023. However, it was extended until December 20th due to high public interest with visitors including but not limited to, philanthropic foundations, government offices, community-based organizations, health and science institutions, and high schools and colleges. This exhibition will soon be traveling to major art and educational institutions around the country.

If your organization was an emoji what would it be and why?

🎋 - Our founder, Lilly Marcelin, chose the bamboo plant, which is part of our logo, as a symbol and metaphor for RSP. In many cultures, bamboo serves as a symbol of strength, flexibility, and resiliency. When a storm comes, bamboo bends with the wind. When the storm stops, it resumes its upright position. Their ability to cope with adversity is inspirational.