Non-Profit Grant Awarded To Body and Soul Sovereignty United

We’re happy to announce the 2021 fourth quarter $10,000 Non-Profit Grant recipient — Luana Rodriguez, founder of Body and Soul Sovereignty United.

Body and Soul Sovereignty Unite is a Native-led non-profit organization whose mission is to address the current maternal health crisis in American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) women. They support Native women as self-advocates in their health, and provide them with access to all-inclusive, evidence-based maternal health knowledge to make informed choices in the course of their healthcare. 

Luana shared some of the challenges ahead of her: 

“The Indigenous population in the U.S. consists of over 566 tribes. We will have access to not only the tribes in the immediate Arizona region but also, nationally. In light of historical trauma and the high prevalence of health disparities seen in Native women, it would behoove us and the healthcare community to take a ‘universal’ approach in the care of Native women. In other words, we must assume that every Native woman we reach out to and care for, will have had experienced some form of trauma in their lives. As such, we will be dealing with a very large market regionally and nationally… A previous history of provider mistrust may initially position the nonprofit as ‘unworthy’ in the eyes of Native women and there may be resistance to participation in the beginning. In addition, we may be met with opposition from healthcare providers in their training or lack of provider accountability to provide equitable care to Native women.”

She plans to use the $10,000 Non-Profit Grant for social media marketing, attending conferences, as well as deferring administrative costs. We’re proud to support Luana in her crucial work.

If you’re thinking about applying for the $10,000 January Amber Grant, just click here to get started. Just to remind you, “Skilled Trades” is the Business Specific Category for January’s additional $10,000 Grant.