Day one of Wellness Week(end) 2026 is in the books and we are stILL buzzing.

If you were there, you already know. If you weren’t, let us paint the picture for you. We kicked things off with our incredible host Aisha Howard (@AishaHoward) setting the tone, opening remarks from Representative Kim Schofield, and a keynote from the one and only Montel Williams (@montel_williams) that had the entire room on their feet. The energy from the very first moment was unmatched. Then we got into it. Dr. Deliqua Isom (@dr.deliqua_isom) walked us through strategies for regulating our nervous systems, because managing a chronic illness starts with understanding what’s happening inside your body and learning how to bring yourself back to center. Our caregivers got their own dedicated space with the Love in Action session with lupus warrior Dr. Charisma Atkins (@simplycharisma) and one of her best friends, Jen Price (@craftedforaction), and moderated by our Director of Communications, Ashley Ratcliff Lundy, because the people who hold us up deserve to be held up too. After lunch, Dr. Evelyn Hunter (@luvevlyn) had us in our feelings with a real conversation about the diagnosis dilemma, and how avoidance, acceptance, and identity all show up when you’re living with something that changes the way you see yourself. Calee Carter broke down the differences between NMOSD and MS in a way that finally made sense. Our founder Victoria Reese Brathwaite (@picturethisvic) closed out the afternoon sessions reminding every woman in that room to unleash her impact. And then? We slipped into our pajamas for an After Dark party that had us laughing, learning, and letting loose with Goody Howard (@askgoody) and Dr. Mia Cowan (@drmiacowanmd). This is what happens when Black women living with chronic illness are given a space that was built just for them. Day two, we’re coming for you. #WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #BeyondLimits #WeAreILLWeek #BlackWomenHealth