2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Public Health CEO Sonya Young Aadam

December 3, 2025

Sonya Young Aadam, CEO of California Black Women's Health Project (CABWHP), reflects on her organization's 2025 work addressing health crises and systemic challenges facing Black Californians. After returning to California following banking careers on the East Coast, Aadam has led CABWHP in responding to emergencies like the Altadena and Palisades fires while advocating to protect mental health funding programs. The organization has focused on providing community support through grief-focused gatherings, coordinating donations, and fighting to preserve the California Reducing Disparities Project funding that supports mental health infrastructure for historically excluded communities.

Who is affected

Black women and girls across California
Black communities in Altadena and the Palisades impacted by fires
Black individuals living with Alzheimer's
Black birthing people seeking maternal health support
Communities served by California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP) mental health programs
California Black Women's Health Project (CABWHP) organization and its constituents

What action is being taken

CABWHP is holding grief-focused Sister Circles for Black women to process loss and receive community support
The organization is coordinating donation banks for fire victims
CABWHP is advocating to protect and expand California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP) funding
The organization is conducting community education and outreach on maternal health
CABWHP is providing culturally congruent information to communities

Why it matters

This work matters because Black communities in California face systemic racism and health disparities that are often ignored or misrepresented by policymakers. CABWHP provides critical, community-led infrastructure that addresses physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being through culturally appropriate approaches. The organization serves as a bridge between Black communities and systems that historically have excluded them, ensuring that Black women are centered in health solutions rather than being marginalized. Policy decisions made without community input can destabilize vital programs and erode trust, making advocacy organizations like CABWHP essential for protecting life-saving services and holding institutions accountable.

What's next

In 2026, CABWHP aims to deepen its presence across California as a trusted force for change through policy, advocacy, outreach, and education that respond to evolving needs of Black women and girls. The organization will focus on creating spaces for healing, holding institutions accountable, and ensuring Black women are centered in solutions as crises emerge and systems shift.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint