
Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite: Episode 7 with Dr. Joia Crear-Perry
04/14/22 • 34 min
Even as a child, Dr. Joia Crear-Perry was an activist and advocate for those that could not champion for themselves. As the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC), Dr. Crear-Perry identifies and challenges racism as a root cause of health inequities, including Black maternal mortality. In this episode, we explore how she took all the curveballs that life could throw at her, and turned them into triumphs for herself, for her family, for her patients and for Black and Brown birthing people everywhere.
- How preparation meeting opportunity allows you to forge your own path, even when others doubt what you are capable of
- What it means to shift career focus from being a practitioner in the craft to evolving your entire industry as an activist and policy expert
- What women and people of color can do to support their overall health and wellbeing, in a system not built for us or by us
Learn more about Black maternal mortality and how you can support the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC)
Dr. Joia Crear-Perry is a physician, policy expert, thought leader, and advocate for transformational justice. As the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC), she identifies and challenges racism as a root cause of health inequities. She is a highly sought-after trainer and speaker who has been featured in national and international publications including Essence and Ms. Magazine. In 2020, Dr. Crear-Perry was honored by USA Today in its “Women of the Century” series and featured on ABC Nightline’s “Hear Her Voice.”
Dr. Crear-Perry has twice addressed the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to elevate the cause of gender diversity and urge a human rights framework toward addressing maternal mortality. A proud recipient of both the Congressional Black Caucus Healthcare Heroes award and the Maternal Health Task Force at Harvard University Global Visionary Award for Commitment to Advancing Women’s Health, Dr. Crear-Perry’s most notable efforts include the removal of race as a risk factor for illnesses, including premature birth. Dr. Crear-Perry currently serves as a Principal at Health Equity Cypher and on the Board of Trustees for Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Community Catalyst, National Clinical Training Center for Family Planning, and the UCSF PTBi. She is an Adjunct Professor at Tulane School of Public Health. She was also recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Even as a child, Dr. Joia Crear-Perry was an activist and advocate for those that could not champion for themselves. As the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC), Dr. Crear-Perry identifies and challenges racism as a root cause of health inequities, including Black maternal mortality. In this episode, we explore how she took all the curveballs that life could throw at her, and turned them into triumphs for herself, for her family, for her patients and for Black and Brown birthing people everywhere.
- How preparation meeting opportunity allows you to forge your own path, even when others doubt what you are capable of
- What it means to shift career focus from being a practitioner in the craft to evolving your entire industry as an activist and policy expert
- What women and people of color can do to support their overall health and wellbeing, in a system not built for us or by us
Learn more about Black maternal mortality and how you can support the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC)
Dr. Joia Crear-Perry is a physician, policy expert, thought leader, and advocate for transformational justice. As the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC), she identifies and challenges racism as a root cause of health inequities. She is a highly sought-after trainer and speaker who has been featured in national and international publications including Essence and Ms. Magazine. In 2020, Dr. Crear-Perry was honored by USA Today in its “Women of the Century” series and featured on ABC Nightline’s “Hear Her Voice.”
Dr. Crear-Perry has twice addressed the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to elevate the cause of gender diversity and urge a human rights framework toward addressing maternal mortality. A proud recipient of both the Congressional Black Caucus Healthcare Heroes award and the Maternal Health Task Force at Harvard University Global Visionary Award for Commitment to Advancing Women’s Health, Dr. Crear-Perry’s most notable efforts include the removal of race as a risk factor for illnesses, including premature birth. Dr. Crear-Perry currently serves as a Principal at Health Equity Cypher and on the Board of Trustees for Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Community Catalyst, National Clinical Training Center for Family Planning, and the UCSF PTBi. She is an Adjunct Professor at Tulane School of Public Health. She was also recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Previous Episode

Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite: Episode 6 with Raquel Willis, Part II
“How much of your values are you going to lean into every step of the way?” As a transgender, Black, and queer woman, Raquel Willis harnesses storytelling through her work as an award-winning writer, activist, media strategist, and public figure. In this second episode of a two-part series, we pick up where we left off, journeying with her across the country as she shifted not only into the non-profit space but also leaning into grassroots activism which would become core to her purpose and mission in life, and continue with her as she shifted again into media and ultimately becoming the CEO of her own destiny.
In this second episode we cover:
- The crushing impact of the 2016 elections and the long-lasting impact on marginalized communities
- Learning about healing and restorative justice and how rehabilitation works for Black transwomen
- Making a major career pivot and leveraging your principles and integrity to stay grounded and centered
Raquel Willis is an award-winning writer, activist, and media strategist dedicated to Black transgender liberation. She has held groundbreaking roles throughout her career including director of communications for Ms. Foundation for Women, executive editor of Out magazine, and national organizer for Transgender Law Center.
As a thought leader on gender, race, and intersectionality, her writing has been published in numerous publications, books, and anthologies. Her writing has been published in Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham, Bulgari Magnifica: The Power Women Hold edited by Tina Leung, The Echoing Ida Collection edited by Kemi Alabi, Cynthia R. Greenlee, and Janna A. Zinzi, and Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha Blain. She has also written for Essence, Bitch, VICE, Buzzfeed, The Cut, and Vogue. During her time at Out, she published the GLAAD Media Award-winning “Trans Obituaries Project.” In 2023, she will release her debut memoir, I Believe in Our Power, about her coming of identity and activism with St. Martin’s Press.
In 2020, Raquel was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 and The Root 100 for a second time. In 2021, Raquel was named to the University of Georgia’s 40 Under 40 and Fast Company’s Queer 50.
Next Episode

Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite: Episode 8 with Nakeya Bennett
Drive, focus and determination are core to Nakeya Bennett’s pursuit of excellence in life, even when things didn’t always turn out as she meticulously planned. In addition to being a seasoned and talented, digital marketing strategist, Nakeya Bennett is also the owner and CEO of TRM Designs & Co., a full service interior design firm currently focused on residential, commercial, and event design. In this episode, we journey with Nakeya from childhood through early career where she made her plans and worked those plans until circumstances left her as a solo mom with a toddler, up to the present where she’s successfully navigating a thriving corporate career in consulting with a burgeoning boutique business that merges her passion and love for design and project management.
In this episode we cover:
- The importance of having great mentors that believe in you and push your potential, even when you don’t see it yourself just yet
- The sacrifices and hard decisions that single mothers navigate between career and their children
- How you can successfully navigate two hustles that you are passionate about to fuel your technical and creative desires
Check out Nakeya’s interior design firm, TRM Designs & Co
About Nakeya Bennett
Nakeya Bennett is a digital marketing executive, and works as Senior Manager at Accenture. In her role, she partners with large, global companies around the world to help them understand the digital landscape, the strategic role of content and how they should leverage both to tell their product or service story. She’s also a passionate diversity, equity and inclusion advocate and ally. Nakeya also owns and operates The Riley Method Designs also known affectionately as TRM Designs & Co. The boutique firm currently focuses on residential, commercial, and event design. She is passionate about transforming houses into chic functional spaces her clients and their families will enjoy and love for years to come. She believes in clean, classic designs that won’t become outdated. She believes that design should add to the character and value of the home rather than take away from it. Nakeya also owns TRM Designs Home offering quality affordable furniture and décor direct to the consumer.
Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite with Jessica Hartley - Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite: Episode 7 with Dr. Joia Crear-Perry
Transcript
Welcome to the hustle grind shine and reignite podcast. I'm your host, Jessica Hartley. Join me on another journey with amazing and talented professionals of color. We laugh and cry and take notes. But most of all be inspired all of this and more on our next episode of hustle, grind, shine. And let's go
Jessica HartleyHello, and welcome to another episode of hustle grind, shine and reignite. I am
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/hustle-grind-shine-and-reignite-with-jessica-hartley-314904/hustle-grind-shine-and-reignite-episode-7-with-dr-joia-crear-perry-45494455"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to hustle grind shine & reignite: episode 7 with dr. joia crear-perry on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy