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Diabetes in Color — Overview:  Artivists for Health: Diabetes in Color is a free, innovative public health initiative that blends creative practice with education, prevention, and management of Type 2 diabetes. Led by the nonprofit Social Art and Culture, the program launches during National Nutrition Month in March, as a pilot in Washington, D.C., covering Wards 5, 7, and 8. It links wellness, culture, and evidence-based care to encourage sustainable health behaviors in communities of color.

Why This Matters for Public Health & Wellness: Type 2 diabetes rates are rising across the country, particularly among communities of color, due to structural inequities in access to care, nutrition, and stress management. In Washington, D.C. alone, more than 43,000 adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, and nearly 29% of adults have prediabetes. Diabetes in Color targets not just blood sugar levels but also stress, self-efficacy, and overall well-being.

The Creative Care Approach: Diabetes in Color features Creative Care Sessions, art activations led by artists that enhance traditional public health education through social prescribing. These include movement and dance by SokaTribe, sound healing and meditation by The Boundless Life and Tara Aura, breathwork by Breath Sekou and Energy Healer, Ayo Handy-Kendi, visual journaling and drawing by Detox Art, chair aerobics by Kelly Davidson, and playback theater with Verbal Gymnastics, ongoing until June 2026. Benefits include better glucose control, reduced stress and stigma, and a shift in public perception from a clinical approach to a holistic, human-centered one.

Evidence-Informed and Community-Driven: The program is supported by research and evaluation in partnership with the Georgetown University Stress, Health, and Development Lab, which studies how lived experiences influence long-term health. It also collaborates with Whitman-Walker Health, a Washington, DC, trusted community provider with over fifty years of leadership in inclusive care. These partnerships ensure the program combines scientific insights with cultural relevance and community trust.