COLUMBUS, Ohio — A powerful discussion on Black women’s health, led by a powerful panel of Black women leaders, brought together by Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Moderator and former Cincinnati councilwoman Yvette Simpson began the first statewide Black Women’s Health Symposium hosted by the office of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio in collaboration with the Black Women’s Health Movement and The Health Gap.

“African-American women are so much more likely to die in pregnancy, maternal mortality, infant mortality, life expectancy, there’s no question that so much of this is based in structural racism in our society,” Brown said. “And we know, we see every week it seems a new video of an African-American man killed by the police, we’ve seen in this pandemic the great revealer that’s shown white America the severity of racial disparities and on top of that we have a racist president of the United States so this is the time to move.”

Issues impacting black women’s health outcomes, such as physical, mindful, economic, and community health were among the topics discussed.

“While we are too often overlooked, there’s no doubt that Black women are a glue for our families and communities and we are a crucial part of the fabric of this country and indeed the whole world. But at the same time we’ve been suffering from many inequalities from the original pandemic of racism and sexism and now a reeling from the health and economic impacts of COVID-19,” said House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters.

Waters joined the conversation as a special guest.

“There’s a lot to address and a lot of work to do, but we should feel hopeful that these conversations are happening and we should feel steadfast in our mission to create a world that is equitable and just,” Waters said. “This work won't be easy, but as your partner in the halls of congress and as a Black woman who never backs down from a fight, I understand perfectly well that we have bound ourselves at the intersection of racism and sexism and we’re seeing the impacts of that intersection on our physical, mental, and economic health.

“I will never stop fighting and working to create a world that protects Black women, a world that values Black women and a world where Black women have fairer opportunities to thrive.”

Sen. Brown’s office began planning the event last year, after it heard from Ohioans who were deeply concerned about rising rates of Black maternal mortality and other disparities in health that Black women have faced throughout history.