AfroWell: A Life-Course - Human Security Health Model
AfroWell is a life-course health initiative developing culturally grounded wellness ecosystems as scalable community infrastructure. The model integrates biological, ecological, relational, and spiritual dimensions of health into cohesive systems designed to strengthen population stability across critical life transitions. AfroWell advances a translational framework that bridges community-rooted care practices with policy-recognizable public health structures, preserving cultural integrity while enabling structural scale.
The Problem
Across the United States, health systems remain fragmented, reactive, and disconnected. Critical biological transition phases - including pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and midlife endocrine transition - are often treated as isolated clinical events rather than population-level stability nodes. Simultaneously:
  • Maternal morbidity and mortality persist at disproportionate rates.
  • Cardio-metabolic disease accelerates during midlife endocrine transition.
  • Food system inequities undermine metabolic health.
  • Chronic stress erodes community stability.
  • Culturally grounded care systems remain under-recognized and underfunded.
Communities have developed trusted support ecosystems. However, these systems lack formal integration, sustainable funding pathways, and policy recognition.
The AfroWell Model
AfroWell operates as a Human Security Hub model organized across life-course domains:
1. Perinatal & Postpartum Infrastructure
Community-based support networks, lactation circles, birth advocacy, and navigation services aligned with maternal health outcomes.
Community Support Networks
Trusted peer-to-peer systems that provide continuous care throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery.
Lactation Circles
Group-based breastfeeding support that combines clinical knowledge with cultural practices and community wisdom.
Birth Advocacy
Navigation services that ensure families receive culturally responsive care and informed decision-making support.
Critical biological transition phases including pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and midlife endocrine transition, are often treated as isolated clinical events rather than population-level stability nodes.
2. Midlife Metabolic & Endocrine Transition Support
Group-based metabolic literacy, biomarker education, culturally adapted nutrition, and stress regulation strategies targeting cardiometabolic risk.
Key Components
  • Metabolic literacy education grounded in community knowledge systems
  • Biomarker education that empowers informed health decisions
  • Culturally adapted nutrition strategies
  • Stress regulation practices targeting cardiometabolic health
Why Midlife Matters
Cardiometabolic disease accelerates during midlife endocrine transition. AfroWell addresses this critical window with culturally grounded support systems that recognize the intersection of biological, social, and environmental factors.
3. Food & Ecological Health Systems
Food sovereignty initiatives, soil and microbiome education, and community-based nutrition resilience programming.
Food Sovereignty Initiatives
Community-led programs that restore agency over food production, distribution, and cultural food practices.
Soil & Microbiome Education
Ecological literacy programs connecting soil health, gut health, and community wellness through integrated systems thinking.
Nutrition Resilience Programming
Community-based strategies that build sustainable access to culturally appropriate, nutrient-dense foods.
4. Collective Spiritual & Relational Coherence
Inclusive practices supporting stress physiology regulation, social cohesion, and community resilience.
Structural Innovation & Partnership Opportunities
Structural Innovation
AfroWell's primary innovation is a Translational Architecture that:
01
Maps culturally grounded care ecosystems
02
Defines scope and safety guardrails
03
Establishes referral interoperability with clinical systems
04
Aligns measurable outcomes with public health indicators
05
Creates pathways for funding and policy recognition
Rather than positioning wellness as an individual lifestyle choice, AfroWell treats community-rooted care systems as infrastructure.
Pilot Development
AfroWell is preparing to launch a structured Human Security Hub pilot integrating:
  • Perinatal and postpartum support
  • Midlife metabolic education
  • Food system grounding
  • Stress regulation frameworks
Measurable Outcomes
  • Breastfeeding initiation and duration
  • Postpartum follow-up rates
  • Cardiometabolic risk indicators
  • Stress and resilience markers
  • Participant retention and engagement
Partnership Opportunities
AfroWell seeks collaboration with:
Public health departments
Maternal health initiatives
Community health organizations
Academic research partners
Environmental justice initiatives
Philanthropic foundations
Policy advisors
Funding Priorities
Current funding needs include:
  • Pilot site implementation support
  • Data collection and evaluation infrastructure
  • Community health facilitator training
  • Policy translation development
  • Administrative and ecosystem-building capacity
Founder
Dr. Keniece Ford El is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and well-being educator with over 20 years of experience in women's health and integrative healing systems. She is the Founder of AfroWell and a doctoral researcher in women's spirituality and healing traditions at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Her work bridges clinical practice, community-based systems, and human security frameworks.
Contact & Engagement
AfroWell is currently seeking strategic partners and funders aligned with life-course health innovation, maternal health equity, and culturally grounded public health infrastructure development.