Program areas at Henrietta Lacks House of Healing
In 2021, HELA100: The Henrietta Lacks Initiative commemorated 70 years since her HeLa cells changed the world and her untimely death on October 4, 1951. HELA100s 2021 impact includes education and engagement with 28.5 million people around the world, learn more at hela100.org. HELA100 Colloquium annual conference honoring Henrietta by highlighting the global and community leaders advancing health equity and social justice from patient rights, genetics, precision medicine, cancer disparities, maternal health, access to care, cultural humility, and community engagement. HELA100 Conversation Series monthly dialogue featuring the Lacks Family, experts and special guests educating future generations on Henrietta Lacks' legacy and the impact of her HeLa cells. Henrietta Lacks Legacy Gallery virtual platform utilizing Henrietta's legacy and art to educate and empower patients, researchers, and clinicians to dispel fear, misinformation and medical mistrust, increase access to clinical trials and reduce health disparities. HELA UNITE - Reclaiming Our Story to Conquer COVID-19 is an education and outreach project to address vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans by engaging social content with The Lacks Family and experts to provide facts, build trust, and increase access. Teal Takeover collaborating to take action to end cervical cancer through education, advocacy and action in honor of Henrietta who died from metastatic cervical cancer at age 31. HELA100 Worldwide Tour launched with unveiling of the University of Bristol commissioned Henrietta Lacks statue by artist Helen Wilson-Roe and the Henrietta Lacks Studentship a paid cell biology laboratory internship, free visits for students to learn about cell biology, and a curriculum. In Germany, diplomatic leaders, artists, poets, researchers, scientists, students, and community members, participated in educational workshops and conversations on Henrietta's legacy, racism, ethics, patient empowerment, normalized malpractice, oral history, the societal impact of the prison industrial complex and the role of the arts in education. At the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, a Director-Generals special dialogue and award acknowledged Henrietta Lacks contribution to revolutionary advancements in medical science. The United Nations recognized the WHO Director-Generals award to Henrietta Lacks as one of the top 10 defining moments for gender equality in 2021.