Welcome to Thrivency’s first weekly newsletter! 👋🏽
In case you missed the announcement, starting now, I’m transitioning the cadence from a monthly to a weekly newsletter. Here’s why:
SO many wellness news stories and trending topics pop up daily. Now I have more opportunities to update you on what’s happening in a timely manner
I can deliver more value by launching new content series (hint, hint: read the next paragraph 👀)
This cadence supports Thrivency’s growth, which will ultimately help us deliver the best wellness resources and information to you in the future
And here’s the schedule you can expect moving forward:
First Thursday of the month: Wellness News You Can Use 🗞 (that’s today!). I’ll curate a list of thought-provoking articles, videos, and social posts sourced from around the internet and our own original content.
Second Thursday of the month: Local Event Lineup 📍 I’ll share a list of wellness events you can check out across five major cities.
Third Thursday of the month: Origins of Wellness 🌍 New content alert! I’m so excited to put my researcher hat on and ask the big questions: Where did [insert popular wellness trend] actually originate? Who popularized it? What was its original intention?
Fourth Thursday of the month: Community Voices 🎙 Another new content series?? This will be exactly what it sounds like: Q&A’s with brilliant entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and enthusiasts from the wellness space.
Fifth Thursday of the month… well, some months are just way too long. On the occasional fifth Thursday, I’m taking a break to rest and regroup for the following week!
Okay, enough of my yapping…
🔎 In this issue:
Let’s dive in ⤵️
🍯 Celebrating Indigenous Food Entrepreneurs
Indigenous food producers, chefs, and educators convened in Seattle this past October to celebrate the inaugural Native Grown and Gathered Food Expo.
They exchanged bites of berry jam and smoked salmon while discussing strategies to connect food sources and revitalize the health and wellness of Tribal communities. But will a lack of funding pose a threat just as they’re building momentum? 😨
The future of this brand new event is now up in the air as the federal government claws back USDA funds appropriated for farmers and food programs. Read the full story from ICT:
💪🏾 FYP: Fitness is Political
Joe Blanchet (TikTok and IG) has been crushing it this year, but not just by typical social media standards. He’s found the beautiful sweet spot when a creator can drive engagement and also focus on a deeper purpose.
Joe uses his platform to educate the masses on why fitness is inherently political in a country like the U.S., where Black bodies are over-policed and #gymbro culture is quickly becoming an entry point to the alt-right pipeline. 🙄
I recommend watching these series: Running is Political, Fitness is Political, and the newest addition, Squats & Thoughts. Tap in, even if you can’t remember the last time you picked up a dumbbell.
@joebfit Watch me train while I talk politics! #fitness #politics #fittok #fyp
🩻 Black Tech Giant Launches Health Vertical
Before most AFROTECH attendees even had the chance to publish their 2025 conference recap posts, Blavity CEO Morgan DeBaun announced the launch of the conference’s newest brand pillar—AFROTECH HealthStack. 🩺
The 2026 conference website already has a preview of this track for future attendees, stating that it explores “the future of care through AI-powered diagnostics, digital therapeutics, wearable tech, biotech, and inclusive design.”
They clearly understand the importance of involving Black medical professionals in the design and development of medtech, which will impact how all of us engage with the healthcare system in years to come. Check it out:
📲 Check your DMs
You know that friend that just can’t stop DMing you posts? That’s me today, because I’ve noticed sooo many interesting things on social platforms lately to intellectually snack on.
Here’s a quick roundup:
Meadow Lane, an influencer-friendly, boutique grocery store in NYC has been driving TikTok users mad. Primarily because selling caviar and $17 gluten-free chicken nuggets comes across as tone deaf while families’ SNAP benefits were cut. Need a good laugh? Check the comments of this founder’s TikTok review. 🛒
In two separate but recent incidents, Black mothers in active labor were mistreated by nursing staff at hospitals. Talk about a hard watch, but with these exchanges captured on camera, it provides a harrowing look into the realities of pregnant women seeking care. 🤰🏾
Bennett College, an all women’s HBCU in Greensboro, has a unique area on campus dedicated solely to wellness. Students can use the SheCare Wellness Pods for private yoga and meditation practices, or attend weekly sound baths, art therapy, and more. So innovative and I feel like every college student needs this! 🧘🏾♀️
That was fun right? If you enjoyed this, tell a friend to tell a friend! Every subscription, follow, or engagement with our content means the world 🌎
See ya next week when we deliver our Local Event Lineup!
The latest from Thrivency:
Last month, we launched a directory of 100+ multicultural wellness businesses. 🎉 Stop endlessly scrolling social, diving deep into Google results, or leaving it all up to chance — we’ve curated an easy-to-navigate dashboard of BIPOC-owned and operated brands to support.
We recently published the third episode of SACRED SPACES, our original video series that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the most amazing wellness businesses around the country.
Explore our Articles + Insights
Interested in partnership opportunities? Email us at [email protected]