Love Letters to Our Bodies
Conversations on health, healing, and happiness by, for and about African American women. An exploration of the mind, body, spirit connection. and opportunities to hear from spiritual teachers, holistic health practitioners, and women helping to make life for others.
DISCLAIMER: THE LOVE LETTERS TO OUR BODIES podcast does not provide medical advice. The opinions, experiences, AND insights shared are for informational purposes only. Nothing shared on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other health care provider, don’t disregard or delay seeking it because of what you have heard on this podcast.
Love Letters to Our Bodies
UCSF's Community Engagement & Health Ministries Network
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Sometimes the strongest pathway to better health starts within the communities we trust most. In this episode, Gwendolyn Mitchell is joined by Michelle Moseley, Program Manager of Health Education and Community Outreach at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Marion Harris, nurse, educator, and faith health leader, for an important conversation about the role faith communities can play in improving health outcomes for Black women facing cancer. Together, they explore how partnerships between healthcare institutions and churches can help close gaps in access, education, and support, particularly in communities that have historically been underserved. Michelle shares how UCSF approaches community outreach, health education, and long-term engagement to advance health equity, while Marion reflects on how her own breast cancer journey shaped her commitment to faith-based health advocacy. The conversation also explores the healing role of faith communities, barriers created by systemic inequities, and why community connection can be a powerful part of navigating illness. Listen in for a thoughtful discussion on health, healing, and caring for the whole person.
Key Points From This Episode:
• Introducing today’s guests, Michelle Moseley and Marion Harris.
• An overview of UCSF’s cancer education and cancer information programs.
• The difference between outreach, health education, and long-term community engagement.
• Marion’s breast cancer journey and what led her into faith-based health advocacy.
• How faith communities help improve health outcomes for Black women with cancer.
• The unique role churches play in providing care, support, and community connection.
• Healing versus curing and the importance of supporting the whole person.
• Health inequities and why Black women face disproportionate cancer disparities.
• Finding support and community while navigating a broken healthcare system.
• How faith communities help address barriers to healthier lifestyle changes.
• The importance of meeting people where they are when supporting healing journeys.
• UCSF’s faith-based partnerships and community health education resources.
• Reflections on slowing down, self-care, and caring for mind, body, and spirit.
Quotes:
“This work is a product of my life. I'm a breast cancer survivor, having had my first diagnosis in my late 20s.” — Marion Harris [0:07:45]
“This work is so necessary in my opinion, and I don't even see it as work, as for me it's a mission and a calling, and something that I just have to be involved in.” — Marion Harris [0:10:19]
“Sometimes when we're talking healing, we're really saying cure, because we want the disease to just go away, but there's not always a cure. But healing can be threefold: mind, body, and spirit.” — Marion Harris [0:17:15]
“Black people have the highest death rate for many cancers: breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, which are some of the most common cancers, and each of them has screening tests for possible early detection, early diagnosis. Unfortunately, we have a broken healthcare system.” — Michelle Moseley [0:23:25]
“There are many things against us. There are also many people and resources that can help get us through.” — Michelle Moseley [0:26:01]
“The most important thing is to honor the person, meet them where they are.” — Marion Harris [0:35:04]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC)
UCSF HDFCCC Office of Community Engagement
Connect with the UCSF HDFCCC Office of Community Engagement
UCSF Faith & Health Communities Committee
UCSF Abundant Life Health Ministries Network
Love Letters to Our Bodies: Day of Renewal
Love Letters 2 Our Bodies is sponsored by Moyo Institute, Inc and the Lloyd Symington Foundation
Gwendolyn Mitchell on LinkedIn
MOYO Institute, Inc
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