That Girl Needs A Kidney: Malkia S. White

08/02/2026

August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month (National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month)!

“National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month is a collaborative initiative of the National (Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation) Multicultural Action Group (NMAG) to save and improve the quality of life of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye, and tissue donation.

National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month* stems from National Minority Donor Awareness Week, founded in 1996 by the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), to bring heightened awareness to donation and transplantation in multicultural communities – focusing primarily on African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American communities.”

Resource & Photo Credit: Donate Life America

07/20/2026

Please write your Senator NOW!

Insulin isn't optional — it's lifesaving.

07/05/2026

Buy your tickets now!

“David Eckstein is a former Major League Baseball player known for his Just Enough style of play. The youngest of five in a family affected by kidney disease, David learned early on that life is precious and should never be taken for granted.

He made his major league debut with the Anaheim Angels in 2001, and despite always being considered an underdog, led the league in grand slams while contributing to the Angels’ 2002 World Series victory.

In 2006, with the St. Louis Cardinals, Eckstein helped lead the team to his second World Series championship and was named the World Series MVP.

Over Eckstein’s ten-year career, he was a two-time All-Star, the 2006 Babe Ruth Award winner, and the first-ever recipient of the Heart & Hustle Award.

Off the field, David has dedicated himself to advocating for organ donation and, since 2007, has partnered with Mid-America Transplant. Post-career, he can still be found on the baseball field, mentoring young players. He has earned three gold medals as part of the 18U Team USA Baseball coaching staff, and also works with MLB International, coaching kids from all over the world.”

Resource: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/David-Eckstein/264212705

Superstar duo David and Ashley Eckstein share the stage to discuss their new books!

07/04/2026

“…for in every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance….” Phillis Wheatley, The Connecticut Gazette, March 11, 1774

READ “7 Black Heroes of the American Revolution” on HISTORY: https://www.history.com/articles/black-heroes-american-revolution

WATCH 📺 “Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War” on PBS: https://www.pbs.org/video/declarations-black-americans-and-the-revolutionary-war-lz3868/

Resources & Photo Credits: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h19t.html; Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division, The New York Public Library. "Crispus Attucks first martyr for America." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1925. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/0f4d2730-c6cf-012f-63cb-3c075448cc4b; https://www.history.com/articles/black-heroes-american-revolution; https://www.nps.gov/people/salem-poor.htm; https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/cornelius-titus.htm; https://varnumcontinentals.org/armory-museum/revolutionary-war-period/; Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library. "Facsimile of the Marquis de Lafayette's original certificate commending James Armistead Lafayette for his revolutionary war service with portrait after John B. Martin." The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1784. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/95141390-c6cf-012f-3853-58d385a7bc34; https://www.britannica.com/biography/Phillis-Wheatley #/media/1/641615/350109

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06/24/2026

Register now for the National Minority Quality Forum LEADS National Initiative Webinar Series.

Join the Conversation That Could Change Community Health.
Flint LEADS is bringing together residents, researchers, clinicians, and community leaders to shape the future of early disease detection in Flint and beyond. Learn how community-driven research can improve health outcomes and help build America’s first model early detection city.
📅 Tuesday, June 30th
⏰ 5:00 PM EST
📍 Virtual Webinar

👉 Register here: https://hubs.la/Q04mbFtB0

06/21/2026

Blessings to fathers all around the world 🌍

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06/21/2026

STAY INFORMED! Rule takes effect JULY 31, 2026.

Major changes are coming to Medicaid. Across the country, many rare disease adults and caregivers eligible for coverage under Medicaid expansion may soon be required to demonstrate 80 hours a month of work, education, or volunteering to keep their coverage.

NORD reviewed the interim final rule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that outlines how states must enforce this rule, and we’ve created two plain language resources explaining it:

1️⃣ Medicaid Changes Quick Reference Guide, which outlines who is impacted and how, serving as a "go-to" resource for patients, caregivers, advocates and policy leaders: https://bit.ly/3PZ8Hhe

2️⃣ Plain-Language CMS Rule Explainer, a plain-language translation of the entire interim CMS rule: https://bit.ly/3S7e2n7

States have important choices to make that will affect rare disease patients and caregivers regarding medical frailty exemptions, verification, documentation, and outreach. NORD is here to help, and we remain a resource to lawmakers to ensure the rare disease community is heard and protected.