Our work seeks to destigmatize issues facing the COVID-19 community and people with related chronic illnesses and disabilities by offering alternative narratives that get to the root of what it's like to live with a novel or chronic illness.


MISSION

Through a global network of COVID-19 patients, chronic illness allies, and health and disability advocates, Body Politic breaks down barriers to patient-driven whole-person care and well-being, particularly for historically marginalized communities by facilitating peer-support, cultivating patient-led research and public education, and leading community-based advocacy.

OUR STORY

In March 2018, we founded Body Politic as a queer feminist wellness collective and a space for inclusivity, accessibility, and crucial discussions about the very real connection between wellness, politics, and personal identity. Two years later, Body Politic started the COVID-19 Support Group after Founder and President Fiona Lowenstein, and Board Member Sabrina Bleich became sick with coronavirus. After falling ill, we quickly realized that there was a lack of resources, content, or communities catering to the needs of COVID patients. So, we decided to make our own…

Since our launch, the Body Politic Covid-19 Support Group has grown to over 10,000 members from 30+ countries. Housed on the Slack app, group members have access to dozens of different channels, which give space for more personal discussion. Some of our channels include those specifically for medical professionals, parents of children with Covid-19, LGBTQ+ individuals, BIPOC+, and different regions around the world.

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Although many publications and content creators are reporting on COVID-19, public knowledge continues to lag behind personal experiences. We hope to bridge this gap by honoring the nuances of individual experiences, and highlighting some of the common ground we’ve found with others in the support group. Our work seeks to de-stigmatize issues facing the COVID-19 community and offer alternative narratives that get to the root of what it’s like to be infected with and recover from coronavirus.

 
 

 VISION

In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we see an opportunity for a paradigm shift, where those who have been historically marginalized in health, medicine and wellness have the tools, relationships, and the responsive systems and practitioners to serve as leaders and effective partners in their own care and well-being.

VALUES

Patient-Led

Care Centered

Historically Informed

Health Democratized