Melodie Narain-Blackwell is a passionate health advocate, educator, mobilizer, and the founder of Color of Crohn’s & Chronic Illness, a nonprofit dedicated to health equity and BIPOC communities that are challenged with digestive diseases and chronic illnesses. After suffering with stomach pain since the age of 6 (six) and rectal bleeding since age 13 (thirteen),, Ms. Narain-Blackwell was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2018, at the age of 36 (thirty-six). The year prior to her diagnosis, Ms. Narain-Blackwell suffered 4 months of nonstop rectal bleeding, burning, rectal tearing, hair loss, recurring rectal abscesses, arthritis, urgency, fatigue, and so much more. A colorectal surgeon evaluated her and told her nothing was wrong. Three weeks later, she was admitted to the hospital with a temperature of 104.3 degrees and a golf-ball-sized abscess burst in her rectum during examination; she was immediately scheduled to have her first surgery that would take place the next morning. Ms. Narain-Blackwell’s personal mission is to support the development of tools and opportunities to prevent anyone from ever having to endure the journey that was set before her. A Black and Indian woman and entrepreneur, she has been sharing her health journey—from being misdiagnosed with gout to being told that she needed to squeeze her inflammation out of her lips by a physician—since 2013 with an engaged and committed community. Once she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and shared that with her following, the response was unforeseen: she began to receive an influx of questions and petitions for help. Ms. Narain-Blackwell began to help where she could and research to find opportunities for others who were suffering with health challenges. Having followed an unconventional path from patient to patient-leader, Ms. Narain-Blackwell is a trailblazer who has been featured in Everyday Health, Guide to Living with IBD, Healthline, BlackDoctor.Org, Black Love Doc on OWN, and more. She has participated in numerous podcasts, interviews, and panels, and hosted events, spreading the importance of health equity and educating on the barriers to inclusion in research. Ms. Narain-Blackwell graduated from Berkeley College in Manhattan, NY, with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Fashion Marketing and Management, and a BA in Business Administration. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Health Education and Behavior. She currently resides in the Washington Metropolitan area with her husband Ronald, and 2 children (Zaden & Zarie).