May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but for many of us, the pandemic has brought mental health into focus. 
23andMe wants to raise awareness about the issue and give our employees some tools to cope with these trying times. We also want to share what we do with those outside the company. First, we just need to recognize that these are trying times. 
<h2>Pandemic and Other Forces</h2>
Beyond COVID-19, political upheaval, war, economic uncertainty, and other stressors have compounded to create a mental health crisis. This crisis has hit some of us harder than others. 
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide">25 percent increase</a> in anxiety and depression worldwide.  In December 2021, in a rare advisory, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that young people were in the midst of an unprecedented<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf"> mental health crisis</a>. 
Working parents also feel mentally stressed; more than 66 percent reported feeling “burned out,” according to a recent study by researchers at Ohio State University. And not that you need more confirmation, but a study last year by the Society for Human Resource Management found that almost half of all working people were burned out or emotionally drained.
<h2>Focusing Attention</h2>
Addressing the issue starts with simple awareness that we have a problem. Indeed, mental health issues — depression, anxiety, and stress — were all issues before the pandemic, but COVID-19 focused our attention.
“It’s too bad it took a pandemic to do that,” said Dr. Vidya Krishnan, the Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director for the Children’s Health Council and a program called RISE that is focused on helping teens in mental health crises.
The comment came up during an internal company-wide meeting at 23andMe, part of a series of talks and presentations meant to raise awareness and give employees tools to help themselves and others struggling with mental health challenges.
23andMe is committed to helping its employees identify strategies for overcoming some of these challenges. Some of this involves simply providing space and permission to talk about it, but we also offer tips for reducing stress. 
For Mental Health Awareness Month, 23andMe held a live stream on May 26th with special guest speakers who covered topics as wide-ranging as making healthy, feel-good snacks or tips on breathing and meditation to reduce your stress each day. 

Here are some of the resources and additional information from those sessions. You can also check out the full stream here.
<h2>Striking a Balance Between Work and Life </h2>
Dr. Lauren Cook, a psychologist and author, was joined by Joey Price, a leadership coach and the CEO of Jumpstart HR. Together, they shared mental health resources to help people avoid burnout and find balance. 
How to approach your day:
During the discussion, Dr. Cook referenced Hal Elrod’s book <a href="https://miraclemorning.com/books/">The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)</a> and discussed the need to set yourself up for success at the start of each day. It could be something as simple as getting up early and being productive or just taking your time and watching TV in the morning. The key is being kind and giving yourself grace in the morning. 

In addition to Dr. Cook’s advice, Joey suggests taking the same approach for the rest of your day. 
“Know your work style and when you have your peaks and rushes of energy during the day,” he said, adding that you should try to tackle tasks during those times. 
It’s also important to communicate this with your supervisor and team members so they know what works best for you.
Meeting and optimizing your time:
The segment then goes into advice about meetings and optimizing everyone’s time. Joey’s advice is to over-communicate by attaching an agenda and keeping it time-bound. He also says it’s important to have boundaries with meetings. Figure out when you say no when you say yes to meetings, and when you say yes how to ask for a hard stop, or even ask ahead of time if you need to prepare anything to be ready for the meeting. Have those tools in your toolkit to be a better attendee and get more out of any meeting.
Dr. Cook’s big takeaway is to give yourself space between meetings, particularly for meeting planners. People need time between their sessions. Then, for people who are being invited to meetings, make sure you stay engaged. If, after a few meetings, you still ask if you really need to be there, it’s probably time to talk to your supervisor about it. 
Final advice:
Dr. Cook says everyone needs to start practicing “monotasking,” or focusing on one task at a time. The more you can be present for what’s happening right now, the better your mental health will be, especially since we’re seeing such a correlation between multitasking and burnout.
Joey’s final message: get outside, connect with nature, and even bring nature inside. It’s good for your mental health.
How to connect with them:
Dr. Lauren Cook: <a href="https://www.drlaurencook.com/">Website</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-boardroom-brain-with-dr-lauren-cook/id1607579872">The Boardroom Brain Podcast</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dr.laurencook/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.laurencook">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurencook/">LinkedIn</a>
Joey Price: <a href="http://www.jumpstart-hr.com">Jumpstart HR</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/while-we-were-working-your-weekly-small-business-hr/id1598005547">While We Were Working Podcast</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joeyvpricehr/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/joeyvpriceHR">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyvprice/">LinkedIn</a> 
<h2>Remember to Breathe</h2>
Kelly Blaser, yoga and meditation instructor, writer, and licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, shared wellness and breathing exercises you can easily include in your workday. 
What to do when you don’t have much time:
Kelly discussed what she calls “ninja mindfulness,” which is something you can do on the fly to integrate little moments of practice throughout your day. 
You might even need a mindset shift if you don’t have time to do meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises during your day. A practice of five to ten minutes daily, even just for a month, will radically shift how you experience your life. And if you don’t have time for that, even the little things you can do to shift your attention will help. For example, when you walk during the day, be aware of the way your foot strikes the ground and think about your kinship with the planet. Bring in that awareness and pair it with something you’re already doing. 
Breathing exercises:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Physiological sigh: Two inhalations through the nose and one long exhalation through the nose or mouth.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Breath retention and “box breathing”: Inhale to a count of 4, hold to a count of 4, exhale to a count of 4, and hold for a count of 4. Then go through it again.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Envision a point that’s at the base of your thoracic cavity, on top of the diaphragm. And then another point that’s two fist lengths above your head. As you inhale, you imagine energy flowing down from the upper point all the way to the base of the heart, then hold. As you exhale, imagine energy flowing back up to top, and then hold. If it’s difficult to picture energy flowing, just imagine you’re moving your awareness. </li>
</ol>
How to connect with Kelly:
<a href="https://www.somapsychotherapy.com/yoga">Website</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kellyblaser.dharmabridge/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyblaser/">LinkedIn</a>
<h2>Feel-good Foods</h2>
23andMe’s Chef Clinton and Janice Motha show you how to make feel-good snacks and drinks that can give you a mental boost during your workday
How to spruce up your water:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saffron honey water: To make a gallon, boil some water, add about a tablespoon of saffron, and a half a cup of organic honey. Then dump it over ice. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Basil and Meyer lemon: Roll the basil in your hands and dump it in the water</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A few other ingredient ideas: ginger and lime or mint and berries</li>
</ul>
Afternoon “pick me up” snack ideas:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make your own granola. One recipe involves mixing almonds, pecans, walnuts, and slightly hydrated raisins with honey and roasting them. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hydrate the granola in yogurt, and make it into balls. Then, dip it in dark chocolate.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Dark chocolate and raspberries</li>
</ul>
We can’t make the stress go away, but we hope that one or all of these sessions will help you turn down the stress meter and make getting through your day a little easier.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Mental Health Awareness Month Tips You Can Use

Angel Rich, whose father was adopted, always believed she was Dominican. She was raised in a household that spoke Spanish—she even minored in the language in college.
 But her 23andMe reports told another story. Her background revealed primarily African heritage, with a smattering of European and Asian ethnicity.
<h2>A Big Surprise</h2>
First came the surprise. “Having been told that I was Dominican my whole life, it was kind of a shock,” she said.
 Then came acceptance. “Yet it was also a relief to know where I came from…I had always been drawn to African culture.”
And later, curiosity. “I’m a researcher, so I wanted to understand why I had ancestry from places like Nigeria, the Congo, and Cameroon…and then I learned that the Fula people had traveled through all these places.”
 So in 2018, Angel Rich traveled to several countries in Africa, tracing the migration of her ancestors, the Fula people – one of the largest ethnic groups on the continent. “I wanted to learn more about my background,” she said. “The whole thing is fascinating to me.”
<h2>23andYou</h2>
Angel shared her story during “23andYou,” the first-ever community conference for our customers. The three-hour virtual event brought over 1,000  attendees together to learn more about the 23andMe experience. 
Participants learned more about our ancestry, traits, and Health reports, discovered new research initiatives underway, and heard stories from customers like Angel. The event also included several Q&amp;A sessions with product scientists, researchers, and other experts. 
<h2>Empowerment and partnership</h2>
Empowerment and partnership were key themes of the day. In a fireside chat, CEO Anne Wojcicki spoke about her desire “to do something where I’m truly empowering people” and stressed the importance of partnership. “You have to have true engagement with your customers, and you have to treat them like partners,” she said. 
One example of the power of that partnership can be seen firsthand in 23andMe’s <a href="https://www.23andme.com/therapeutics/">therapeutics program</a>, explained Principal Clinical Scientist Sophia Majeed during an afternoon breakout session. 
“Therapeutics research and the consumer groups are all interconnected. Our consenting customers power the flywheel that enables discoveries that benefit them and help further our understanding of science.”
Sophia discussed the origin of <a href="https://investors.23andme.com/news-releases/news-release-details/23andme-initiates-phase-1-clinical-trial-first-wholly-owned">23Me-00610</a>, a new experimental cancer drug now in clinical trials. It was discovered using insights from data provided by consented research participants. 
“We’ve just started our journey in clinical trials, and we have a long way to go,” she said, “but I often think about our research participants who started by filling out surveys about themselves, which led to the insights that allowed us to identify this potential target for cancer and develop this investigational drug that we’re now testing.”
<h2>New Insights</h2>
The conference ended with a lively Q&amp;A session and brief closing remarks from Anne.
“[This] was a really important event for me,” she reflected. 23andMe is entirely built upon empowering individuals. The hope of this meeting is to give you greater insights into your genetics, whether it’s on the ancestry or the health side, so you can really use this genetic code and this incredible knowledge to have a better life.”

Customers at the 23andYou Community Conference

In the early 2000s, three people had a radical idea. What if you could access your genetic information and truly understand what it means for your health?
That radical idea became the foundation of 23andMe.
 Since then, more than 12 million people have accessed their genetic information through 23andMe, and 80% of them have consented to participate in research that could lead to new insights and discoveries. 
Today, 23andMe turns 16. In many ways, we’re a lot like any other teenager. We’ve experienced some growing pains, we’re comfortable pushing boundaries, we’ve had our fair share of adventures, and we’re never afraid to question the status quo. 
 To celebrate this milestone, we’re resurfacing 16 of the best, strangest, funniest, and most influential moments in our company history.

<h6>1. Three people walk into an office…</h6>
Anne Wojcicki co-founded 23andMe in 2006 with Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza, who had previously worked at DNA micro-array company Affymetrix, to change the future of genetics and healthcare. The team of three worked out of a small office in Palo Alto, complete with an overcrowded, hardworking computer server room. Scientific rigor was top of mind; the co-founders spent their early days meeting with regulators, building a robust advisory committee, and figuring out how to give people direct access to their genetic information.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="889" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/blog1-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29733" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/blog1-1.png 2000w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/blog1-1-300x133.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/blog1-1-768x341.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/blog1-1-1024x455.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/blog1-1-880x391.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/blog1-1-1180x525.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>
 
<h6>2. What’s in a name</h6>
One of the first priorities was finding a company name, and Anne had a few ideas. In an early email (with the subject line: name explanation), she wrote:
“[The name] 23andME is derived from three elements:
23: pairs of chromosomes in our DNA, one set from each parent.
AND: people want to know what it means for them, and if you reverse ‘and,’ it spells DNA.
ME: It’s all relative to and about our customers – it’s their DNA; it’s their choice.
We also believe in 23and We; collective MEs can change the world.”

<h6>3. Drawing design inspiration from candy</h6>
23andMe had a name and vision. Now it just needed a logo. Early designs drew inspiration from unlikely sources, like bright, fruit-flavored candy. Each design iteration moved us closer to the logo we have today – a fun, colorful symbol of the accessibility and curiosity at the heart of 23andMe. Sweet!

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="889" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29734" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-.png 2000w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi--300x133.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi--768x341.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi--1024x455.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi--880x391.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi--1180x525.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>
 
<h6>4. You’re invited to a Spit Party</h6>
The elements of a good party are simple: food, drink, friends, music, stimulating conversation, and, in the case of our 2007 Spit Party held in New York City, saliva. The event was part of a larger strategy to introduce our product to the world.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="889" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-1-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29735" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-1-1.png 2000w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-1-1-300x133.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-1-1-768x341.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-1-1-1024x455.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-1-1-880x391.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-1-1-1180x525.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>
 
<h6>5. Look, Ma. We’re on TV!</h6>
Our first TV campaign, Portraits of Health, featured people sharing what they learned from their 23andMe reports. Some discovered unknown ancestry or insights about particular traits like blue eyes or curly hair. Others learned information about possible genetic risks related to their health. 

<h6>6. A part of something bigger</h6>
The 23andMe<a href="https://www.23andme.com/research/"> research model</a> invites customers to consent to participate and help to accelerate genetic discoveries that offer the potential for new insights and treatments. We regularly collaborate with partners across academia and industry and have authored and contributed to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/publications/">hundreds </a>of peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Our collaboration with <a href="https://www.michaeljfox.org/parkinsons-awareness-month?smcid=ap-a1b1R0000086fHf">The Michael J. Fox Foundation</a> allowed us to create a groundbreaking, dynamic<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/parkinsons-decade-of-discovery/"> research community</a> that ensures Parkinson’s patients have a voice.
And our publication in<a href="https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(20)30200-7"> The American Journal of Human Genetics</a> leveraged the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/transatlantic-slave-trade-paper/">genetic data</a> of close to 50,000 people to investigate the transatlantic slave trade, confirming new genetic links between the Americas and Africa.
[vc_video link=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG_2zj3I4gU&amp;list=PLFvkfbvHpp1lQ8bqNZaO629ePXdH7qSPx&amp;index=18&#8243; el_aspect=&#8221;916&#8243; align=&#8221;center&#8221;]
<h6>7. How to host a Neanderthal-friendly Thanksgiving dinner</h6>
Are you considering inviting a Neanderthal to your Thanksgiving celebration? We created a <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/six-things-serve-neanderthal-guest-thanksgiving/">set of guidelines</a> with everything you need to know about welcoming your closest extinct relative from the Pleistocene Epoch. 
Play to their strengths
Based on evidence that Neanderthals possessed sophisticated tool-making <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150114101528.htm">skills</a>, your guests may be able to handily carve up the turkey or roast using a stone or bone instrument.
Conversation starters
Neanderthals were quite social. They often had a nuclear family and lived in a close-knit community of hunter-gatherers, and they were intimately in touch with their surroundings. So be sure to ask about kids, parents, and friends. Questions about outdoor activities are okay, too!

<h6>8. Launching 23andMe+®</h6>
Many of our customers wanted more ways to engage in their genetics journey. So in 2020, we introduced <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23andMe+</a>, a new annual membership that provides exclusive access to genetic reports, as well as new reports and features as they become available. 

<h6>9. Contributing to COVID-19 research</h6>
We launched a large-scale<a href="https://medical.23andme.com/23andme-engages-its-millions-of-research-participants-to-study-covid-19/"> research study</a> of more than a million 23andMe customers as part of the global response to COVID-19. Through their participation, our researchers were able to quickly make<a href="https://medical.23andme.com/23andme-finds-evidence-that-blood-type-plays-a-role-in-covid-19/"> new findings</a> and<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/health-traits/covid-19-severity-calculator/"> build tools</a> to help advance our understanding of the virus.

<h6>10. Ringing in the next chapter </h6>
Anne rang the bell to the Nasdaq exchange on June 17, 2021, marking our first day trading as a public company. Her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTTnn2QLWWA">celebratory remarks</a> provided a glimpse into the future:
“23andMe is more than just a genetics company. We are an activist brand that is approaching health care and drug discovery with the individual at the center, as our partner. We are going to continue pioneering a consumer-centered personalized health care world. We are going to show that drug discovery can be more efficient when you start with a human genetic insight.”
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<h6>11. DNA enters the cultural conversation</h6>
We knew we had arrived when a famous singer, dancer, songwriter, and flutist dressed up as a<a href="https://twitter.com/23andMe/status/1190299652941180928?s=20&amp;t=99fTMJyEprlwqLbHhDtYxw"> life-sized DNA test kit</a> for Halloween to reference an eponymous lyric in her hit song “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P00HMxdsVZI">Truth Hurts</a>.”
Throughout the years, we’ve appeared in various corners of pop culture. We’ve been the punch line on the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ayIJed2dn4"> Late Show</a> and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYFfkBSo2mg&amp;t=2023s">public gift</a> for an award-winning musician. We’ve even shown up on an <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-and-you/23andmes-homage-to-jeopardy/">episode of a popular quiz show</a> when this clue was read to participants:
 “The “23” of 23andMe.com, a site tracing ancestry and personal genetic information, refers to pairs of these…”
 The answer? “What are chromosomes?”

<h6>12. Lemonaid joins the 23andMe team</h6>
We acquired <a href="https://www.lemonaidhealth.com">Lemonaid Health</a> in November 2021 as part of our commitment to make personalized healthcare a reality. Lemonaid, a telehealth and pharmacy company, focuses on delivering individualized, affordable care. Anne described the significance of the merger in an <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/23andme-to-acquire-lemonaid-health/">announcement</a>:
“We are acquiring Lemonaid Health so that we can bring true personalized healthcare to 23andMe customers. Personalized healthcare means healthcare that is based on the combination of your genes, your environment, and your lifestyle — with recommendations and plans that are specific to you.”

<h6>13. “What am I made of?”</h6>
We started 23andMe to make a difference in the lives of customers like Sheila, who connected with her birth mother and siblings after years of wondering, “What am I made of? What makes me, me?” 
Sheila called her reunion with family a gift. “This is a gift of family. What a blessing.”
[vc_video link=&#8221;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViLmlrqEC74&#8243;]
<h6>14. 23ME-00610</h6>
 Our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/therapeutics/pipeline/">therapeutics team</a> began <a href="https://investors.23andme.com/news-releases/news-release-details/23andme-initiates-phase-1-clinical-trial-first-wholly-owned">clinical trials</a> in early 2022 of our first drug developed entirely in-house. The drug, 23ME-00610, is an immune-oncology antibody aimed at treating tumors. The target for this antibody was identified using our proprietary genetic and health survey database.
“Our approach to drug discovery is driven by human genetics, and we have an incredibly large database from which to select and advance genetically validated targets more efficiently, and with a potentially higher probability of success, than traditional drug discovery methods currently allow,” explained Kenneth Hillan, our chief therapeutics officer.
“23ME-00610 is an exciting example of how we are translating our data into investigational therapeutics.

<h6>15. A culture of belonging</h6>
Blacks@, 23andShe, Femgineers, LGBTQ+, Neurodiversity, and 23andHear are just some of our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/diversity-equity-inclusion/">Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)</a>, which provide a place for employees with shared interests and experiences to gather and build community. 
Lauren Trusheim, a business analyst and member of 23andShe, shared what she loved about her group: 
“[23andShe] is a space for women to come together and learn from each other. Fostering a strong support system is essential for happiness and success both personally and professionally.”

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="889" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29736" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy.png 2000w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-300x133.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-768x341.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-1024x455.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-880x391.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-1180x525.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>
 
<h6>16. Celebrating – it’s in our DNA</h6>
Since day one, our employees (and their furry friends) have been at the core of everything we do. Here are a few photos from an internal celebration of our Sweet 16. 

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="889" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29737" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-2.png 2000w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-2-300x133.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-2-768x341.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-2-1024x455.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-2-880x391.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Copy-of-Copy-of-Lakshmi-copy-2-1180x525.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>

23andMe at 16

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled-design-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29658" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled-design-1024x576.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled-design-300x169.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled-design-768x432.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled-design-880x495.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled-design-1180x664.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Untitled-design.png 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
23andMe has landed on<a href="https://www.comparably.com/"> Comparably’s</a> 2022 list of<a href="https://www.comparably.com/awards/winners/best-company-bay-area-2022"> Best Places to Work in the San Francisco Bay Area</a>.
 The list is based on sentiment ratings provided by current employees across almost 20 workplace culture categories, including leadership, development opportunities, and work-life balance.
 23andMe ranked<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/leading-companies-in-bay-area-according-to-employees-2022-3#24-strava-2"> No. 25</a> out of 50 companies.
 In an anonymous review, one 23andMe employee described the company as “a great overall experience,” with “nice people to work with, lots of career growth opportunities, and a fun work environment.”

23andMe Named a 2022 Best Place to Work

23andMe supports the idea that we humans should celebrate our differences, not criminalize them.
That’s why we are writing to draw attention to recent legislative efforts across the US that essentially bar transgender youth from gender-affirming treatment. These kinds of laws have grave consequences to children and their families. 23andMe is also among more than 200 major companies to have signed a Human Rights Campaign and Freedom for All Americans statement <a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/200-major-u-s-companies-oppose-anti-lgbtq-state-legislation">opposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation</a>.
<h6>Gender Affirming Health Care</h6>
As we stated last year, gender-affirming health care for transgender people, including trans youth, is <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2780517">supported by most mainstream medical associations</a>. Gender-affirming health care is literally life-saving for many trans kids. Studies by the <a href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/145/2/e20191725">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>, <a href="https://whatweknow.inequality.cornell.edu/topics/lgbt-equality/what-does-the-scholarly-research-say-about-the-well-being-of-transgender-people/">Cornell University</a>, and other institutions have found that pubertal suppression treatment for trans youth was associated with lower odds of suicidal thoughts. 
Despite this overwhelming scientific support, many states are specifically attempting to criminalize health care for transgender youth. As of today, <a href="https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/bans-trans-youth-health-care/">15 states</a> have introduced legislation targeting gender-affirming care; ignoring the evidence, gender-affirming treatments for trans children are being treated as felonies and child abuse.
<h6>Access to Care</h6>
Unfortunately, this is not a hypothetical political move, but a very real and terrifying reality for trans kids who are lucky enough to have supportive families. Investigations <a href="https://www.aclutx.org/en/news/texas-wants-take-trans-kids-their-supportive-parents-were-suing">have already begun</a>. Despite following best practices in medicine, some gender-affirming clinics are <a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/update-as-top-u-s-companies-urge-elected-leaders-in-texas-and-other-states-to-abandon-anti-transgender-efforts-surging-opposition-to-attacks-on-lgbtq-youth-begins-crescendoing-across-the-nation">shutting down due to media pressure</a>. Some bills even attempt to ban families from traveling in order to maintain their trans child’s access to medical care.
Even bills that don’t directly target gender-affirming medicine can have an effect on trans health. Recent legislation could forcibly out LGBTQ+ children, make children with gay or trans parents unable to discuss their families in school, and trans children unable to have their name and pronouns respected. This is despite many studies showing that simply <a href="https://news.utexas.edu/2018/03/30/name-use-matters-for-transgender-youths-mental-health/">using a trans youth’s chosen name</a> and <a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/2020/07/29/research-brief-pronouns-usage-among-lgbtq-youth/">respecting their pronouns</a> significantly reduces their risk of depression and suicide.
<h6>Trust the Science</h6>
The science is clear. <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/4/e20182162/37381/Ensuring-Comprehensive-Care-and-Support-for">Having supportive family members</a> is associated with better mental and physical health in trans youth. Trans adolescents who receive gender affirmation are often more able to tend to other things, such as academic success, relationship building, and future-oriented planning. Trans kids and their parents and doctors know what’s best for them.
At 23andMe, science is at the heart of what we do, but this isn’t just about the facts, it’s also about people. Trying to legislate away the existence of trans people is not possible. They are part of humanity and have always been. We will continue our work to support and understand each other. Join us as we stand with our employees, customers, friends, and family who are transgender or have trans kids.If you’d like to learn more about the value of gender-affirming care for transgender youth, <a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/thousands-of-parents-join-human-rights-campaign-in-condemning-state-attacks-on-transgender-and-non-binary-youth">listen to parents of trans kids</a> and read this <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/4/e20182162/37381/Ensuring-Comprehensive-Care-and-Support-for">policy statement </a>from the American Academy of Pediatrics. You can also find out more about the status of state legislation to prohibit affirming care from the <a href="https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/bans-trans-youth-health-care/">UCLA School of Law Williams Institute</a> and <a href="https://www.transformationsproject.org/legislation">how to contact your representatives</a>.

Trust the Science: Support Gender-Affirming Health Care for Trans Kids

As a San Francisco Bay Area business analyst, Lauren Trusheim is familiar with male-dominated workplaces. 
“Coming from a data analytics and consulting background, I’m accustomed to being the only woman in the room,” Lauren explains. 
<h2>What are ERGs?</h2>
So when she learned about 23andShe, a 23andMe <a href="https://www.23andme.com/diversity-equity-inclusion/">Employee Resource Group (ERG)</a> dedicated to women’s personal and professional growth, she jumped at the chance to get involved. 
 “Joining 23andShe seemed like the perfect way to build connections with my new 23andMe colleagues and give back to the community,” she says. 
 23andShe, founded last year, promotes community involvement and empowerment through programs, educational events, and volunteer opportunities. Like other 23andMe Employee Resource Groups, it provides a place for employees with shared interests, experiences, or characteristics to gather and build community.
“It’s a space for women to come together and learn from each other,” Lauren says. “Fostering a strong support system is essential for personal and professional happiness and success.”
 In celebration of Women’s History Month, we asked Lauren and three other members of the 23andShe leadership team to reflect on the group&#8217;s impact and their hopes for the future.
<h2>What inspired you to get involved with the 23andShe Employee Resource Group?</h2>
Lauren Trusheim (she/her), Business Analyst: When Lemonaid Health was acquired by 23andMe, I was excited to learn about 23andShe! Throughout my career, I’ve actively sought out opportunities to connect with fellow women and learn from their experiences. 
Melinda King (she/her), Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: I thought it was a great opportunity to leverage the voice of women within 23andMe and to make certain that issues that are important to women have an appropriate platform. 
 Sophia Majeed (she/her), Principal Clinical Scientist: I think it&#8217;s important for us to have a space to discuss topics and challenges that are specific to women and propose solutions to improve our workplace experience. 
Women&#8217;s workplace issues often make headlines, from the increasing burden of childcare and domestic responsibilities on women during the pandemic to the gender pay gap, and it&#8217;s not unreasonable to assume that these same issues may impact women who work at 23andMe. 
I see the women&#8217;s ERG as a space where we can advocate for positive change for women at the company in an inclusive way that recognizes and celebrates our diversity.
Tracy Keim (she/her), Vice President, Consumer Marketing and Brand: I love groups founded by women, for women. I love hearing about other women’s journeys and stories and learning from them. 
Investing in each other makes us stronger – time, support, listening, advocating, allyship – it’s more important now than ever to build even stronger bonds between women at work. 
New <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/covid-19-and-gender-equality-countering-the-regressive-effects#:~:text=At%20a%20country%20level%2C%20the,overall%20job%20losses%20to%20date.">2021 McKinsey data</a> shows that the impact of COVID-19 on women who work has been reversed. We need to be sponsors of each other!
<h2>Do you ever find that your gender impacts your daily life?</h2>
Lauren Trusheim: Unfortunately, we live in a world primarily designed by and for (cis, white) men. We see this pop up in office temperatures, bathroom lines, and even the notorious underfunding of women’s health research. 
Living in a society that still largely revolves around the needs and preferences of men has contributed to my habit of always accommodating others and reinforced my people-pleasing tendencies. 
 Luckily, awareness about these inequalities and their impact on women continues to increase. I’m thankful to have ERGs like 23andShe that provide a platform for highlighting issues that impact women. 
 Melinda King: The way that I walk through most interactions in my daily life are impacted by the fact that I am a woman of color. The intersection of those two communities means I have to decide how to show up in spaces that were not designed for me and then navigate to get the outcome that works for me.
 Sophia Majeed: Often, when people find out that I am a Muslim woman, I am subjected to negative stereotypes and assumptions. It’s not ‘popular’ to advocate for the rights of Muslim women, even as we see governments across the globe profile us and implement laws to take away our freedom to practice our faith. 
We are often portrayed as victims who have no agency or control over our fate (it just so happens that most Muslim women I know are intelligent, brilliant, fierce, and independent!). When I told my principal investigator in grad school that I was expecting a baby, she asked me if my husband would even let me work. The stereotypes are tiring.
<h2>What makes you feel proud to be a woman?</h2>
Lauren Trusheim: I have been lucky to have a wide variety of women mentors, friends, and colleagues, all of whom are inspiring and supportive. They are breaking glass ceilings in their respective fields, balancing work and personal lives with grace, and are open about the failures and lessons they’ve learned along the way.
I am constantly inspired by my fellow women&#8217;s grit, tenacity, diversity, and supportiveness. 
Melinda King: Just looking around at all the women who have worked against all the odds to do incredible things for themselves and their communities. Whenever I think it can’t be done, I see someone do it, which makes me incredibly proud. 
I think about the women in my family and their challenges, yet they continued to thrive. Having a family of strong women is extremely empowering.
<blockquote>
<h3>&#8220;By showcasing the diversity of women, 23andShe can help challenge assumptions and stereotypes and create a space for women from all backgrounds.&#8221; </h3>
</blockquote>
Sophia Majeed: I feel most proud to be a woman when I reflect on how resilient we have been throughout history. The women leading Civil Rights movements in the U.S. and abroad inspire me. 
I also take great pride in the women in my life, my mentors, friends, and family, who have overcome immense challenges to become leaders in their fields and have driven important societal changes to improve the lives of all people.
 Tracy Keim: I feel proud to be a woman when I think about all the brave women who spoke up and created the Times Up and the MeToo movement. 
I felt proud to be a woman when Naomi Osaka courageously put her career on hold before burnout, then graced the cover of <a href="https://time.com/6077128/naomi-osaka-essay-tokyo-olympics/">TIME</a> and said to the world, “It’s o.k. to not be o.k.” 
I felt proud to be a woman when I read Emily Chang’s book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/547571/brotopia-by-emily-chang/">Brotopia</a> and saw she was unafraid of taking on the tech industry.
After reading Dr. Brittney Cooper&#8217;s book Eloquent Rage, I felt inspired to be a better woman and ally. It provided my first real exposure to and awareness of what it’s like to be a Black woman today. 
I felt proud to be a woman when I saw the first female Vice President take office, shattering a glass ceiling I hope many young women can climb through. 
<h2>What can people do to raise awareness about the issues impacting women today?</h2>
Melinda King: There are so many issues. I think it’s important to research all the opportunity gaps that exist for women and then consider how you can help close that gap in your personal and professional life. 
The pay gap is always a troubling one because the problem is compounded each time women aren’t paid properly, and it impacts their financial security in the long term. I think that’s an issue that constantly needs focus. 
 Sophia Majeed: Having transparent conversations about issues that impact women is a good starting point. Also, share data and statistics for women in leadership positions across the company to identify gaps. I hope that 23andShe will provide a space to have candid conversations.
<h2>How is 23andShe making a difference?</h2>
Lauren Trusheim: I hope to build a community that supports each other during tough times and celebrates each other’s successes. I’m also looking forward to raising awareness about issues impacting women and educating our colleagues through speaker series and other events. 
 Sophia Majeed: I hope that by showcasing the diversity of women, 23andShe can help challenge assumptions and stereotypes and create a space for women from all backgrounds. 
 Tracy Keim: I hope our group can help make a difference by creating the space for learning, connecting, and understanding real issues women face today. I believe we can positively impact each other while encouraging a strong allyship culture. 
I also hope men join the conversation through the ERG’s programming to foster real change, understanding, and empathy. Men are part of the solution.
<h2>What books, podcasts, movies, and other resources do you recommend for those who want to dive deeper?</h2>
Melinda King: I’ve been reading a lot from the author Bell Hooks. She helped me understand how the original women&#8217;s movement lacked a true focus on including the needs of all women. Two of her books, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_Theory:_From_Margin_to_Center">Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center</a> and <a href="https://www.plutobooks.com/9780861043798/aint-i-a-woman/">Ain’t I a Woman</a>, provide an informative look back at the feminist movement. 
Tracy Keim: The<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/MAKERSWomen"> MAKERS</a> organization has some of the best speakers covering intersectionality, equal pay, women’s rights, and more.
Additionally,<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace"> McKinsey</a> has incredible data tracking women in the workplace and issues we face today. And one of my favorite documentaries,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x48OViTBpE"> Not Done</a>, is incredibly inspirational to see the progress made by women in history with the reminder that we are not done!

Amplifying Women’s Voices at 23andMe

Blog editor’s note:This #BlackHistoryMonth, 23andMe employees are discussing the resiliency and joy in the Black and African diaspora. While we reflect on the past, share and recognize Black stories and history, we’re also looking ahead toward the future. This month we’ve curated  guest blogs from people who embody that joy, and resiliency and are making that future a reality. Here&#8217;s a personal story about how a lack of Black dermatologists can impact Black patients.
By Shakeia Taylor
If I had to guess, I’d say I’ve spent most of my life on a quest for perfect skin: even, dewy, and smooth. For a good chunk of my preteen and early teenage years  I dealt with acne scars. “Stop picking,” my mom would say, as she swatted my hand from my face. No matter how many times she reminded me that touching my face would not make my skin clear up any faster, I’d find my fingers drawn to the offending dark spots
My cheeks. My forehead. Right between my eyebrows. Acne was always present for me in those spots. I’d try to wear my hair in ways that concealed it. I&#8217;d wear it in giant bangs, only to end up distressed because it’s not practical to cover your face with your hair for a school day. 
I was extremely self-conscious about my face once I started to develop acne and scarring in elementary school. It was the 90’s and clear skin was marketed to teens as a way to be cool. There were ads for products specifically for teenage skin on television all the time. One new skincare brand even used celebrities for its campaigns.Whenever the ads and infomercials came on, especially  while I was watching with other people, I would feel embarrassed. I certainly didn’t want my skin’s shortcomings to be a focus, but sometimes they were. When someone disagreed with me, or wanted me to know they weren’t fond of me, they would joke about my acne and blemishes . It felt like my skin was my sin.I often wondered if it was possible for one of those products to be my salvation.
<h6><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29575" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2455-1.jpg" alt="" width="1080" height="1350" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2455-1.jpg 1080w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2455-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2455-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2455-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2455-1-704x880.jpg 704w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2455-1-944x1180.jpg 944w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" />Medical distrust and mistreatment</h6>
But finding treatment for skin problems for someone who isn’t white is difficult and discouraging. Many doctors aren’t trained in identifying how some skin issues can appear on black and brown skin. Illustrations and demonstrations typically use white skin, which makes it  difficult for doctors to recognize maladies and treat darker skin. Medications and other treatments aren’t always tested on Black and brown skin, therefore the impacts and effects can sometimes be unknown. There are also very few Black dermatologists. Many people of color are aware of this and tend to steer clear of doctors entirely, which could prove fatal –  as serious issues like skin cancer could then go undetected and untreated. 
My family falls into this category. For years, we’d only go to the doctor when something was seriously wrong . But my mother, determined to fight years of medical distrust, was on a mission to change that. She insisted that we get regular check-ups and schedule appointments the moment something felt or looked off. “What’s the point of insurance,” she’d ask, “if we’re not going to use it?” 
<div id="attachment_29534" style="width: 1716px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29534" class="size-full wp-image-29534" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2473-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1706" height="2560" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2473-scaled.jpg 1706w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2473-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2473-587x880.jpg 587w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2473-787x1180.jpg 787w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2473-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2473-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1706px) 100vw, 1706px" /> Photos by Akilah Townsend</div>
<h6>Hoping</h6>
<div id="attachment_29535" style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29535" class="wp-image-29535 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2482-240x300.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2482-240x300.jpg 240w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2482-768x960.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2482-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2482-704x880.jpg 704w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2482-944x1180.jpg 944w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2482-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px" />Photos by Akilah Townsend</div>
Every morning I’d wake up extra early before school and stare in the mirror hoping some small overnight skin miracle had occurred. I mean, I was drinking water and eating great (if you don’t count that I primarily subsisted on french fries and cheese sauce). When were things going to improve? Finally my mom decided to take me to a dermatologist. She was weary of how much my appearance was distracting me, so she got a recommendation from a trusted co-worker. I’d never heard of anyone we knew going to see a dermatologist before but I knew what they did. I was excited, relieved even, that my parents had finally heard my cries and gotten a recommendation for a dermatologist. I was hopeful my skincare woes would soon be over. 
I was sadly mistaken
I remember the day I went to the doctor.. I dressed nice; and I felt ready to learn what it would take to get the clear, smooth skin I deserved. But the dermatologist didn’t calm my fears or my irritated skin that day. She picked and poked at my face. She squeezed blackheads. Ouch. She inquired about what products we use for laundry, skin care, and hair care. She  discovered that I was allergic to coconut oil, an ingredient commonly found in Black hair care products, and suggested I find alternatives.  I was prescribed two tubes of creams; one of which was retinol. Though my face was sore from all the poking, I was still hopeful because we had a plan! And I  had prescriptions to pick up! 
<h6>Losing Trust</h6>
The prescription ointments impacted me immediately. After using them, my skin became dry, red, swollen, and blistered. My cheeks looked as if they had been burned. . Then the redness turned into black, blue, and purple scabs. It was a nightmare. I somehow looked worse than I did before the appointment. I cried. I was miserable. Not only did I look horrible  but my face burned. It stung to wash it. It hurt to sleep with my face against a pillow. I felt ugly and let down. Going to the dermatologist was supposed to make things better, not worse. I asked my mom to let me stay home so as not to endure any further teasing about my skin. 
In a follow-up appointment we learned that maybe my young skin was a little too sensitive for the strength of retinol I had been prescribed. We were told the effects on Black and brown skin weren’t really known so it was trial and error to find out what really worked. My mom decided the doctor had done enough damage and she would take matters into her own hands because what doctor would prescribe a child something so strong. From then on, she bought my skincare from various department store cosmetic brands. She was confident she could make sure I didn’t experience burning skin anymore. 
It took a few weeks for my skin to heal completely, but my trust in dermatology took a massive hit, as did my self-esteem. I’ve spent a lot of time being afraid to put anything on my skin out of fear of experiencing a reaction, but also hating it for seemingly being so sensitive and scarring easily. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29577" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2293_3-V2.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2293_3-V2.jpg 1920w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2293_3-V2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2293_3-V2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2293_3-V2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2293_3-V2-880x495.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC2293_3-V2-1180x664.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
<h6>Finding relief </h6>
It’s been more than twenty years since my experience with a dermatologist and the amount of money I’ve spent on both drugstore and department store skincare brands is probably enough to put a child through community college. I’ve purchased every oil and serum. I’ve even tried a few home remedies. I’m not alone – I’ve had many conversations through the years with other Black women who, like me, have trust issues with dermatology.  
But now that I’m nearly 40, some of my skincare needs have changed. So I asked my primary care physician for a dermatology referral. After I explained my history, she pointed me to a local research hospital’s ethnic skin care team. This type of culturally competent skin care might have saved me years of avoiding the dermatologist and hiding behind various foundations and concealers. Though my anxiety around seeing a doctor has not gone away entirely, it has been greatly reduced. I have been able to find solutions to problems I thought I’d have to live with for the rest of my life. My eczema has calmed, the number of breakouts I get has decreased, and the dark spots on my face have started to fade. Finding care that treats not only the complaint, but the person, has not only improved my skin but my quality of life. 
<hr />
Shakeia Taylor is a writer and columnist based in Chicago. She is an avid supporter of women in baseball, and an active advocate for diversity in sports journalism.

Shakeia Taylor

Black Dermatologists Breaking Barriers

Blog editor’s note: This #BlackHistoryMonth, 23andMe employees are discussing the resiliency and joy in the Black and African diaspora. While we reflect on the past, share and recognize Black stories and history, we’re also looking ahead toward the future. This month we’ve curated  guest blogs from people who embody that joy, and resiliency and are making that future a reality. Today’ we meet Jonathan McCory the executive artistic director of the National Black Theatre.
By Melissa Kimble
 Founded in Harlem in 1968 by the mother of the Black Arts movement, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, the National Black Theatre is the country’s first revenue generating Black arts complex and the longest running Black theater in the world. 
The theater’s  current Executive Artistic Director, Jonathan McCrory, honors the founder’s principles of ownership, self-determination and human transformation, while he and his team confront the enormous challenges the Black community faces today. 
For Jonathan it has meant that for the last decade serving as director of the theater he must lead “ courageously with this notion of Black liberation and bringing your ancestors with you.”
Throughout history, the National Black Theatre has been a refuge for Black artists by creating a safe space for their creativity, their art, and holding ground for their transformation. As one of the oldest theaters founded and consistently operated by a woman of color in the nation, the core mission has always been to be the premier producer of transformative theatre — theatre that enhances African American cultural identity by telling authentic, autonomous, multifaceted stories of the Black experience. This experience and exchange leads to art’s true intention, which is to heal.
<div id="attachment_29547" style="width: 1090px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29547" class="size-full wp-image-29547" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter.jpg" alt="" width="1080" height="1080" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter.jpg 1080w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-880x880.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-574x574.jpg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-embed-twitter-980x980.jpg 980w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" />Photo by Giancarlo Valentine</div>
<h6>Nurturing Black Artists</h6>
Jonathan’s  own journey to the theater was one that was already full of intentionality, nurturing Black artists and voices. That started with himself. The award winning director, producer, and artist, made a declaration in high school about his career destination. He decided that he wanted to run a Black theater in Harlem that owned their own space dedicated to doing work for Black artists. “When I decided to name myself as a Black artist, that destination was my birthright,” he says“I needed to also establish that birthright for future Black artists. I wanted to be a part of that awakening inside the psyche of the individual.” 
McCrory describes his role as a “creative doula,” one who takes care of artists’, mental, creative, and artistic “wealth.” Jonathan works with a dynamic team of people with the collective mission of ensuring that the creative work of  Black artists, and their voices are well resourced and pulled to the forefront. His vision for the theater embodies welcoming in and investing in the next generation of Black artists and change-makers in theatre.
“Sometimes people don’t see themselves as producers because they think it’s tied to economics,” he says. “How do we see our culture as an economic tool, knowing that we contribute billions into the economic pipeline? How can we reclaim some of that intellectual property, some of that wealth knowledge and start to actually create spaces of ownership, where we actually lead the producer or the producers of that cultural product.” 
“The National Black Theatre’s core mission lies in human transformation,” McCory said.
<h6>Looking Towards The Future</h6>
McCrory and his team are in the middle of revisioning the theater to service Black artistic changemakers now and in the future. Externally they’re undergoing a physical transformation with a capital redevelopment project and are working towards building a brand new cultural destination and facility for the organization. This new phase of the theater will include artist housing with a twenty story high-rise. The reimagining of their facility will include a studio for theatrical works, a temple of liberation where artists will be able to do immersive storytelling using 3D, XR and potentially VR technology. 
“We are seeking to create a cutting edge new facility that leans into the curiosity of Black innovation that allows for Black artists to find ways in which to find economics, to actually be able to update a benefit inside of the work that they’re able to produce,” he says. “To allow for a more diverse poly of voices to be able to change and radically benefit and actually inform the cultural expression that we all love and are working on.”
The organizations offerings include a theater arts program that’s a three prong program to give artists space to be alchemists: Their Soul Series Lab program is one of the only programs in the country dedicated to Black artists; their playwrights residency is the only residency in the country that provides an eighteen month home for Black playwrights; and their producer residency program is generating the next level of cultural producers. 
<div id="attachment_29528" style="width: 1210px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29528" class="size-full wp-image-29528" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-widescreen.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="628" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-widescreen.jpg 1200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-widescreen-300x157.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-widescreen-768x402.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-widescreen-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-widescreen-880x461.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jonathan-widescreen-1180x618.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />Photo by Giancarlo Valentine</div>
<h6>Theatre In The Digital World</h6>
McCrory is also stewarding the build out of their digital platform to ensure so the theater can connect with those who may not ever feel comfortable being in physical spaces again due to the pandemic. He cites t<a href="https://national-black-theatre.myshopify.com/collections/all">heir merch line</a>, t<a href="https://www.instagram.com/natblacktheatre/">heir Instagram page</a>, and budding partnerships with national potential as extensions to connect and to be a vessel for new possibilities, a notion that is embedded into his leadership style and approach. Many times you will catch McCrory donning <a href="https://national-black-theatre.myshopify.com/">a shirt</a> or hat with the word “joy” on it. As a personal advocate of artistic expression being the vehicle towards joy and healing, McCrory wants to create conditions with joy as a bedrock. 
<div id="attachment_29529" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29529" class="wp-image-29529 size-medium" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Jonathon-McRory_50-scaled-e1669736360168-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Jonathon-McRory_50-scaled-e1669736360168-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Jonathon-McRory_50-scaled-e1669736360168-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Jonathon-McRory_50-scaled-e1669736360168-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Jonathon-McRory_50-scaled-e1669736360168-587x880.jpg 587w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Jonathon-McRory_50-scaled-e1669736360168-787x1180.jpg 787w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Jonathon-McRory_50-scaled-e1669736360168.jpg 1707w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" /> Photo by Giancarlo Valentine </div>
“There should be an acknowledgement that although the pandemic has caused a lot of sadness, a lot of grief, it also created the space for us to innovate how we communicate and how we process the way we live our lives,” he says. McCrory looks toward the future with a generosity that is needed now more than ever. 
“We seek to lean into the curiosity of what does it mean to see someone? What happens if they feel seen? And if they feel seen, what does someone get to become?” he says. “That simple question awakens a radical new universe of possibilities. Then we become the vessels of manifestation, the tools to allow for unseen, unfinished work to be possible seen through our lifetime.”
This radical vision is one that Jonathan and his team still carry on in the present times in the shadow of racial upheaval and the pandemic. They are  modifying their approach to continue to be a refuge for Black art and creativity. 
“To lead with a graceful institute is to actually tap in and tune into the wisdom of our ancestors as a fortitude and a fortress to actually awaken human transformation. It is the gate keeping tool and mechanism to unlock what I think human transformation can look like.” As we learn to count our blessings to heal our way forward during these times, we can rest assured that the National Black Theatre will continue to light the way. 
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<div id="t-formula-bar-input" spellcheck="false">Melissa Kimble is a cultural writer, strategist, and consultant based in Chicago. A native Memphian, she advocates for Black creativity across creative industries.</div>
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Melissa Kimble

A Theater in Harlem Fostering Black Creativity

When <a href="http://www.valeriejarrettbook.com/">Valerie Jarrett</a> was in her early 30s, everything was finally going according to plan. She had a law degree from the University of Michigan, a career at a prestigious firm, a large office overlooking Lake Michigan, and a husband and beloved daughter. 
So why, on a hot summer day in 1987, did Valerie suddenly burst into tears in her office? 
“On that day,” she said, “I asked myself: ‘Is this my life, or do I want to pivot away from this perfect plan on paper that is a nightmare in reality?’”
That moment of reckoning set her on a winding course, leading from city government all the way to the White House, where she worked as senior advisor for President Obama from 2009 to 2017. 
She shared this story and others during a fireside chat with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/melinda-king/">Melinda King</a>, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for 23andMe. 
Their hour-long conversation, in front of an audience of 23andMe employees over Zoom, touched on a variety of topics, including Valerie’s belief in the next generation; the “uplifting” possibility of a Black woman joining the Supreme Court; the pitfalls of cancel culture; the critical role of inclusion in diversity work; and the real benefit she gets from her daily workouts. The exchange below has been edited for clarity and brevity.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29567" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Valerie-Jarrett-Headshot-JPG_square.jpg" alt="Valerie Jarrett headshot" width="1920" height="1429" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Valerie-Jarrett-Headshot-JPG_square.jpg 1920w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Valerie-Jarrett-Headshot-JPG_square-300x223.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Valerie-Jarrett-Headshot-JPG_square-768x572.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Valerie-Jarrett-Headshot-JPG_square-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Valerie-Jarrett-Headshot-JPG_square-880x655.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Valerie-Jarrett-Headshot-JPG_square-1180x878.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
<h6>On creating a workplace culture of inclusion for Black employees:</h6>
Start at home. Start within your company. Listen to the people who work there, and do it in a way that they feel comfortable. Be authentic – you need to actually care. Have them tell you their stories. 
I love storytelling; it&#8217;s a big piece of what we do at the Obama Foundation because it humanizes the issues. So then it&#8217;s not just about statistics – it becomes, ‘this is my story, and what I’ve been through and this is what I need to thrive in this environment.’ 
If you truly want to create an inclusive culture, then you have to be willing to listen, willing to check yourself and say, ‘well, have I really made an effort to have diverse friends? What does the senior level of this company look like?’ Because when people come in the door of your company, it’s hard to be what they can’t see. 
<h6>On her source of inspiration and optimism:</h6>
I draw inspiration from the younger generation. It was one of the reasons why President Obama was able to entice me to run the Obama Foundation, even though I was in a stage of my life when I was focused on being a grandmother and waking up every day doing exactly what I wanted to do. I initially agreed to do it as a favor until he found someone permanent. Then I started spending time with our young global leaders from Asia, Africa, and Europe and students at Columbia University and the University of Chicago. They&#8217;re so smart and strategic, they think outside of the box, and they are hopeful in a realistic way. They give me an enormous amount of inspiration.  
Recognizing that I stand on the shoulder of my ancestors and people who come before me, I know that I want to have sturdy shoulders for the next generation. So I will impart what I’ve learned, which they are free to accept or disregard. I believe our job is to make their life easier so they can tackle some of the big challenges of life.
<h6>On the pitfalls of cancel culture and the value of different perspectives:</h6>
Who was more unhelpful to the Obama Administration than Rupert Murdoch? But guess what, Rupert Murdoch cared about immigration reform. And I worked very closely with him on that. Part of what you have to recognize – if you’re true to wanting change – is this isn&#8217;t about you; this is about getting the job done. And it doesn’t taint or diminish you to work with people you may disagree with on 99 issues if you can agree on one. 
I worry that the temptation is to cancel anyone who doesn&#8217;t fit into a nice little package. But that&#8217;s not how we get things done. And it&#8217;s not how we get to know one another, which is part of the elixir of life – relationships. And I think the relationships made of strange bedfellows are even more interesting, and they&#8217;re more complicated. I encourage everyone to come out of their comfort zone and not just turn someone off because they don’t agree with you 100 percent, because, first of all, there&#8217;s a lot more grey in a lot of areas than that, and we get more done when we do things together.
<h6>On President Biden’s plan to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court:</h6>
I appreciate his desire for that diversity, and I&#8217;m really proud, for example, that when he and President Obama were in office, President Obama appointed 26 Black women to the bench. Now there&#8217;s a real treasure trove of women to choose from, not to mention those not on the bench who are just as qualified. The pipeline is a lot stronger today than it has been historically –  I think that&#8217;s a great thing. 
President Biden has received some backlash for saying it will be a Black woman, but the message he&#8217;s sending is, ‘I think a Black woman in that environment would be a healthy thing right now.’
I can&#8217;t wait to see who he selects, and I think it will be uplifting for us to have that representation. Representation matters. I had the privilege of working on Justice Sonia Sotomayor&#8217;s Supreme Court selection and confirmation, and the Latino community was euphoric; they felt like someone who is going to be making decisions that impact their life finally understood their story. And I think for the credibility of our judiciary, that&#8217;s an important step.
<h6>On listening to that quiet voice within:</h6>
Each of us should ask – ‘what replenishes me’? At a certain age, you should know yourself and know what makes you feel better and healthy. For me, I exercise every morning. Now, I do not enjoy exercise. The happiest moment of my day is when I&#8217;m done. But I know it&#8217;s good for me. It&#8217;s an hour I have to myself – my phone’s not ringing, I&#8217;m not looking at texts; it just settles me. 
And I also love my friends and family. When I&#8217;m in Chicago, my mom, who&#8217;s 93, has this Sunday dinner with all our cousins. (I&#8217;m an only child, so my cousins are like my siblings). At the end of that dinner, I just feel better. And when I was in Washington, I did that with my girlfriends. So do what makes you feel good to replenish yourself.
I don&#8217;t believe in work-life balance, just like I don&#8217;t believe in 50/50 relationships or that you can have it all simultaneously. I think we set ourselves up with completely unrealistic expectations. We just have to figure out how to give ourselves a little bit of a break and get back in the game. It&#8217;s easier to do that if you think what you&#8217;re doing is of value. Try to find a job where you feel like you&#8217;re adding value; that&#8217;s very satisfying. And it can be adding value in whatever ways make you fulfilled. Don&#8217;t look to someone else to tell you what will work for you.
That&#8217;s one of the things I realized that day I was in my office crying. I had been living the life that everyone else thought was a great life. But the only voice that actually matters is your voice – that quiet voice inside of you.

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