We're in Essence--and we're just getting started!

Happy August—

August is always my favorite month because one, it's my birthday, two, summer is in full swing and beach weather is fully here, and three, everyone leaves the cities and there's a quietness around me. But enough of that--there's no way I want to bury this lede: We're super excited here at Oshun Griot because we just were featured in Essence magazine—a total dream come true!

I got to chat with the magazine about how people of color deal with an infertility diagnosis, why it's important to know about your reproductive health (even if you don't want kids), and the importance of an app in these perilous times.

Check it out here:
Oshun Griot feature in Essence

It's been hard trying to gain traction, raise money and figuring out all the tech stuff, but it's also worth it when I hear people say they struggled to have kids and felt alone, didn't know where to turn, had their faith tested, or were simply frustrated and tired—and the app helped them understand their journey or find a doctor. So I'm going to keep pushing on because having the babies you want can be the best thing in the world.

Oshun Griot is just beginning…

We may be in a summer slowdown, but the piece is just the beginning. We're adding more articles, working on in-person events and partnerships, and launching healing boxes this fall—something tangible to hold onto during your fertility journey. We'll have boxes for the two-week wait, dealing with loss and grief, and for partners. We have a waitlist and will be taking preorders soon.

Otherwise as we're ramping up our social media presence, I'm trying to soak up the last bits of sun, and dealing with the fact that my reproductive life may soon be entering another phase (ugh!), while keeping an eye out for any word from the White House about policy changes for fertility and IVF.

So moving onto that clusterf--- in DC...

I expect the update will not be good since The Washington Post reported yesterday that despite campaign promises, it appears that Trump is going back on his promise to make IVF free and accessible for all.

Read more:
Trump administration scales back IVF promises

It's a disappointing moment as people are still holding off on their IVF treatments waiting for the White House to do something. But it seems like that something won't happen for a while, since the Administration is deciding to promote what's being called "reproductive restorative medicine," a plan that, while seemingly good (it's all about using natural things to get pregnant and ensure your better health), sources say can delay treatment, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. And if you know anything about fertility, it's that time matters.

People of color, especially Black women, already wait longer and get treatment later than White women. With costs between $12k-$25k and benefits like Medicaid being slashed by the government, it could mean fewer babies of color born.

It's a weird time because we keep hearing that our government wants us to have more children, but policy isn't really matching up to support that. I reached out to Ana'Neicia Williams, a therapist and founder of Momology, a platform that supports Black women through all the stages of their parenting journey, to talk about what’s going on. She said she sees something powerful happening:

That's what we're about here at Oshun Griot—finding and centering that joy, even in the midst of everything else.

Download the App

Speaking of centering joy and support—if you haven't already, download the Oshun Griot app. Whether you're trying to conceive, dealing with fertility challenges, supporting someone on their journey, or just want to understand your reproductive health better, we're here for you. The app is your companion through all the ups and downs, the waiting, the hoping, and yes, the joy.

Download Oshun Griot:
On the App Store | On Google Play

Birthday Reflections

So for my 44th birthday and as we celebrate the 44th president who is familiar with breaking the rules (Happy Birthday Obama!), I'm going to embrace the idea of not waiting for permission from anyone. This month, spread the word about Oshun Griot, eat some cake in honor of your favorite Leos, and let's keep centering our joy together.

Stay strong,
xxx Reniqua
Founder + CEO, Oshun Griot

P.S. If this newsletter vibes with you, forward it to someone who needs it, subscribe if you haven’t already, and keep an eye out for updates on our healing boxes. Got thoughts on what should go in them? Let us know at [email protected]. Your feedback drives everything we do.