About Heal TogetHER
Heal TogetHER is a peer support program created by Sista Afya, rooted in the belief that Black women deserve mental health care that is accessible, affirming, and grounded in community. Research shows that Black women want and benefit from mental health support offered by other Black women — and Heal TogetHER was designed to meet that need through genuine connection, shared understanding, and care.
The Kindred Civic Arts Forum (KCAF) is honored to partner with Sista Afiya to facilitate the launch of Heal TogetHER in our community. As an arts and culture organization deeply committed to wellness, equity, and community care, KCAF is proud to help create space for this program to live, grow, and serve.
Who Started Heal TogetHER: Sista Afya
Heal TogetHER was developed by Sista Afya, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to the mental wellness of Black women. Sista Afiya’s work centers culturally responsive healing practices, education, and peer-based support models that prioritize dignity, trust, and lived experience.
Through Heal TogetHER, Sista Afiya trains everyday Black women to serve as peer supporters — offering psychoeducation, emotional support, and opportunities for connection outside of clinical settings.
What Is Peer Support?
Heal TogetHER offers peer support, not therapy.
Peer support is a non-clinical form of care that centers:
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Active listening and shared understanding
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Emotional support rooted in lived experience
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Connection, reflection, and encouragement
Peer supporters do not provide medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Instead, they walk alongside participants in a supportive, respectful, and affirming way.
What to Expect from Sessions
When you book a Heal TogetHER session, you can expect:
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Sessions up to 30 minutes in length
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Up to 5 sessions per participant
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One-on-one support with a trained peer supporter
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Sessions offered virtually, based on availability
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A welcoming, confidential, and non-judgmental space
Heal TogetHER sessions are designed to provide short-term support and connection — meeting you where you are, without pressure or expectations.
As a thank-you for helping strengthen this program, the first 20 participants who complete a post-session survey will receive a $10 gift card.
Meet the Team
Our Heal TogetHER peer supporters are Black women trained through Sista Afiya’s peer support model. Each brings care, compassion, and lived experience to this work.
Peer Supporter
Veronica Longstreet
Veronica Longstreet is a lifelong West Side community member whose warmth, wisdom, and lived experience shape the care she brings to peer support. As a passionate and deeply caring, long-standing member of the community, she offers the kind of presence that makes people feel instantly welcomed and understood. Veronica is known for her playful, sometimes silly spirit, which helps bring lightness and comfort into difficult moments. She is often the kind of love and care people didn’t even realize they needed.
Peer Supporter
Chiquita Newell
Chiquita brings a charismatic, down-to-earth presence to her work as a peer supporter. She describes herself as generous, kind, and caring — while also being straightforward, honest, and deeply realistic. A pragmatic and logical thinker with a great sense of humor, Chiquita creates spaces where women can feel both grounded and genuinely uplifted. Her warmth, wit, and fun-loving spirit help others feel seen, supported, and at ease.
Peer Supporter
Fancy Davis
Fancy Davis brings compassion, empathy, and deep attentiveness to her work as a peer supporter. She is a thoughtful listener with the unique ability to step outside of her own perspective in order to truly see and understand the experiences and needs of others. Fancy is passionate about helping people and believes strongly in being the change she hopes to see in the world. Her presence creates a supportive space where people can feel heard, valued, and cared for.
Our Commitment
KCAF is deeply grateful to Sista Afiya for trusting us as a partner in bringing Heal TogetHER to our community. We approach this work with humility, care, and respect — committed to honoring the program’s values while supporting Black women in accessing meaningful, community-centered mental health support.
For additional questions, please contact us or visit Sista Afiya’s Heal TogetHER page to learn more about the program’s origins and philosophy.
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