Besa Gordon recently tapped in from The Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) where Bloodworks Northwest was hosting a community blood drive. The event encouraged active community involvement to address medical mistrust and low participation rates among Black blood donors.

Bloodworks NW’s research revealed that while 3% of the general population donates blood annually, that number drops to just 1% for the Black community, largely due to a lack of trust in the medical system. 

The study also highlighted a major avenue for change: Black donors are twice as likely to donate blood if asked personally by someone they know. According to Bloodworks NW, if all the organization's current donors donated just one more time, blood shortages in their service area would be eliminated.

For many first-time donors, the screening process itself can be an eye-opening health check. Colman Commons Executive Director Ashleigh McCurdy stopped by the blood drive and shared that she gained comprehensive knowledge of her blood health, including low iron levels—invaluable medical information. 

Increasing participation among Black women is incredibly important for finding diverse blood matches, especially for people with rare blood types who rely on precise transfusions. Bloodworks NW is actively sharing this data with other blood centers across the country to collectively lift participation rates. 

Once you show up, the process is seamless, supportive, and ultimately saves lives. Organizations and community members looking to make a difference can visit their website at bloodworksnw.org to learn more.