Jane Mantey, PhD
Jane Mantey, Ph.D. is a first-generation, queer Ghanaian-American born in NYC to working-class immigrant parents. A biomedical scientist by training, Jane has spent more than a decade organizing and advocating for racial justice, voting rights and participatory democracy, environmental and climate justice, police and prison abolition, as well as tenants’ rights and housing justice—seeing them all as interconnected if we want to achieve health equity and vastly improve life outcomes for all peoples.
Jane comes to Race Forward after working for nonprofits such as Ceres and the Sierra Club, as well as in state government in California for both the legislative and executive branches. Additionally, she is a freelance writer and movement journalist with articles published in Civil Eats, The Root, Essence, AAPF’s Forum Magazine, etc. Jane is an educator, having taught college-level courses and presented guest lectures on human biology, medical humanities, scientific racism, environmental and climate justice, youth/student-led organizing, and social movement.
A product of HBCUs, Jane earned her Ph.D. from Meharry Medical College and B.S. from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Jane currently lives in Houston TX, where she spends her downtime catching up on the latest pop culture, especially Black podcasts, TV shows, films, and other media, and playing armchair sociocultural/sociopolitical critic with her wife.
Presentations from Facing Race 2024
A Narrative Framework for Health Equity
Join us for an engaging workshop where we’ll introduce the "Health Equity Narrative House," a powerful narrative change tool designed to foster a healthier, fairer, and more just society. Inspired by bell hooks’ words, “Choosing love, we also choose to live in community, and that means that we do not have to change by ourselves. We can change together,” this workshop will explore how collective efforts can drive meaningful change.
In September 2023, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) launched the Health Equity Narrative Lab (HEN Lab) with 29 diverse participants, including practitioners, strategists, organizers, artists, and funders. Together, they identified the narrative barriers to health equity and co-created the “Health Equity Narrative House.” This framework highlights the interconnected nature of these barriers and the need for a unified strategy to overcome them.
Throughout the HEN Lab, it became clear that a strong, cohesive movement for health equity is essential. This movement must be driven by clear goals and visions from those actively involved. Transforming narratives requires a multifaceted approach: building power, using art and stories, sharing content widely, and continuously welcoming new members into the movement.
We are excited to share the Health Equity Narrative House with you. This tool will be invaluable for advocates, storytellers, and strategists, helping to unify and amplify the voices dedicated to health equity. Join us to learn how you can contribute to and benefit from this transformative narrative framework.
Speakers: Jess Zetzman, Trevor Smith, Jane Mantey, PhD