Real Life. Real People. Real Change.

My name is Nastassja Brown. I was born, raised, and still reside in Atlanta, GA. My diagnosis of Chron’s Colitis was formally made in November 2019 after 2.5 years of doctor visits and testing. I am very excited to be a COCCI ambassador as COCCI has provided so much information and insight on the IBD for for people of color.

Mariama was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in April 2021. She started experiencing digestive and bowel issues in 2019 at 15. She is committed to helping other young people, like herself, navigate this difficult disease in hopes that no one else suffers in silence the way she did. Being an ambassador to bring awareness and health equity to people of color is her way of giving back what COCCI has given her: hope.

My name is Shawnta. Being Diagnosed at 14 put me in survival mode. Before my Crohn’s diagnoses at 13 I was diagnosed with depression and severe anxiety. I have a 12 year old son. I got tired of hiding, got tired of “acting perfectly okay” just got tired of it all and speaking about my Crohn’s started to make me feel like I was shedding yeas of trauma.