Our mission is to improve the quality of life for BIPOC who are affected by IBD, Digestive Disorders and associated Chronic Illnesses; through Community, Research, Education, and Advocacy.
2025 started off with one of the largest and most destructive wildfires in U.S. history, the Los Angeles Wildfires. To support communities that were affected, Connecting to Cure (an LA based team and partner of COGI), collaborated with IBD Moms to offer assistance with medical supplies, food, and other items. This kicked off our year of amplifying community support with our partners.
To learn more about Connecting to Cure Crohn’s & Colitis, visit: https://www.connectingtocure.org/.
To learn more about IBD Moms, visit: https://ibdmoms.org/.
To recap our Black Pioneers, visit: https://colorofgi.org/updates/nine-black-pioneers/.
Our first stop on the Community Conversations Tour started in Fayetteville, North Carolina at Fayetteville State University; where we incorporated new interactive games that had the students engaged all night!
We also attended Cologuard Classic with patients and caregivers impacted by Colorectal Cancer… An incredibly memorable opportunity!
To learn more about Community Conversations HBCU Tour, visit: https://colorofgi.org/hbcutour/.
After focusing heavily on Federal level priorities, we introduced our commitment to state and local advocacy at AFTCC—expanding COGI’s goal to activate more of our patient community.
Policy is more than a Federal discussion and we’re dedicated to ensuring that our ecosystem knows this!
Stay Tuned for AFTCC Locally, our virtual event for local advocacy, in February 2026.
Check out AFTCC for more details on our in-person event in April.
We launched our, “Are You Locked In?” Campaign at DDW!
The goal? To ensure patients, caregivers, HCPs, and Industry were committed to community and advancing patient care with COGI; despite the challenges facing healthcare access!
If you’re a patient who would like to see our Confident Conversations Guides in your doctor’s office OR if you’re a health care professional who wants to provide your patients with several resources, contact us at info@colorofgi.org for additional support.
It’s no secret that our community has seen higher participation from women over the years, but in 2025 we saw 3x the participation from the fellas! A big win in the quest to expand our community!
AND we approved a record number of patient travel scholarships to EIGI 2025!!!
If you or someone you know is looking for a Men’s Group, visit colorofgi.org/programs to learn more about The Huddle and join one of our 2026 meet ups.
Education does not have to look traditional… so we kicked off July with our new digestive health game night at Essence Festival of Culture. Make sure to come find us in 2026!
The Appetite’s Game Night Recap
Then our community LEANED IN to our EIGI HBCU theme, A Different World. We even got a session out of Dwayne & Whitley!
The COGI “R&R” every staff member looks forward to! This is a 2 week opportunity for staff to reset after months of EIGI planning.
After kicking off our fall semester of schools, we found out some exciting advocacy news!
COGI has consistently made Step Therapy a priority in our advocacy and the reintroduction of The Safe Step Act reminded us that persistence CAN move the needle! Here is an excerpt from Rep. Lucy McBath’s press release:
“Step therapy can cause unnecessary harm and slow patient recovery while frustrating doctors who are doing their best to care for their patients. By reintroducing the Safe Step Act, we are reaffirming the value of the doctor-patient relationship and moving our country closer to the best form of patient-centered care,” said Rep. McBath. “We must always fight to put people first, and this legislation helps ensure doctors and patients can make the best possible health care decisions. I’m grateful for my colleagues’ collaboration on this bill this Congress.”
For more details on our advocacy priorities, visit: https://colorofgi.org/advocacypriorities/
Through our campaign #WithAnOstomy, World Ostomy Day was packed with stories about the ostomate experience. This year’s theme was “A Journey Through The Bag”, with the focus of bringing hope to new ostomates and educating everyone on ostomy awareness. Our ambassadors also shared their journeys, shining a light on surviving then thriving with an ostomy.
A couple of our ostomates also joined the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA)’s Ostomy Academy webinar to address the unique challenges people may face within their communities—based on their ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, or gender—and explore the support systems that can help.
If you missed this webinar, click the link for a recap: https://www.youtube.com/live/mmR3ABBbKUs?si=tOWlhPOtEcUt3TFz
In Living COGI started off with two wellness events to emphasize the benefits of exercise while managing your digestive health.
After 5k Walks in 12 cities, we had 500+ participants sign up, walking a combined 30+ miles TOGETHER!
Some of the benefits of walking are:
Heart Health: Reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure by improving circulation and strengthening the heart and lungs.
Bone and Muscle Health: Strengthens bones and muscles, improves muscle endurance, and can help alleviate joint pain and stiffness.
So GET TO STEPPIN’! The 5k Walks may be over, but our commitment to health IS NOT!
From wellness events, to our fundraising telethon, to our Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week webinar, and our first Community Conversations Live! We packed our In Living COGI campaign with education, community, and lots of laughter.
If you didn’t catch out In Living COGI Telethon, get ready… Segments will be available to rewatch in January!
The best way to close out 2025!
If you missed our In Living COGI campaign and would like to learn more about IBD awareness or how to get involved, visit https://colorofgi.org/inlivingcogi2025/
Reached 400+ Members (Patients and Caregivers).
Visited 10+ conferences that will expand our education for patients managing digestive diseases.
Had 30+ Partners who contributed to our work.
Hosted 80+ programs & events to educate our ecosystem and amplify the importance of diagnosis and treatment…
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