about lauren r. kornegay

Lauren R. Kornegay, a native of Oxon Hill, MD, graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, receiving her B.A. in Speech Communications. While at Morgan State University, she experienced a series of events that led her to a gynecologist in Baltimore, MD. In seeing this new gynecologist, she was introduced to an unfamiliar disorder —endometriosis.

Diagnosed with endometriosis on March 18, 2011, at the age of 20, Lauren experienced the pain, struggles, exhaustion, and confusion accompanying the disorder. The endometriosis diagnosis led to an in-depth search, looking to connect with individuals who were also African Americans diagnosed with endometriosis. She would find herself in several Facebook support groups being dismissed, accused of being racist, or chastised for speaking up about the lack of awareness surrounding anyone who didn’t look like the primary demographic of the group. Each time, she would end up empty-handed. Due to a lack of representation and acknowledgment of African American women affected by this disorder, she felt alone. She felt there wasn’t anyone who looked like her impacted by endometriosis whom she could reach out to and connect with.

Having previously searched social media, websites, and other avenues, she knew something had to change. Her mother always told her, “If there’s a void, fill it, and if you want something done, do it yourself.” Lauren believes in “creating a space where there is no space.”

Lauren sought to establish Endo Black Incorporated in October 2015, a platform to connect African American women and women of color affected by endometriosis. From 2015 until 2019, the Instagram page grew, leaving the community wanting to engage more. Thus, Endo Black hosted its first event in April 2019 and launched its website. The organization became incorporated in April 2020 and received its 501(c)3 status in January 2022.

While Endo Black, Inc. stood as a beacon of hope for many women and had a focus on engaging, educating, and empowering endo sisters everywhere, many still struggled. So in October 2020, she became the author of Your Personal Journey Log for Endometriosis and THE ENDO WAY: A Guide To Becoming An Endo Advocate. Providing these projects was therapeutic to her but helpful to man others.

Lauren is here to help you tackle endometriosis head-on. In December 2020, she launched the project, The V. Podcast, with co-hosts April Christina and Samantha Denäe. A podcast that focused on bringing attention to African American women being affected by endometriosis and providing pieces of advice and resources through their lived experiences.

Her main goal is to raise awareness about African American women and women of color being affected by endometriosis because no one should feel how endometriosis affects women of color differently to make proper diagnoses. It’s time to make some noise so that women suffering in silence are heard loud and clearly. It’s time to push for real change and acknowledgment within the community, and she hopes you join the fight for change.