Community-driven innovation to address breast cancer disparities: The AfroPink Pink Pop-Up Model and the launch of TechPink

Breast cancer mortality remains disproportionately highamong Black women and medically underserved populations, often due tostructural barriers to early detection, limited access to preventive care, andlower participation in research. Community-based models that integrateculturally relevant outreach, screening access, and survivor-centered supportare critical to addressing these disparities.AfroPink, a survivor-led nonprofit organization, developedthe Pink Pop-Up Program, a community-embedded initiative that delivers breastcancer education, self-advocacy resources, and screening access directly intotrusted community settings such as churches, parks, small businesses, andcommunity centers. Through partnerships with healthcare institutions, theprogram connects participants to breast screening services, patient navigation,and follow-up care while addressing barriers related to cost, transportation,and medical mistrust.Building on the trust and engagement established throughthis model, AfroPink is launching TechPink, an initiative designed to leveragetechnology to improve survivorship outcomes and expand community participationin innovation. TechPink focuses on increasing digital literacy, expandingaccess to technology training for survivors, and exploring technology-drivenapproaches to improve health data literacy, research participation, andlong-term survivorship support.AfroPink also collaborates with research institutions andpublic health partners to support community-engaged research efforts and ensurethat the lived experiences of survivors from underserved communities informscientific discovery and cancer care innovation.This poster presents the AfroPink model as an integratedcommunity-engaged approach that combines outreach, screening access,survivorship support, and technology empowerment to improve early detection,strengthen research participation, and advance more equitable breast canceroutcomes.