By: Natalie Greene
When we talk about real ones making a difference in the community, Dr. Lakeia Bailey is one of those names that deserves the spotlight. As the executive director of the Sickle Cell Community Consortium (SC3), she’s not just leading the conversation around sickle cell disease—she’s shifting the entire narrative.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, SC3 has become a powerhouse in the sickle cell space, especially for Black communities that have been overlooked, underfunded, and underserved for far too long. But let’s be clear—this isn’t just another health organization. SC3 is a movement built by warriors, for warriors.
“We built this model to center the voices of patients and caregivers,” Dr. Bailey said. “It’s a general assembly—meaning we move as a united front.”
And that united front is strong. From launching the first dedicated Men’s Sickle Cell Wellness initiative to hosting an annual Warrior’s Convention that brings hundreds of patients, doctors, and advocates together, SC3 isn’t waiting on the system to do better—they’re doing better for themselves.
What makes Dr. Bailey’s work hit even harder is that this mission is personal. Diagnosed with sickle cell as a child, she knows what it feels like to be dismissed by doctors and denied proper care. Instead of letting that break her, she used it to build something powerful—something necessary.
Over the past decade, SC3 has distributed over $30,000 in emergency aid to sickle cell warriors across the country. From paying rent and light bills to helping families travel for life-saving care, they’re filling the gaps that the healthcare system continues to leave behind.
And let’s talk about their campaign We Are the Cure—a bold effort to increase Black participation in bone marrow and organ donation registries. With so many lives hanging in the balance, this campaign is literally about saving each other. Dr. Bailey herself is actively seeking a donor, making the work even more urgent and deeply personal.
In a world where Black health disparities are the norm, not the exception, SC3’s approach is revolutionary. They’re not just advocating—they’re mobilizing. And as the consortium celebrates 10 years of impact, they’re doubling down on what matters most: community, collaboration, and the fight for healthcare equity.
“We’re not waiting on permission,” Dr. Bailey said. “We are the cure.”
