Meet Anika + Kaniya | Health Practitioners + Social Impact Entrepreneurs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anika + Kaniya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anika + Kaniya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
“All of this is preventable” are the words that birthed Rooted. We believe that everyone should have access to quality and respectful care that centers on the voice and autonomy of the individual. Growing up in the Bay Area, we experienced a healthcare system that was more reactionary than focused on preventable solutions to the most pressing public health concerns of our communities. In fact, we still see this reactionary model of care today. With the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbating the underlying issues of America’s health system, we saw access to health services become even more restrictive. We created Rooted, a wellness start-up, that is focused on improving access to health by providing culturally empowering services. We do this, primarily, by providing mental health and doula services. We believe that Black Women should not experience maternal mortality at 4x the national rate. We honor the unique stories that color our life experiences while curating space to heal and be seen.

We are determined to shift the culture of healthcare.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Rooted launched June 2020 just as the pandemic was in full swing. As a means to show up for our community, Rooted began as a conversation. A conversation that we brought into the homes of our online community. We sparked discussions on topics of mental and physical health online. We coined these conversations “The Living Room”. We brought access to health education and mental health tools directly to those who needed support. Today our services still mirror our founding roots and we are excited about our current initiative, The People’s Doula Project, which provides low-to-no cost full-spectrum doula services paired with mental health support for BIPOC women. We do this by providing telehealth services and/or safely meeting our clients in their homes to provide care.

We are most-proud that our clients walk away from our services feeling empowered, informed and heard. We are committed to being one of the leading health care providers that centers respect and self-determination for all. We aim for the Rooted brand to leave behind a legacy of shifting the culture of healthcare. Our journey has been one of alignment and purpose which has carried us through the various challenges of being a small Black-owned business during Covid19. Some of the greatest lessons that we have learned is simply to start, gain clarity on your “why”, and reach out to your surrounding community for support.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being that Rooted has roots in the Bay Area and Harlem, here are few spots in both cities to check out. If we are on the West Coast, we are grabbing Mexican food at Taco Mi Rancho, then we’ll head to Lake Merritt for chill vibes and relaxation and end with a cute dinner on the rooftop of Oestos. On the East Coast, we are staying in Uptown (Harlem) where we start our morning with a cup of coffee at Common Good, brunch at Blvd, and catch a game at Harlem Hops. We love a good vibe, amazing food, and our people!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
All praise, honor, and gratitude are given to God and our ancestors. None of our success would be possible without our spirituality and belief in one another as young Black female co-founders and lifelong friends. We are thankful to the Nelums’, Alexanders’, Lopezes’ Carters’, and to Kevinn Ramonne Carter we will always uplift your legacy. We give respect to the Black power and social movements that have fought for our Black lives and self-determination. All of whom give the mission of Rooted direction and purpose.

In addition, we are most thankful to the various communities we exist in, for entrusting our services and growing us as health practitioners who are committed to the People. We are grateful to the cities like Oakland, Richmond, and New York that raised us and presented the lessons that continue to shape our narratives.

Website: https://www.rooted.llc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rooted.llc/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rootedhealthllc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearerootedllc/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8fnyu8uKY6-9ktUF6mecmw