Honoring Henrietta Lacks' Life & Legacy

HONORING HERSTORY  

The Lacks Family launched a year-long HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Centennial CELLebration ("HELA100") to honor the 100th anniversary of the birth of Henrietta Lacks. Born in rural Roanoke, Virginia, on August 1, 1920, Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman, wife, mother of five, and resident of Turner Station, Maryland, is the “Mother of Modern Medicine,” who changed the world with her immortal HeLa cells.   

Henrietta's HeLa cells, taken without her or her family's knowledge or consent, would become responsible for some of the greatest scientific advancements of the last century and continue to benefit all of humanity.     

LEADING A WORLDWIDE CELLEBRATION  

Henrietta's family invites the world to support their mission to preserve her legacy by educating future generations on the impact of her phenomenal HeLa cells while promoting health equity and social justice.  

August 1, 2020, marked the 100th birthday of this phenomenal woman and the launch of HELA100 the historic yearlong worldwide Centennial CELLebration, which will culminate with a three-day conference in Baltimore, Maryland on August 1, 2021.  

HELA100 HIGHLIGHTS

HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Centennial CELLebration Website

HELA100.ORG is the home of The Lacks Family's year-long outreach and education campaign to honor Henrietta Lacks.


#HELA100 Symposium: CELLebrating The Incontestable Impact of Henrietta Lacks

August 1, 2020
Online
On Henrietta Lacks' 100th birthday, August 1, 2020, The Lacks Family, launched HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Centennial CELLebration with renowned speakers, 350+ attendees and special guests who shared their work to honor her legacy. 

The CELLebration continued with thousands of impressions with a Twitter Chat on the worldwide impact of Henrietta Lacks featuring her descents, scientists, advocates, teachers, artists, youth, influencers, and policymakers. 

HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Centennial Conversations 

Monthly, 1st Week of the Month - August 1, 2020 - August 1, 2021
Online
Join The Lacks Family, experts, and special guests on the first of every month in educating future generations on the impact of Henrietta's immortal HeLa cells - one conversation at a time.   

HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Centennial CELLebration Colloquium 

Friday, July 30, Saturday, July 31, Sunday, August 1, 2021  

Baltimore, Maryland 

Save the date to join The Lacks Family in person next year, in 2021 for the culmination of the year-long CELLebration. 

This three-day conference in Baltimore, Maryland includes a tour of Henrietta’s neighborhood, welcome reception, Tweetup, art exhibit, scavenger hunt, movie screening, expert panels, fireside chats, keynote conversations, an awards luncheon, pop-up shop, an evening birthday soiree, and culminating gospel CELLebration Brunch. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Continuing Medical Education (CMEs) while hearing from Henrietta’s descendants, celebrities, and social media influencers.   

HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Centennial CELLebration Media

Follow us @CELLebrateHeLa on social media and share using #HELA100. 

Join the conversation to celebrate Henrietta Lacks and learn more about the HELA100: Henrietta Lacks Centennial CELLebration.   

For information on sponsorship, collaborations, and media, email hela@irisimpact.org.