Let's Stop Weathering

Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society shows us how coping daily with injustice degrades physical and mental health. We see the human cost of injustice down to the cellular level.

The purpose of “Let’s Stop Weathering” is to encourage allies and partners to understand these root causes of stress and address them – by communicating, building experiences that lift and heal us, improving physical and mental health care, and designing systems that serve individuals and grow equity in Indiana.

Weathering also happens to people:

Dr. Arline Geronimus, public health researcher, is the author of Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society.

Her work describes the physical effects – the weathering – that occurs from being subjected to injustice. “It literally wears down your heart, your arteries, your neuroendocrine systems so that you become chronologically old at a young age."

Dr. Geronimus explains that feeling unsafe, or unwelcome, can trigger an evolutionary “fight or flight” response where the heart beats faster, breathing becomes heavy, and blood flooded with fats and sugars pumps to large muscles. The immune system is activated and compromised. This body's automatic response to threat is intended to last moments, not be ongoing. It takes a toll on physical and mental health.

Studies and research connect the stress of injustice to chronic disease and infant and maternal mortality.

The stress from injustice hurts individual people, schools, employers, health systems, our sense of peace and security - everything and all of us.

What Can We Do About It?

The Let’s Stop Weathering initiative launched in the fall of 2023 with a conversation with Dr. Geronimus in Indianapolis. More than 300 people representing Asian, Black, Hispanic, white, LGBTQ and faith groups, attended the talk. 45 organizations signed on as partners to host events in the coming year to address weathering.

Many organizations and community groups are doing great work to address poverty, education and employment gaps, and improve health. Collaboration can help create lasting improvement and foundational change.

Call to Action:

Buy the book at your local independent bookstore and suggest it for your book club.
Plan and submit an event.
Consider and share how we can address the underlying causes of weathering.
Know your legislators.
- Indianapolis - indy.gov Elected Officials
- Indiana - IN.gov Elected Officials
Check your voter registration - Indiana Voters IN.gov

Indiana State Museum

Seeds of Freedom: The Spiritual Roots of the American Civil Rights Movement

February 9, 2025, Performance

This production by Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, takes the audience on a historical journey predating enslavement – migrating through the transatlantic slave trade to the Civil Rights movement, while highlighting local Indiana connections to historic moments in our nation’s story.

Using spoken word, dance, call-and-response and music, the rhythm of resilience is relayed in the compelling account of the ongoing struggle for equity and the eradication of racial discrimination of African Americans. See how they found strength, joy, resolve and purpose in the reconciliation and activation of their faith in the face of injustice.

“Seeds of Freedom” is not only an artistic retelling of our history, but an invitation for reflection and personal response to the call for Unity in helping our country keep its promise to its people of “liberty and justice for all.”

Relevant Studies and Podcasts

TOXIC HERITAGE

Group of faculty, students, and community members committed to using rigorous research, public scholarship, and community agency to create change. Based in the Cultural Heritage Research Center, IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis).

Ann M. Stack	Cordelia Lewis-Burk	Kathy Davis	Michael McKillip
Rita Venable	David Anderson	John Krull	Margo Kelly

Let's Stop Weathering

Let's Stop Weathering

What is Weathering?

Weathering also happens to people:

What Can We Do About It?

Call to Action:

VIDEO

EVENT REGISTRATION

UPCOMING EVENTS

Indiana State Museum

Seeds of Freedom: The Spiritual Roots of the American Civil Rights Movement

LEARN MORE ABOUT WEATHERING

“Weathering” And the Effects of Racism on Public Health

Our Choice Coalition

Lifetime of stress takes toll on Black Americans

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Relevant Studies and Podcasts

TOXIC HERITAGE

AGENTS OF CHANGE

THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MINORITY AND MARGINALIZED YOUNG PEOPLE

ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY, ELMINATING HEALTH DISPARITIES

CONTACT US

Join to help stop weathering

Let's Stop Weathering Organizers