Bri'Yana Merrill

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Founder & CEO

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Join date: Aug 8, 2025

About

Hello! My name is Bri'Yana Merrill, and I am the Founder and CEO of Be Rooted Collectives!

I earned my Master of Public Health degree from George Mason University with a concentration in health equity and social justice after completing my Bachelor’s in Physics of Medicine and Bioethics from Rockhurst University. My background gives me both a strong scientific foundation and a lens for ethics and equity, which fuels my passion for building sustainable programs that improve the health of vulnerable communities. In addition to this, I recognize the importance of community on a person's health. Be Rooted Collectives is a way to bring people together to foster connection, growth, engagement, and empowerment.

Posts (4)

Feb 7, 2026 ∙ 3 min

Black and White Photos: A Reflection on the 100th Year Anniversary of the National Observance of Black History

100 years. The national remembrance of Black History first began in 1926. As a kid, I would look at my textbooks and stare at the black and white photos as they stared back at me. From slavery to segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and redlining, the pictures would depict Black joy and Black pain. With a curious, young mind, I struggled to come to terms with the same injustices happening around me as they did in the black and white photos. After all, doesn’t this indicate a time that was...

Jan 3, 2026 ∙ 2 min

New Year, Now What?

The founder reflects on the 2025 season and what she hopes to accomplish in the new year.

Dec 6, 2025 ∙ 3 min

The Soil that Nourishes Me

This blog is a tribute to the village that has shaped the Founder’s life. Through snapshots of the people who poured into her, celebrates the love, guidance, and grounding that have carried her through every season. It’s a reminder that none of us grow alone, and a warm thank you to everyone who has helped nourish her roots, including the reader who made it to the end.