History

The National Association of Black Physical Therapists was born from a vision — but more importantly, from a deep sense of purpose.

It started with long days that didn’t end when work was over. We spent hours in coffee and tea shops, having real conversations about what was missing in our profession — representation, community, and advancement.

What began as conversation quickly became a call to action.

We leaned on trusted advisors in both physical therapy and law to make sure that what we were building was not just meaningful — but sustainable.

From there, we brought together a group of committed leaders — Breanna Richardson, Amber Brown,Kelsey Mims, TaVonna Biggs, Michael Robinson, Krys Hines, Tyra Mitchell, and Rhianna Green — who became our founding board. Together, they helped lay the foundation that NABPT stands on today.

And what made that foundation even stronger was the diversity within that leadership.

We had a spectrum of voices — different backgrounds, different experiences, different stages of life and career. Some were early in their journey, others more seasoned. Some came from different practice settings, different regions, and different perspectives.

And that diversity wasn’t accidental — it was necessary.

Because we understood that to truly serve our community, we needed leadership that reflected the fullness of it.

But one of the most important things we focused on early was pacing.

We understood that building something impactful meant building something that could last. So we didn’t rush — we were intentional.

We asked ourselves:
What actually speaks to our community?
What will resonate? What will grow?

We explored ideas outside of traditional models, not to reinvent the wheel — but to understand how we could use our expertise differently, in a way that truly serves the Black community.

And through that process, NABPT evolved.

It grew from a network… into a movement.

A movement that understands there will be ebbs and flows, ups and downs — but remains grounded in purpose.

Because when we lead with our expertise, our scope, and our collective power — that’s how we build something that lasts.