OUR HISTORY
Rev. Mary Diggs-Hobson, Co-Founder
Reverend Mary Diggs-Hobson cofounded African Americans Reach and Teach Health (AARTH) Ministry, a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2002, with her beloved son Reginald, to respond to HIV/AIDS and other chronic health conditions that disproportionately affect African and Black people in the diaspora. has officially retired.
Since 2002, Mary led the organization to new heights along with her staff as the organizers and hosts of state and regional health conferences for health providers. The team developed sponsors and delivered culturally appropriate behavioral health-change and clinical education and training for communities, organizations, and health institutions throughout Washington and five regional states including, Utah, Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, and Wyoming.
She led AARTH to the forefront of health equity as we navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic, creating a pathway for over 6,000 vaccines into the arms of Black and Brown people. Mary has officially passed the torch to Kathleen Wilcox and is confident that the amazing heartfelt work of AARTH will continue to grow and affect change in Health Equity.
Mary is an alumnus of RHEMA Bible College Tulsa, Oklahoma with a degree in Pastoral Ministry. Reverend Mary and her husband, Reverend Lee Hobson have served since 2010 on the Pastoral Leadership team at Damascus International Fellowship in Seattle, WA where Reverend James P. Broughton III, is the senior pastor.
Mary is looking forward to relaxing, travelling with her husband and connecting and enjoying her family. Thank you, Rev. Mary Digg-Hobson, job well done. Reginald is smiling from above and proclaiming, REJOICE!
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On behalf of the Board, Staff & Community
Joycelyn Thomas
AARTH President
In Memoriam Reginald L. Diggs, Co-Founder
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
African American Reach and Teach Health Ministry (AARTH) is a non-religious 501c3 faith-based capacity building nonprofit organization, established to respond to HIV/AIDS and other major health issues affecting people of African descent. Eighteen years ago, Mary Diggs Hobson and her son Reginald Diggs, who has since passed, founded AARTH with this mission in mind.
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AARTH remains steadfast in our efforts to address racial inequities in systems, policies, and culture and that mission will never waiver.
AARTH has a broad scope of educational practices to influence social justice and health equity. AARTH engages the Black community and our allies with programs that address: chronic disease self-management, mental health, senior health, and HIV/AIDS. More information may be found on our website at www.aarth.org.
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