Hi, I'm Mēlani. Welcome.
socially engaged artist · radical listener · educator · culture worker
About
My name is Mēlani N. Douglass. I work at the intersection of art, ancestral technology and community development. I push institutions and leaders to put the community first, move money and resources to the people they say they serve, and have fun while doing it.
I am a proud native of Baltimore and a proud resident of Anacostia for over 20 years. My work has mainly focused on these two places and along the rivers that lead to the Chesapeake Bay. My research in this region, especially around The Prescription is Home, has taught me that we are a radical people and we have everything we need to heal and thrive.
This is why, in the most challenging time of my life, I only see it fit to go to my community.
What happened
For the past two to three years, I have been in and out of hospitals with chest pain that was mistaken for everything from heartburn to the early signs of a heart attack. The attacks were often triggered by food. They filled my chest with a nauseating pain, a racing heart, and a limited ability to breathe. I was told it was aging, then perimenopause. I knew something else was going on, so I kept pressing my doctors to look at my heart and keep testing.
On October 6th, I had a terrible allergic reaction that led to unbearable heart pain. I called my friend and PTA Co-President Usha, who is a nurse, and she walked me through everything that saved my life. Somehow, from just beyond living, I chose to survive. It took every bit of energy I had to follow her instructions, take the meds I needed, and be ready for the paramedics.
By October 8th, I was rushed to the emergency room with heart and chest pain and shallow breathing. I looked fine, but my EKG said something very different. On Friday, October 9, 2026, I was diagnosed with recurring pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining around the heart. It is a rare and potentially fatal condition that can be healed with radical rest, proper medication and extensive care. I am relieved to have a name for it, and to know what to do.
So much of my art practice is built around holding people, holding space and holding our stories. Now, I need the community to hold me.
What recovery requires
What triggers an attack is often unknown. While my doctors work to identify my triggers, my job is to lower the chance of another attack in every way I can. That means radical rest: slowing down, sleeping as much as I can, getting fresh air, taking my medication, and building the strength to overcome this condition.
For at least the next six months, I have been advised to avoid anything that raises my heart rate or stresses my system. I cannot go to the gym. Right now, walking to the car is exhausting. In practice, that means I will be unable to work for 9 to 12 months. I cannot take on new commitments, I will be limiting in-person events, I cannot do most household tasks, and I am not driving, so I will rely on rides to get to appointments.
Where your gift goes.
- Living expenses for my daughter and me for up to 12 months
- A specific anti-inflammatory meal plan, which is part of my medicine and a real expense
- Caregiving and household help for what I can no longer do myself
- Transportation to follow-up care
- Medications and follow-up medical care
I have an amazing circle of care. What I need from you is the financial breathing room to let that care work, so I can rest without worrying about keeping a roof over my daughter's head. Our 12-month need is $90,000, and every dollar goes toward protecting my healing and her stability.
I have so much more to give my community. I am not stepping away from the work. I am making sure I am here for decades more of it. If you can't give, sharing this page means just as much.
With gratitude, Mēlani
