Local StoriesSeptember 3, 2025

Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Marpessa Allen of Denver Metro Area

Local Stories

Marpessa Allen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Marpessa, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Absolutely. I’ve often been grateful that I didn’t act too quickly, especially when it comes to developing Mahogany Mothers Circle. We started online during COVID, a time when connection was needed more than ever, but resources were limited. Over time, we’ve grown thoughtfully and intentionally, taking the space to build a strong foundation. Today, we’re proud to be connected with a fruitful fiscal sponsor, Social Good Fund, which has allowed us to expand our programs and impact.

We would also like to acknowledge our first sponsorship partner, the Colorado Health Foundation, and our first grants from the Black Resilience Fund – Denver Foundation and The Chinook Fund. We’re excited to continue these relationships and look forward to growing even further in the future.

Along the way, we’ve intentionally cultivated community partners and consistently listened to the voices of the mothers we serve, shaping our work around their real needs and experiences. This deliberate, measured approach has helped us create a thriving, supportive network that truly empowers mothers. Slow growth has allowed MMC to stay authentic to its mission, build meaningful relationships, and ensure the programs we offer — from holistic wellness to Honey K. Fitness Club — are sustainable, impactful, and truly community-centered.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Marpessa Allen. I’m a birthwork business strategist, maternal health advocate, and founder of Mahogany Mothers Circle, a community dedicated to supporting Black mothers through every stage of parenthood. What makes our work unique is that we combine holistic wellness, physical health, and nutrition with practical guidance and community support. I help mothers and birthworkers build sustainable businesses while prioritizing their own well-being, because I know firsthand how challenging and rewarding this journey can be.

Currently, I’m focused on expanding Honey K. Fitness Club, offering culturally responsive fitness and nutrition programs to empower mothers physically, mentally, and emotionally. At the heart of everything I do is helping others see their own strength and potential while creating a legacy of health, resilience, and empowerment for our communities.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I love this question because I often say it’s necessary for some bonds to break — and there are some that are meant to be restored. In my experience, the more open you are to doing the inner work, the more you shed former versions of yourself, and with that comes a natural transformation of your surroundings. I live by the saying that people are in our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
I learned early from my late grandmother not to hold so tightly to relationships in the same way you hold your own life. I carry that wisdom with me.

A healthier framing might be: “The mission is for the people, and people are the mission.” Sometimes that means hard choices, but if the vision forgets the humanity of those carrying it, the mission loses its soul.

Sometimes, releasing a bond is simply part of releasing an old version of yourself — and it’s just as necessary for growth as forming new ones.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain the moment I realized it was the very thing that connected me to others. My greatest pain has been my motherhood journey — navigating health challenges while enduring rocky relationships that did not reflect the safety and grace I needed to be my best self. I’m a mother of four, and too often I’ve felt alone in making decisions for my children, facing ongoing parental battles while trying to manage my health, run a business, and remain true to myself.

There have been moments where it’s hard not to feel robbed — of peace, of time, of the ease I once imagined. But my faith in Jesus has been the anchor that allowed me to process it all and see that nothing has been wasted. Every hardship has been a piece of my greater purpose. Turning my pain into power has meant using my story to guide and uplift others in similar situations, showing them that there really is light at the end of the tunnel — and that we’re not walking toward it alone.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
One belief—and project—I’m deeply committed to, no matter how long it takes, is the ongoing evolution of Mahogany Mothers Circle’s Honey K. Fitness Club, which is our pivot to prioritize physical health and nutrition.

Mahogany Mothers Circle is a nurturing community that supports Black mothers throughout pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. While our foundation has always been holistic wellness, we are now intentionally embracing an often-overlooked piece: the critical connection between racism, chronic stress, and physical health disparities.
Racism acts as a significant stressor, triggering physiological responses—such as elevated blood pressure and immune suppression—that jeopardize long-term health outcomes.

Research shows that Black women are less likely to meet recommended physical activity guidelines, with nearly 40% reporting little or no leisure-time exercise. At Honey K. Fitness Club, we recognize that barriers go beyond access—they include cultural pressures like the SnapBack expectation often perpetuated in popular culture.
This is why, in our second year of the 75 Soft Challenge, we emphasize grace with yourself while implementing new lifestyle habits incrementally. It’s not about quick fixes or extreme transformations; it’s about building sustainable wellness routines that honor your body, your culture, and your life. By creating supportive, culturally relevant spaces, we help Black women develop long-term health habits without guilt or unrealistic pressures.

We launched the Honey K. Fitness Club for our moms January 2024. Since then we’ve partnered with Natural Grocers to host monthly nutritional classes, and every Saturday we offer Yoga Daze — a culturally responsive yoga class led by a postpartum- and pregnancy-certified instructor. We have intentions of expanding our offerings to reflect other physical activity interests.
For me, this isn’t just a program; it’s a lifelong mission. Addressing these health disparities isn’t optional — it’s essential — and I’m committed to this work for as long as it takes to see lasting change in our communities.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think what people might most misunderstand about my legacy is the way I prioritize mission over relationships. I’ve learned that I am my own competition, and my focus is on the work I am here to do — the impact and the legacy I leave behind. That doesn’t mean I don’t value connection or care deeply about people; it means that as seasons of life change, I pay attention to the circumstances and the relationships that naturally align with my purpose. I don’t hold onto connections simply out of habit or sentimentality — I’m intentional about who I allow into my life, and why.

My children, of course, are at the center of everything I do. They are non-negotiables because they are a living part of my legacy, and I make every choice with their well-being and future in mind. Beyond that, I’ve learned that releasing relationships that no longer serve mutual growth is sometimes necessary for both people to thrive. It’s not about being cold — it’s about making space for growth, transformation, and the people and opportunities that are meant to be part of each season of life.

On a personal level, I’ve learned that the mission should feed growth, not replace humanity. Boundaries, compassion, and balance are what keep the work sustainable.

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Image Credits
Soul 2 Souls Sister / Sacred Seeds Birthworker Collective

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