The Psoriasis Collective Experience
The Psoria Collective
EXPERIENCE
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Real women.
Real experiences.
Real conversations about living with psoriatic disease in Black skin.
The PsoriaSis Collective Experience brings Black women together for honest conversations about living with psoriatic disease. From diagnosis and textured hair to relationships, motherhood, stress, treatment and everything that happens outside the doctor’s office.
Real Sistas With Psoria
We’ve all heard the clinical conversations about psoriasis.
But what about the conversations happening between black women who actually live it?
The PsoriaSis Collective Experience was created to make room for those conversations. The hair appointments. The clothes we stopped wearing. The relationships. The motherhood conversations. The frustration of trying to explain what psoriasis looks like on Black skin. The things we’ve learned from each other that we wish someone had told us sooner.
Meet the
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MEET THE LADIES
Ayesha
Patrick
Her PsoriaSis perspective
Scalp psoriasis, hair loss, advocacy & learning to live beyond the flare.
Bio
Ayesha Patrick is a psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patient advocate, writer, speaker, and founder of The PsoriaSis Collective, a community empowering Black women with psoriatic disease through connection, resources, education, and support. She also created Sistas With Psoriasis, an online support group for Black women living with psoriasis. Living with psoriasis for most of her life and psoriatic arthritis since 2020, Ayesha is passionate about representation, health equity, and making sure Black patient voices are part of the conversation.
She has written for publications such as WebMD, plaquepsoriasis.com, and has participated in many areas bringing awareness to all about chronic illness. She currently serves as a Johnson & Johnson HealtheVoices Conference Advisor and National Psoriasis Foundation mentor and volunteer.
Ayesha has recently been featured in People Magazine and several AbbVie initiatives, including Clearly Me, exhibited at High Line Nine in NYC, and their national media campaign PsoDone.
Connect with Ayesha
Instagram • TikTok • Facebook: @thepsoriasiscollective
Website: www.thepsoriasiscollective.com
Ayesha has lived with psoriasis since childhood, but a severe flare later in life changed the way she understood the disease and ultimately led her into advocacy. She brings the perspective of a patient, mentor, researcher and Black woman who knows firsthand what it means to search for answers when your psoriasis doesn't look like the textbook.
Ayesha Patrick
Advocate • Community Builder • Living with Psoriasis & PsA
MEET THE LADIES
ALISHA BRIDGES
PATIENT Advocate • SPEAKER• PLANT MOM
Alisha
Bridges
Bio
Alisha Bridges is a patient advocate, speaker, and storyteller who has lived with severe plaque psoriasis for more than three decades. For over 10 years she has used her lived experience to advocate for people navigating chronic illness, with a particular focus on psoriasis, mental health, self-discovery, and healing.
Alisha’s journey has also shaped her passion for exploring the connection between plants, personal growth, and emotional well-being. She ia the author of Dig Deeper: A 21-Week Guide to Self-Discovery Through Plants, which serves as a tool to connect plant care with self-reflection. Through her work and platform, she shares her experiences with vulnerability and humor while encouraging others to find tools that support their own healing and growth.
Her advocacy has led to collaborations and features with organizations and media including the National Psoriasis Foundation, WebMD, Stanford Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Glamour, Women’s Health, and Johnson & Johnson.
Connect with Alisha
Instagram • @alishambridges
MEET THE LADIES
Takieyah
Mathis
Bio
Takieyah Mathis is a global award-winning patient advocate, author, speaker, social work student, and founder of the Standing Light Foundation. After living with psoriatic disease for more than a decade, Takieyah turned her lived experience into advocacy focused on psoriatic disease, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), eczema, mental health, and health equity.
Through national campaigns, speaking engagements, media projects, and her annual Psoriasis Awareness Festival, she works to amplify patient voices, challenge stigma, and create community for people navigating chronic illness. Outside of advocacy, Takieyah enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, writing, creating art, and spending time with her husband and children.
Connect with Takieyah
Instagram • @itchygoddess
Takieyah MATHIS
Advocate • Community Builder • Living with Psoriasis & PsA
MEET THE LADIES
La'Keisha
Ciprian, M.Ed.
Bio
La’Keisha Ciprian, M.Ed. is a cross-sector leader with more than 15 years of experience spanning education, technology, nonprofit leadership, project management, and client experience. Currently a Manager of Client Partnerships at Panorama Education, she brings a passion for equity, empowerment, and creating meaningful experiences to her work.
A former Cornell University course facilitator and experienced trainer, La’Keisha holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction along with executive and leadership certificates from Cornell University. She is also a self-taught coder who has used her skills in website, product, and digital media design for more than 25 years.
Having lived with psoriasis her entire life, La’Keisha brings both her personal experience and unique professional perspective to conversations about living well with chronic illness.
Connect with La'Keisha
LinkedIn • linkedin.com/in/lakeishaciprian
LA'KEISHA CIPRIAN, M.ED.
Community Builder • Living with Psoriasis
MEET THE LADIES
Dr. Keri
Norris
Bio
Dr. Keri Norris is a dynamic storyteller and thought leader who lives boldly with psoriatic disease while redefining what it means to thrive. An accomplished author, true crime consultant, and TEDx speaker, she brings curiosity, insight, and real-world experience to everything she touches. When she’s not shaping narratives or unpacking complex stories, you’ll find her in the kitchen creating something delicious, surrounded by music, laughter, and the people she loves most.
Connect with Dr. Keri
Instagram • @thedrkeri
DR. KERI NORRIS
Advocate • Community Builder • Living with Psoriasis & PsA
Meet the
Artresia Fryar, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Author, Entrpreneur
Artresia Fryar is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in New Jersey and Ohio, author, entrepreneur, and founder of The Imperfectly Perfect Counseling and Wellness Center in East Brunswick, NJ. Passionate about mental wellness, youth development, and women's empowerment, she provides therapeutic support to individuals and families navigating life's challenges. She is also the founder of Imperfectly Perfect Homes, an initiative focused on supporting young women transitioning into adulthood. Through her work, Artresia advocates for self-care, self-love, and emotional well-being, empowering individuals to embrace their journeys with confidence.
Susan L. Peterkin
Master Natural Hair Care & Hair Loss Specialist
With over 40 years of experience in the natural hair industry, Susan L. Peterkin is a hair loss specialist, educator, and founder of The S.T.R.A.N.D. Network (Stylists Training, Researching, and Networking with Dermatologists) and the Natural Hair Industry Convention. A pioneer in natural hair care, she operated the DMV's first full natural hair salon, advocated for the CROWN Act, and has educated professionals through institutions such as Paul Mitchell and SalonCentric. Through her collaborations with dermatologists and industry professionals, Susan works to bridge the gap between hair care and dermatology, advancing education, awareness, and support for individuals experiencing hair loss and scalp conditions.
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GET IN TOUCH
Reach Out to THE PSORIASIS COLLECTIVE
The Psoria Collective