Deb Belfatto is a force for women’s health and wellness. The tireless advocate has an unwavering belief in lifting up the women around her. It’s long been her calling, or as she puts it more meaningfully, her path to purpose. When it comes to health in all its forms, Belfatto wants to make sure every woman has access to the education and support needed not just to survive, but to thrive.
That mission began in 1988, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33 years old. Her daughter Lindsay was just 2. “There were no young women talking about breast cancer then,” she recalls. “I was sitting in waiting rooms filled with older women, and I felt so isolated. I didn’t know a single person my age who had been through this.”
She also knew immediately that she had something many other women didn’t. “I had resources. And I was quickly struck by how many women didn’t,” she says.
That realization eventually led her to co-found the North Jersey affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a force for breast cancer education, screenings, and research funding in New Jersey. For more than 15 years, she helped raise millions of dollars to support women—especially those in underserved communities—making sure they got the mammograms, treatment, and support they needed.
Then, in 2021—35 years after her first diagnosis—Belfatto got the call she never imagined would come a second time. “I had breast cancer again,” she says, referring to it as her WTF number two. But this time she was empowered with enough information to be an honorary oncologist and had a team of doctors led by one who was also a dear friend. She knew she was ready to face that second diagnosis and treatment plan with full optimism.
Embracing a Path to Purpose
Belfatto also knew she wanted to frame her journey in a way that gave others hope. “Everything leads you somewhere,” she says. “And this time, it led me to Let’s Talk.” Belfatto wanted to reach and support women who lack access to care. She wanted to remind women who put themselves on the back burner while taking care of their kids or elderly parents to prioritize themselves, too. She wanted all women to know there is community in sisterhood and that sisterhood does wonders for both your physical and mental health.
Belfatto was raised by a supportive and nurturing mother who taught her not just to count her blessings but to share them. “And do it with grace and with power,” she says. She grew up in Essex County, spent more than two decades in Summit, where her daughter Lindsay was raised, and now calls Jersey City home—a city she loves for its energy, walkability, and diversity.
Every day, Belfatto is filled with gratitude for what she calls her abundant blessings—her husband Joe Belfatto (not only her partner in life but also in all things philanthropic), her daughter Lindsay and son-in-law Marcus and grandkids Rocco and Louie. Having her family and sisterhood of friends work alongside her to pull off her biggest and boldest vision yet has been instrumental. Let’s Talk Women’s Health & Wellness is not just a one-day symposium dedicated to women’s wellness at NJPAC in Newark. It’s a movement.
The Evolution of Let’s Talk
Now in its third year, Let’s Talk Women’s Health & Wellness has become the must-attend New Jersey gathering for women’s self-care. “It’s part event, part movement, part giant hug,” Belfatto says. “You walk in, and I guarantee you’ll walk out with a new friend, some real talk, and a whole new perspective on how to take care of you.”
When she first imagined Let’s Talk, Belfatto envisioned a place where women could talk openly and honestly about things that matter—breast health, mental health, finances and more. “The whole truth and nothing but the truth—that’s what we’re about,” she says. “We’re not here to sugarcoat things. We’re here to have real conversations about what women need.”
Let’s Talk brings together doctors, wellness experts and women from all backgrounds to learn, connect, and support one another. The symposium covers five pillars: physical well-being, mental health, spiritual wellness, financial health and human connection.
There’s a wellness lounge where women can try movement sessions, meditation, and self-care workshops. There’s a marketplace showcasing women-owned businesses (think everything from stylish finds to wellness products to unique gifts). And there’s community. “I always say, you’re going to walk in and make a new friend that day,” Belfatto says. “There’s joy, there’s tears, there’s connection—it’s all there.”
And this year, there’s an even bigger focus on health equity, with mobile mammography screenings on-site to provide exams to female veterans who might not otherwise have access. “No woman should be denied the same quality of care that I received,” she says. “Health equity is everything.”
If you’ve ever seen Belfatto in action, you know she not only makes a statement with her words, but also with her style. Whether it’s a blazer with a statement ladybug pin that embodies her positivity or her signature Lingua Franca sweaters embroidered with powerful phrases like Love is the Cure, she finds a way to use fashion as a conversation starter. “I love to wear a message,” she says. “Clothing can be fun, but it can also be meaningful. I want what I wear to reflect what I believe in.”
One of her favorite pieces? A custom jacket by Cara Brown Designs of Lambertville, a woman-owned business that specializes in handcrafted jewelry and fashion. “My friends gifted me a blank jacket for my 70th birthday, and then I got to design it with patches and details that tell my story,” she says, pointing to meaningful phrases like Path to Purpose and the logo for Let’s Talk as examples.
Now that Let’s Talk has become its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Belfatto is looking to the future, and expanding the movement by hosting more community events throughout the year and launching a podcast. “I want to keep the conversation going year-round,” she says. “There’s so much more to talk about.”
A Day For You
This year’s event is set for March 29 from 9 am – 5 pm at NJPAC in Newark. Expect conversations on topics women don’t talk about enough—from cancer and fertility to motherhood and sexual health to menopause and mental health. There will be experts, doctors, and wellness professionals participating in panels and breakout sessions. A Wellness Lounge will offer mindfulness and movement, a lesson on how to get better sleep, a chance to create a personal vision board, sip a mocktail and more.
You’ll also be able to shop at a marketplace filled with women-owned businesses. Author, motivational speaker, media personality, and beauty expert Mikki Taylor will serve as emcee for the day. Tickets include breakfast, lunch, snacks and a swag bag.
“I want every woman to walk out of Let’s Talk knowing that she matters,” she says. “That she’s worthy of care, of joy, of taking up space. This isn’t just a one-day event—it’s a mindset shift.”
For more information about Let’s Talk Women’s Health & Wellness and for tickets, click here and be sure to use code NJFAMILY30 for a 30 percent discount on tickets. Student and young professional rates are available as well as the opportunity to buy a “Sister Ticket” for a woman who may require additional resources to attend.
We’re giving away two tickets to Let’s Talk Women’s Health & Wellness for you and your bestie. To enter to win, head to New Jersey Family’s Instagram page for details!
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