A Guide to Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week in your Community

Hi Friend,
Black birth workers such as midwives and doulas are on the frontlines, defending our ability to access the quality care we need to live full lives of our design. During Black Maternal Health Week 2024 (April 11 - 17) [[link removed]] , we acknowledge and celebrate their incredible contributions to our communities.
Find a #BMHW24 event in your community [[link removed]]
Decades of restrictive laws enacted at the state and federal levels, along with the fall of SCOTUS overturned Roe , have resulted in inequitable access to quality maternal healthcare, particularly for Black mamas and other birthing people. Even more alarming/awakening is the fact that we've seen an increase in the criminalization of pregnant people – with people of color disproportionately targeted.
Our friends at Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) [[link removed]] are the organizers of #BMHW24, and together with local organizations, they leverage the occasion to build awareness and activism to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people.
URGE team members will be celebrating #BMHW24 at BMMA-affiliated events across the country - we hope you'll join us:
CALIFORNIA
For the Sake of our Mamas. For the Sake of our Communities! [[link removed]]
This event will explore current policies and advocacy tools aimed at addressing and eradicating this crisis.
Organizer: Black Women for Wellness [[link removed]]
When: April 12, 2024 | 9:30 am local time
Where: LADWP Community Room, 4030 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles
Register here [[link removed]] [[link removed]]
GEORGIA
Black Maternal Health Walk & Block Party [[link removed]]
This year’s walk will include a combination of wellness activities, maternal and reproductive health education sessions, music, and prizes for Black mamas and families from the Atlanta community.
Organizers: The Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA), City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Constituent Services (OCS), and 4Kira4Moms
When: April 13, 2024 | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm local time
Where: Selena S. Butler Park and the M.L. King Jr. Recreation and Aquatics Center
Register here [[link removed]]
OHIO
Black Maternal Health Equity Summit 2024 [[link removed]]
This half-day event brings together stakeholders from a range of backgrounds to inform research and solutions for advancing health equity, with a focus on Black mothers. It features a keynote by Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens, alongside local mother testimonials, research updates, and policy discussions.
Organizer: The Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio
When: April 14, 2024 | 12:00-4:00 pm local time
Where: Cleveland State University
Register here [[link removed]]
VIRTUAL
BMHW Closing Happy Hour: Celebration and Conversation with Jabina Coleman [[link removed]]
This virtual event will delve into the social factors affecting mental well-being and provide strategies for self-care within oppressive systems.
Organizer: Maternal Wellness Village [[link removed]]
When: April 17 | 5:00 - 6:30 pm CDT
Where: Virtual
Register here [[link removed]]
Find a #BMHW24 event in your community [[link removed]]
[[link removed]]
Alternate text [[link removed]] Serita Fontanesi
She/Her
Integrated Voter Engagement Director
[[link removed]]
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Building Young People Power for Reproductive Justice
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