Celebrating Black Midwives this February
https://mailchi.mp/38d60f39f30b/bff-news-13601990
Hello friends,
What an exciting time and moment we are in. Your BFFs have been busy and we want to update you on all that we have been up to and all that is to come. First, I want to say that stepping in as Birth Future Foundation’s first Executive Director is an honor. Trusting Black woman leadership is something we stand by and believe in, so we are walking our talk. I appreciate the belief in my abilities to steer us into the birth future we envision with an amazing team by my side. I could not have asked for a more perfect group to do this work with.
These past few months, we have been working hard to prepare for our first grant making cycle and developing our vision of participatory grant making. We have been doing lots of strategic planning and envisioning for the birth future that we want and we are excited to finally bring this work forward. So trust me things have been buzzing in the BFF world and there is so much more to come.
For Black History Month, we want to uplift midwifery and Black midwives past and present. Keep reading for some great articles and resources. We also want to highlight that NACPM is holding a webinar TODAY on the history of Black midwifery.
In solidarity,
Tanya Smith-Johnson, MS, CPM
Executive Director
Black History: Midwives
The history of Black midwives goes hand in hand with the history of the United States, and should be celebrated this month, and every month. At Birth Future Foundation, we recognize and honor the history and essential contributions of Black midwives past and present.
Event TODAY!
NACPM is holding a webinar on, Thursday, February 24, 1:30-3:00 ET, “Birth Justice is Black Midwifery: The Hxstory of a Movement” presented by Jamarah Amani
Midwife Claudia Booker’s life and legacy has been profiled in Time magazine and in a National Public Radio story “How the death of a birth worker illustrates the urgency to record Black history.”
A longer piece was published about the great Claudia Booker in Birth Magazine two years ago, just after she died.
Check out the National Black Midwives Alliance on social media for their “Black Midwives Through Time” tributes for Black History Month.
NBMA on Twitter | NBMA on Instagram | NBMA on Facebook
Midwives in the news:
“Home Births Became More Popular During the Pandemic. But Many Insurers Still Don’t Cover Them” (Time, February 11, 2022)
In case you missed it…
“Improving Our Maternity Care Now Through Midwifery”
A comprehensive October 2021 report with the case for midwifery and specific policy recommendations from the National Black Midwives Alliance, National Partnership for Women and Families, NACPM, and ACNM.
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