April 11-17, 2024 – Updates from the DEIA Committee
This week provided an opportunity for us to raise awareness and take action to improve the health and well-being of Black mothers and birthing people.
As part of our commitment to supporting maternal health, we have organized a series of events aimed at educating, empowering, and engaging our community. We believe that by coming together, we can make a meaningful difference in addressing the disparities faced by Black mothers and birthing people in accessing quality healthcare and achieving positive birth outcomes.
Events from the week included, the Inaugural “Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience” Conference, the Women & Infants 2nd Annual Community Baby Shower, a Spring book club discussing Reproductive Injustice by Dána-Ain Davis, and Grand Rounds with Camille Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG.
To end the week, on Wednesday April 17, our keynote speaker, Dr. Bria Peacock shared her personal experience with systemic challenges affecting marginalized communities, particularly concerning reproductive health and rights of Black mothers and birthing people as she witnessed her sister’s experience with adolescent pregnancy. She discussed her organization, Sisters Informing Healing Living Empowering (SIHLE) Augusta program, which supports Black adolescent girls of Augusta, Georgia who have experienced pregnancy and gave an inspirational talk about Black teen pregnancy. This was followed by an incredible interdisciplinary panel discussion which included panelists Shanya Pratt (COH3 Clinic patient with lived experience; Chiffontae Ross (Program Coordinator C3); Julielle Broadway (COH 3 Teen Clinic RN (over 10 years experience!); Tara Ervin-Coleman (Certified Full Spectrum Doula and Lead Parent Educator in Show Me Strong Families, Parents as Teachers Program); Donna Givens (Certified Full Spectrum Doula, Childbirth and Lactation Educator, and Community Partnerships and Groups Manager Show Me Strong Families, Parents as Teachers Program)
Our post-event survey revealed that attendees had preconceived biases or notions regarding teen pregnancies that were addressed by the event. Attendees also agreed that more events, including young voices, interdisciplinary work, and centering joy are ways we can improve our reproductive health approach.
We look forward to continuing our work to bring awareness and change to Black mothers and birthing people as an overall initiative but specifically to those in the community we serve.
We also want to extend our deep gratitude for your support of the BMHW events sponsored by WASHU OBGYN/DEIA Committee, including the Community Baby Shower and the Keynote Speaker event. With your donations it was possible to reach over 300 people from 120 families at the baby shower and have over 35 people attended our keynote along with various community members and valued vendors listed below.
Kim “Finesse” Franks – Liberated Roots
La’Crassia Wilderness – Butter Love
Tony Davis – Pop Pop Hurray
Anna Ortiz-Aragon – Align with Anna
Tara Ervin & Donna Givens – Parents as Teachers (Featured Article)
Aminah R. Williams – Root to Crown Counseling & Wellness
Quotes from attendees:
“Women should be celebrated and uplifted from day one, without shame”
“We need to create safe space for them [teen patients] to tell their story and be respected”
