BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / September 5, 2024 / U.S. maternal mortality rates are twice as high for today's mothers as they were a generation ago, and in Louisiana, poverty and inadequate access to care exacerbate these already alarming rates. Birthmark, the only doula-owned cooperative in Louisiana and a leading voice in birth justice advocacy, has been on the frontlines for 13 years committed to birthing families throughout their journey in pregnancy, childbirth, and the very first stages of parenthood.
On Saturday, October 5th in Baton Rouge, Birthmark will host the 2024 Black Birth Matters Summit: Reimagining Birth Through Collective Liberation, a gathering of Black birth workers, activists, and allies to focus on the crucial issues where birth and social justice intersect with special interest in centering on the Black experience; an opportunity to advocate for better birth outcomes and experiences for Black families. Black Birth Matters is a powerful convening that will feature workshops, panel discussions, open dialogue, art, and healing, focused on the intersections of birth and social justice. All are welcome, but the Black experience is centered. There will be a guided tour, Our Lineage: Tour and Tea on Sunday, October 6th in New Orleans.
"Louisiana has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. This summit is not just a gathering; it's a declaration that our lives, our births, and our stories matter. We are here to reclaim our power and demand birth justice," said Victoria Williams, Birthmark member-owner and advocacy lead.
The 2024 Black Birth Matters Summit: Reimagining Birth Through Collective Liberation will be hosted by Amani Randall, a digital creator and birth justice advocate.
Maternal mortality in Louisiana is increasing at a rate that exceeds the national average. Louisiana experts believe that nearly half of confirmed pregnancy-related deaths in the state are preventable, according to the Center of Reproductive Rights. Public policies that seek to improve maternal health must be informed by evidence, respect human rights, and enable every pregnant person in Louisiana to attain the best health possible. All reasons why the Black Birth Matters Summit is an essential, life-saving effort.
"After not feeling heard by my own doctors and making the difficult decision to change physicians, I ultimately chose a home birth to take control of my health and my baby's life. This isn't just my story-it's the reality for too many Black mothers," said Randall, originally from Chicago but who now calls New Orleans home after relocating to Louisiana to attend Xavier University. "The urgency for change in Black maternal health in Louisiana and across this nation is deeply personal and demands our immediate action. We must demand better, because every mother deserves to not just survive, but to thrive."
Birthmark's goal is to raise $100,000 to establish a Maternal Health Fund to support educational workshops, community programs, and advocacy efforts. By partnering with others in the field and leveraging collective expertise, Birthmark aims to promote equitable healthcare access and address disparities in maternal health, ultimately improving the birth experience for Black families.
"We must reimagine a world where every birth is a celebration of life and freedom, unshackled from the chains of systemic racism and oppression," said Williams of Birthmark, who is also a doula and licensed master social worker. "Our liberation is intertwined with the health and well-being of our communities, and it begins with birth."
WHAT: Birthmark presents the 2024 Black Birth Matters Summit: Reimagining Birth Through Collective Liberation.
WHEN: Saturday, October 5th; 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
WHERE: The Executive Center
250 S. Foster Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
The 2024 Black Birth Matters Summit: Reimagining Birth Through Collective Liberation registration information and the tour, Our Lineage: Tour and Tea on Sunday, October 6th in New Orleans, as well as sponsorship opportunities can be found here.
For more information and to schedule a media interview, please contact jewel bush at jewel@jewelmariebush.com. To access the Black Birth Matters official social media toolkit, please click here.
ABOUT BIRTHMARK:
Founded in February 2011, Birthmark is a birth justice organization dedicated to supporting, informing, and advocating for Black and LGBTQ pregnant and parenting people and their families in New Orleans. Birthmark provides emotional, physical, and informational support to families throughout the full spectrum of reproductive health and parenting by offering childbirth education, birth doula and postpartum doula services, and lactation support.
As the only doula-owned cooperative in Louisiana and a leading voice in birth justice advocacy, Birthmark is committed to families throughout their journey in pregnancy, childbirth, and the very first stages of parenthood.
ABOUT BLACK BIRTH MATTERS:
Founded in October 2016 by Jamilla Webb and Ashley Hill Hamilton, the Black Birth Matters Summit has emerged as a vital initiative to address critical issues faced by Black birthing families in Louisiana and beyond. The summit was created to tackle pervasive challenges such as medical trauma, increasing rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, inadequate breastfeeding support, and the criminalization of birthing practices by fostering dialogue through discussions, panels, and networking sessions. As a project of Birthmark, the summit serves as a platform for collaborative strategy development, bringing together Black birth workers and allies to advocate for systemic change and improve birth outcomes.
SOURCE: Birthmark
View the original press release on accesswire.com
