Aligning Capital. Strengthening Community Infrastructure.
Event Details
Date: October 20-22, 2026
Location: Detroit, MI
Across the country, community-based organizations are building the infrastructure that supports healthy pregnancies, safe births, thriving families, and stronger communities. Yet too often, the organizations and leaders advancing birth equity must do so within fragmented funding systems that make long-term sustainability difficult.
The Birth Equity Summit brings together philanthropic leaders, community organizations, birth workers, researchers, policymakers, and ecosystem partners to strengthen the birth justice ecosystem through shared learning, coordinated investment, and lasting partnerships.
Together, participants will explore emerging insights from the Birth Justice Ecosystem Map and Capital Index, learn from leaders building durable community infrastructure, and identify opportunities to align capital where it can have the greatest impact.
Why Attend
The Birth Equity Summit is a working gathering designed to move participants from shared understanding to coordinated action. Together, we’ll:
- Explore the emerging Birth Justice Ecosystem Map and Capital Index
- Learn from leaders building durable community infrastructure across the country
- Identify opportunities to better align philanthropic, public, and community investment
- Strengthen relationships across philanthropy, community organizations, birth workers, and adjacent sectors
- Shape the next chapter of collective action to advance birth equity
A Three-Day Experience
Tuesday, October 20 | Rooted in Place
Begin your summit experience with optional Detroit ecosystem site visits highlighting community-led birth justice, organizing, and institution building, followed by an Opening Reception featuring Detroit artists, storytelling, community connection, and the Black Birth Joy photography exhibit.
Wednesday, October 21 | Understanding the Ecosystem
Explore the Birth Justice Ecosystem Map and Capital Index, examine emerging trends across the field, and engage in conversations about philanthropy, community infrastructure, and the many forms of capital needed to sustain birth justice over the long term.
Thursday, October 22 | Organizing for Action
Move from insight to action through strategy sessions, leadership conversations, cross-sector dialogue, and collaborative planning focused on strengthening workforce durability, organizational stability, and community-based birth infrastructure.
The Three Durability Pathways
The summit is organized around three interconnected pathways that support long-term birth justice infrastructure.
Workforce Durability & Caregiver Sustainability
Supporting the people carrying birth justice work through leadership development, workforce pipelines, mental health, retention, and sustainable career pathways.
Organizational Stability & Institutional Capacity
Strengthening organizations through flexible funding, leadership support, operational infrastructure, reserves, benefits, and long-term sustainability.
Community-Based Birth Infrastructure
Expanding and sustaining community-owned birth centers, perinatal hubs, midwifery collectives, and culturally aligned models of care.
What Makes This Summit Different
Unlike traditional conferences, the Birth Equity Summit is designed to create lasting relationships and actionable strategies.
Throughout the summit participants will experience:
- Interactive ecosystem dialogue
- Strategy labs and collaborative working sessions
- Cross-sector conversations
- Wellness and restoration experiences
- Detroit community site visits
- Networking designed to foster long-term collaboration
Every aspect of the summit is intentionally designed to strengthen relationships, deepen understanding, and support coordinated action beyond Detroit.
Sponsored By
