Date and Time

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023 | 2 PM ET/11 AM PT | VIRTUAL

Speakers

Kelene Blake

Executive Director, Black Mamas ATX

Morgan Miles

Executive Director, Giving Austin Labor Support

Nakeenya Wilson

Strategic Advisor, Funders for Birth Justice and Equity and Co-founder, Maternal Health Equity Collaborative

Event Description

The Maternal Health Equity Collaborative was formed in Austin, TX during the 2020 Covid 19 lockdown when hospitals stopped allowing Doulas to attend births. These leaders came together to create a solution in which Doulas could again support birthing people in the hospital setting. From there they advocated for the unique needs of pregnant people, especially Black and brown people, during Covid, by partnering to release the Maternal Health Equity Report in September 2020. The Maternal Health Equity Collaborative then achieved a Safer Childbirth City grant from Merck for Mothers and Pritzker Children’s Initiative and released The Spirit of Possibility, a report identifying the equity gaps in care across Central Texas and providing recommendations to fix them. The presenters will talk about the community-based leadership and strengths that, combined with philanthropic support, went into the creation of this impactful community-based Collaborative.