BLACK MAMAS MATTER ALLIANCE

It’s Black Maternal Health Week, and we’re recognizing the important and inspiring work of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA). BMMA is a national network of Black women-led organizations and multi-disciplinary professionals working to advance policy, promote holistic maternity care, drive research, and uplift culture to improve Black maternal health. Each year, during National Minority Health Month, BMMA leads a week of awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices of Black birthing people and center the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.

BMMA’s work is rooted in birth and reproductive justice, respectful maternity care, and the human rights frameworks. The network provides technical assistance, training, and capacity-building and fosters connections between entities and Black women-led initiatives. BMMA intentionally centers Black women’s leadership to amplify voices, increase visibility and support, and promote more effective collaboration.

Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW), above all, is a week dedicated to educating and advocating for Black Mamas.* Through community engagement and events, BMHW uplifts Black women-led organizations to focus on the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes, while engaging Black voices to lead conversations around community-driven policies and programs. Additionally, BMHW highlights and centers culturally-congruent practices, including Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care.

BMHW began on April 11, and activities and conversations will continue through April 17! Learn how you can take part in BMHW here: blackmamasmatter.org/bmhw-2024.

Thank you, BMMA for the inspiring work that you do to advance Black maternal health and the reproductive and birth justice movements. We are honored to celebrate you as our CHAMPion of the Week.

*BMMA uses the phrase “Black Mamas” to represent the full diversity of lived experiences that includes birthing persons (cis women, trans folks, and gender expansive individuals) that are people of African descent across the diaspora (Afro-Latinx, African American, Afro-Caribbean, Black, and African Immigrant).