CHEER CHAMPION OF THE WEEK: SHAFIA M. MONROE, MPH, DEM, CDT
Shafia Monroe began championing reproductive justice as a young teen in Boston, MA, after learning about the high infant mortality rate in her community. She responded by founding the non-profit International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) to create an urban midwife movement for better birth outcomes. In 2011, Shafia created Shafia Monroe Consulting to inspire the community to embrace traditional healing while addressing the barriers to equitable health care. As CEO of SMC Full Circle Doula Birth Companions, LLC, Shafia trains culturally competent doulas and creates diversity in the doula industry. Through her relentless advocacy and trailblazing initiatives, she continues to shape a world where equitable healthcare improves maternal and infant health.
When asked what she most enjoys about her work, Shafia shares, “I love teaching traditional birthing techniques to remove fear from birth and for families to feel confident and prepared to greet their babies. I love how my work connects me to my community and forms lasting relationships with the people I work with. I am thankful that my work has allowed me to mentor the next generation of leaders who will continue to improve infant and maternal health by honoring the legacy of the 20th African American midwife.”
Shafia is affiliated with the National Black Midwives Alliance, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, and SMC Full Circle Doulas. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for Dedication to Black Maternal Health. In 2022, Scientific American named her one of four individuals transforming healthcare equity in the U.S.
Beyond her professional achievements, Shafia is a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoys cooking and gardening. Her book African American Postpartum Traditions, Recipes, and Healing will be published in 2026.
Thank you, Shafia, for your lifelong dedication to maternal and infant health advocacy, education, and inspiration. We are honored to recognize you as our CHAMPion of the Week.
