STAND UP FOR BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
The National Postpartum Awareness Week series is co-hosted and co-produced by three black, woman-led organizations, Dr. Shalon’s MAP & The ARIAH Foundation, in partnership with stakeholders across the United States with a co-created vision of restoring life and dignity to the birthing and postpartum experiences of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). The collective members represent over 25 states from across the country who are committed to amplifying the needs and the voices of BIPOC during the 4th Trimester so that “Birthing while Black/Brown” in the US will no longer be a death sentence. Through the power of collective action, this campaign raises awareness about the inequitable and unacceptable impact of systemic and institutional racism experienced by BIPOC during their pregnancy, birthing and postpartum journeys.
The campaign will take place VIRTUALLY from Sunday, May 4th to Saturday, May 10th, 2025 from 7:00pm - 9:30pm EST. We welcome individuals, groups, organizations and institutions from across the country and abroad to engage in the weeklong activities to help improve postpartum birthing outcomes across the nation.
SPEAK! MOVE! CHANGE!
A VIRTUAL Series in honor of
Black Maternal Health Week
In the past few years, Black Maternal Morbidity & Mortality have become “hot button” topics. There have been news reports, focus groups, community forums, and research to address this epidemic. However, despite all of the statistical data, conferences and conversations, the war on black and brown wombs continues. “Speak!, Move!, Change!” (SMC) was created to amplify the reproductive justice and birth equity movements and to address the black maternal health crisis.
SMC is a FREE, VIRTUAL series that is offered annually to participants throughout the United States and abroad. The series is co-produced by three BIPOC and/or women-led organizations, commited to reproductive justice, birth equity, and the amelioration of black maternal/infant morbidity and mortality in the US and abroad. The SMC series invites the community at large, individuals and families with lived experiences, reproductive activists, advocates, academics, midwives, doulas, etc., to gather in a virtual space to learn, grow, heal and ACT in response to the black maternal health crisis. The virtual series will include ceremony, ritual, visual and performing arts, community dialogue, panel discussions and a call to ACTION!
We invite you to SPEAK up; to make a MOVE; and to be the CHANGE.
In the United States, approximately 700-900 women die yearly due to causes related to pregnancy…
Postpartum Awareness Week (PAW) is a commitment to engage in the necessary work to ensure safe pregnancy outcomes for Black, Brown, and Indigenous women, and birthing people locally, nationally, and internationally. Through collective action, this campaign raises awareness about the inequitable and unacceptable impact of systemic, anti-Black racism experienced by BIPOC, especially during the birthing journey. PAW expands postpartum to include the end of pregnancy due to miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, or live birth until one year from the end of pregnancy.
1st Annual National Postpartum Awareness Week
Thank you to our sponsors!
