It’s an honor to announce that Mayor Vi Lyles Charlotte's first African-American female Mayor, has signed our Proclamation request, making April 11th-17th, Black Maternal Health Week in Charlotte, NC! Maternal health refers to the health of an individual during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), black women in the U.S. die or suffer serious illness during and after childbirth, in dramatically disproportionate numbers—three to four times higher—than do their white counterparts. These racial disparities have been shown to persist regardless of income and education level. In its inaugural year, Black Maternal Health Week was created by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, to increase attention to the state of Black maternal health in the US, the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes, and community-driven policy, program, and care solutions. Locally, we are committed to creating safe spaces and platforms that amplify the voices and experiences of Black families. Join us in conversation and share your stories, as we strive to create solutions that accelerate maternal health equity. This is a free event, but donations can be given to support WISE Community Doulas and A Woman’s Way, two local organizations dedicated to providing healthy, respectful and evidence-based care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, for POC specifically pregnant black people. If you're interested in sponsoring or volunteering, please email MyDarlingDoula@gmail.com
