The Birth Justice Collaborative is a partnership of African American and American Indian led community organizations: Native American Community Clinic, Liberty Northside Healing Space, Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, University of Minnesota Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), Division of Indian Works, and Cultural Wellness Center, all of whom share a commitment to maternal health and birth justice. Collective Action Lab is coordinating the initiative at the direction of the partners.

BJC started in August 2022 when the BJC partners contracted with Hennepin to engage community members to inform and develop strategies for the County that improve maternal health and advance birth justice for American Indian and African American communities. The strategies were formed between September 2022 and May 2023 and the BJC is now working to implement five priority initiatives by the end of 2024.

BJC is a growing coalition of over 50 organizations and is not a legal entity. The BJC is supported by a coordinating organization, Collective Action Lab and steered or guided by six partners listed above. The Partners are responsible for guiding, directing, and overseeing the work of BJC.

BJC has five strategies, each with a priority initiative that strategy groups will work to implement by the end of 2024. Learn more details on each group on the “Our Strategies” page.

Decisions within the Birth Justice Collaborative are made by the 6 steering partners through a collaborative and inclusive process. Our decision-making involves input from diverse stakeholders, including community members, partner organizations, and experts in the field. We value the voices and perspectives of those directly impacted by our work and strive to make decisions that align with our mission and promote healing and justice in birth and maternal health.

The BJC process and priority initiatives are funded through its partnership with Hennepin County through 2024. The Birth Justice Collaborative is not a funding organization. The collaborative will work closely with coalition members, lead strategy organizations, and community members funding organizations and partners directly to support and advance our 5 priority areas.

The BJC priority initiatives will implement pilot programs that provide specific direct services. Some of those services will be funded through BJC funding and others will be funded by traditional funding sources. The pilots will be evaluated for effectiveness and sustainability.

BJC coalition members develop and pursue joint policy and payment reforms that advance the BJC priority initiatives and maternal health and birth justice generally.

Each priority initiative will establish and evaluate progress on specific outcomes. Evaluation results for each priority initiative and BJC overall will be shared as they emerge.

The BJC strategies were designed by and with community members and implementation is informed by community members. Community members are on each strategy group and compensated for their expertise.

Please contact Corenia Smith for more information about how to become involved at info@birthjusticecollaborative.com