Why Birth Justice?
The term birth justice encompasses any policy, practice, mindset, behavior, or ceremony found in community, institutional, spiritual, family, and/or other construct that positively impacts maternal health and well-being from pre-conception through postpartum, reduces exposure to adverse experiences, and/or fosters trauma healing. The BJC employed a unique, inclusive, and asset-based process to surface strategies that reflect the future that American Indian and African American people wish to live into through re-connection with cultural strengths and wisdom, while simultaneously addressing harms of past and current structural racism.
Co-Community Director Korina Barry highlights the necessity of centering community voices, especially those with lived experience, to inform stronger advocacy and transformative birth justice strategies.
BJC Strength through Community Wisdom
Birth Justice at the Point of Care
Commissioner Angela Conley shares her personal experience at the point of care and why she is committed to championing birth justice.
Relative, mother, auntie, sister, doula and student-midwife Shashana Skippingday describes the impact of perinatal care and birthing in a culturally supportive setting.
Culturally-Aligned Birthwork
Our Communities Know Our Solutions
Sierra Leone Dillard, community doula and childbirth educator, explains the need for culturally-aligned perinatal support, and how a doula’s presence helps support the whole family.
BJC Postpartum Pilot Impact
Jocelyn B, a doula in the Postpartum Pilot, describes the value and impact she has witnessed within the pilot program.