By AFRO Staff
Black mothers will be feted April 16 at a postpartum shower hosted by DMC Promise Foundation.
Under the banner, “Crowned in Resilience, Blooming in Beauty: Celebrating Black Mothers & The Village!” the organization aims to create a welcoming space for mothers in the Baltimore area to gather, connect, network and access valuable postpartum resources.
“We are thrilled to celebrate and honor Black mothers and the support they deserve,” said Tamira Dunn, CEO of the DMC Promise Foundation.
The event, slated for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bon Secours Community Resource Center, located at 31 S Payson St. in Baltimore, will feature several activities, including:
– Expert-led discussions and workshops on postpartum care and baby wellness
– Opportunities to relax and bond with fellow mothers
– A resource fair featuring community organizations
– Exciting giveaways and raffle prizes
– Delicious food and refreshments
Sponsors include Bmore for Healthy Babies, United Healthcare Community Plan, The Family Tree, Russell’s Reel Photography, Sunday Morning Coffee, Bon Secours, Healthy Start, and Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute.
The postpartum shower coincides with Black Maternal Health Week, which will be held April 11-17. The theme for this year’s observation – which is intentionally held during National Minority Health Month – is “Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy,” a push toward systemic change, reproductive equality and community healing.
According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maternal mortality rates decreased overall in 2023–except among Black women. The number of Black women who died during pregnancy or childbirth rose from 49.5 to 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, the data showed–that’s more than three times the rate among White women and Latino women and almost five times the rate among Asian women.
“The shameful truth is that ongoing structural racism plays a central role in the deaths of these Black women. Biases within the medical profession still shape the care Black women receive—or don’t receive—during pregnancy, often with tragic consequences. This is true for all Black women, regardless of their income levels or where they come from,” said Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) on the occasion of the 2024 Black Maternal Health Week.
Referencing the disparities in the numbers, she added, “But statistics cannot capture the tragic loss and human toll the Black maternal health crisis takes on families and children. Pregnancy should be a time filled with joy and celebration, but Black mothers are too often fearing—and fighting—for their lives when giving birth.”
The DMC Promise Foundation, which is based in Baltimore, seeks to provide services and mental health workshops to students and parents who have children between the ages of 0-5 years old. It focuses on reducing postpartum depression and behavior challenges by facilitating parent workshops and student activities throughout several Early Childhood Development Centers. And, it fosters perinatal and maternal mental health by creating a space for women where they feel safe, heard, and respected.
For more details and to connect with the foundation, please visit: https://www.dmcehealth.com/ or on Instagram at @dmcehealthservices. To donate, please visit: www.mightycause.com/event/Dmcpromise