By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCSW) and 100 Black Men hosted their 2026 Legislative Day on Jan. 23 at the Maryland House of Delegates in Annapolis, Md.
The public policy advocacy event brought together community members, advocates and stakeholders to interact directly with state lawmakers about policies impacting Black wellness and economic equity in Maryland. Topics they addressed and held panels on this year, included Black maternal health and economic justice.
Lashelle Stewart, the executive director of Baltimore Healthy Start, spoke on the reality of the Black maternal health issue and the ways in which Black women can remain at the center of finding the solution.
“We’re in a crisis because 80 percent of maternal deaths that occur are preventable,” said Stewart. “We need a genuine seat at the table. Healthy Start has been around for 30 plus years with community health workers. Some big systems now create community health worker positions, but they aren’t actually from the community.”
She emphasized the need for real community members to be in positions like these.
“Until they hear directly from us, change will not happen,” she said.
State Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Md.-45) spoke on the ways in which Black women can support each other when it comes to addressing Black maternal health.
“In addition to demanding what we deserve from the government, we have to get back into mutual aid,” said Smith.
According to Cornell Law School, mutual aid is the exchange of services and support amongst a group of people for mutual benefit.
“This season we find ourselves in now, is a reminder that government alone is not going to be your salvation,” she said. “We’ve abandoned some of those networks that we had to rely upon when the government was excluding us and now look where we are…fearful of losing things that a couple generations ago didn’t even exist for us.”
She shared an encouraging word with attendees about the future.
“I want you to fight like you’ve never fought before for the things you deserve from the government, but let’s figure out how we can knit together,” she said. “I think so many young mothers don’t have older mothers to pour into them or grandmothers to give them some lessons, so just think about those non-tangible ways you can partner.”
During the Economic Justice panel, State Del. N. Scott Phillips (D-Md.-10), the new chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, addressed how the state has moved to enhance renters’ rights and stability.
“In 2024, we really took a big step, the rights of renters here in the state of Maryland, and we set up an office, that we called the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs,” said Phillips. “We also capped the initial deposit. For many of you, when I think about my renting days, the landlord would ask for both the first month’s, last month’s and potentially a deposit. We’ve now capped that at one month.”
Phillips said he expects, during this session, to see additional work around rent stabilization.
Throughout this event, leaders of NCBW made clear that members of their organization have been and will continue to be a part of the legislative process in Maryland, helping to influence positive change for Black women and girls.