#BirthJustice #CommunityCare #Summit #IllinoisBirthJustice #CollectivePower #ReproductiveJustice #BirthEquity #CommunityLedCare

The energy in the room was undeniable. Thank you to every elder, midwife, doula, student, and family who gathered in the spirit of birth justice.

This Strategic Planning Summit reminded us that our collective power is the heartbeat of the movement. ❤️‍🔥

💫 A Note from BMC

To our small but mighty staff team: thank you! 💪🏾
Your dedication, organization, and love made this moment possible.

Special thanks also go to our volunteers. We couldn’t have done it without you!

🤝Collaborating Partners

HMPRG • Black Researchers Collective

🏥 Coordinating Organizations

Chicago South Side Birth Center Initiative
Your Choice Clinics, Carbondale
The Little Resource Center Carbondale
Illinois Public Health
Black Butterfly Doula LLC
PCC Wellness Centers
Chicago Volunteer Doulas

Members:
Charisse Montgomery
Tracey Smith
Chastity Mays
Lakeesha Harris
Nikia Grayson
Star August
Mary Sommers
Jeanine Valrie Logan
We honor and thank you all for your time, brilliance, and commitment. 💐

These leaders have been meeting for the past year to guide the survey, mission, vision, and summit planning. They are the very heartbeat of this work. 💫

🌎 Coordinating Committee

At the core of this project is our Coordinating Committee: eight incredible birth and reproductive justice leaders representing diverse disciplines and every region of Illinois (south, central, west, and Chicago).

Special thanks to Andrea Palmer, Susan Mende, and Sona Smith at @msfoundation.bsky.social for your unwavering belief in this work and the communities we serve. 🌱

💜 Our Funders

This work was made possible through the generous support of:

✨ Pritzker Community Health Initiative funded the first and third phases of this project.
✨ Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded this powerful statewide summit.

🌻 Our Facilitators

With deep gratitude to Anna Yankelev at HMPRG and Dr. Glenance Green at Black Researchers Collective for leading us with purpose, joy, and respect.

Your facilitation grounded our work in reflection and forward movement.

. @hmprg.bsky.social partnered with us to guide the strategic planning process and summit design, ensuring that community voices remained at the center of every conversation.

🤝 Our Partners

Northwestern University - Huge thanks to Dr. Kiarri Kershaw and Nicollette Moore, who helped shape and guide this project early on. Their leadership in developing and analyzing the statewide workforce survey laid the foundation for this summit.

This summit was the culmination of months of collaboration, data collection, and strategic planning, and it would not have been possible without the support, brilliance, and commitment of our partners and community. 🙌🏾

The Illinois Community-Based Birth Justice Summit brought together brilliant minds, passionate hearts, and dedicated birth workers from across the state, all united by a shared vision for birth equity and liberation.