Mothers for Postpartum Justice
Who We Are
Mothers for Postpartum Justice (MPJ) (previously Mothers-for-Mothers Postpartum Justice) is an intergenerational and Black-led organization of community members who are building a world where the postpartum journey is collective, not isolated and where Black mothers are honored with nourishing, dignified, and culturally rooted care
Our Mission
We provide a culturally rooted, postpartum experience Black mothers and birthing people, are too often denied; essential items, nourishment, and community connection, in response to systemic racism.
What is Postpartum Justice?
Postpartum Justice is the set of values forming the foundation of postpartum care that is fair and equitable. It is free from sexism, racism and a health care system that is based on profit. Postpartum Justice recognizes society’s collective responsibility for all birthing people and parents. It distills the postpartum wisdom of the past and transforms it to serve the future.
What We Do
Since 2020, we have created intersectional partnerships across industries, organizations and communities to shift the culture for postpartum care in our society, to center nourishment, connection, healing, and celebration.
NOURISH!
NOURISH! delivers a week’s worth of postpartum meals for six weeks to new Black mothers enrolled in BeLOVED Birth Black Centering (Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA), Black Centering ( SF General Hospital San Francisco, CA), Roots Community Health Center (Oakland, CA) and Contra Costa County Perinatal Equity Initiative (Contra Costa County, CA. The cooked food is prepared by BIPOC-owned community restaurants in collaboration with our MPJ nutritional team.
NURTURE!
In our efforts to aid in Postpartum Justice, we gather essential products needed during the beginning of the postpartum journey. Participants enrolled in Beloved Birth Black Centering are the recipients. Gifting them with these bags, reminds the mamas of the cultural practice of resting and healing after birth.
HUGs Café
New mamas and birthing parents are usually isolated and experience In our efforts to aid in Postpartum Justice, we gather essential products needed during the beginning of the postpartum journey. Participants enrolled in Beloved Birth Black Centering are the recipients. Gifting them with these bags, reminds the mamas of the cultural practice of resting and healing after birth. disorders and postpartum depression, this is worse for Black mamas. Additionally, not only do they feel the burden of taking care of the children (who are our future) without help from a larger community, they have to apologize for existing in public spaces with their babies. HUGs Cafe provides safe spaces at local black-owned restaurants for postpartum moms to gather weekly to create culturally rooted community, process, learn, and honor their journeys. HUGs honors each parent with a hot meal at the weekly gatherings, which takes place in a warm, inclusive, and parent friendly environment. HUGs also brings in community leaders to honor mamas with wisdom, knowledge, and information for their postpartum journey.
How We Started
Recipes and Stories from the African Diaspora
These recipes were submitted by MPJ supporters during a campaign in 2020 to collect traditional postpartum recipes from the African diaspora. The MPJ nutrition team composed of registered dietitians and interns tested these recipes and analyzed their nutritional content. MPJ is creating a menu based on these Black traditional recipes and is collaborating with caterers in the community to cook these dishes as part of NOURISH! To serve new mamas and birthing people in the Black community. Our first successful attempt was on April 29, 2021 when Chef Allana from A Pleased Palate cooked four of these dishes for the people in our NOURISH! project.
The Postpartum Justice Movement
Postpartum Justice Day
MPJ organizes the official recognition of the 3rd Sunday of May (the Sunday after Mother’s Day) to be Postpartum Justice Day in cities, counties and states nationwide and internationally.
Building Collaborations to Strengthen a Black-led Movement for Postpartum Justice:
Our goal is to amplify projects built by the community for the community and initiatives that align with the mission of Postpartum Justice. We support and develop systems of community care for postpartum bodies and build collaborations that center equitable care and economies, justice, and care of Black families.
“the remaking of a postpartum culture based on nurturing, reclaiming cultural wisdoms, & justice ”
Follow along on IG: @postpartumjustice
Contact
Let’s Connect!
Email
Info@postpartumjustice.org