MPJ Postpartum Justice Summit 2019
Postpartum Justice Summit 2019 Highlights
Chef-in-Residence Bryant Terry & UC Berkeley’s Mothers to Mothers Project present Postpartum Justice Summit 2019 We are in a crisis. With U.S. Black maternal mortality and morbidity risks worsening while other nations are experiencing improvements, we are in need of a paradigm shift now, more than ever.
The Postpartum Justice Summit, organized by the Museum of the African Diaspora in partnership with UC Berkeley’s Mothers to Mothers Project, brought together the Bay Area community to learn from and engage with some of the leading thinkers, doers, and community organizers in the maternal health field. As a community, we envisioned our future and the fearlessness it takes to confront the sexism, racism, individualism, and profit-making that perpetuate maternal deaths.
This groundbreaking event featured panels and breakout sessions led by experts and community participants in the fields of research, policy-making, storytelling, women empowerment, and postpartum traditions.
On our Program Visitor Survey, we ask the question, "What about today's program provided you with new insight or learning?" Here are the responses we gathered:
“Today's summit taught me a lot about birth equity and advancing Racial justice through birth work”
“We need more connection and healing spaces for birth workers.
Insight: Postpartum Birth Plan”
“Definitely, I learned so much about the AA culture & the needs in that community ”
“Everything. Amazing group of talented, thought-leaders”
“Intersections of so many movements & identities, their import & capacity to transform the postpartum period”
“Connections to my Black community”
“All programming was excellent”
“Life changing! As a future queer parent, I found the sessions enlightening & healing”
“Everything! Thank you. Asking women to construct their postpartum time at same time of birth plan building”
“Yes -- so rich in history, wisdom, women's leadership, advocacy & valuable food for thought”
“Need for policy discussions/changes; networking; acknowledgement of Af Am Women community practices & traditions”
Postpartum Justice Resource Handbook
click image to view the full handbook
References for articles in the Postpartum Justice Summit Resource Handbook
“The Healthcare System and Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality” by Theresa Chalhoub and Kelly Rimar
“Setting the Standard for Holistic Care of and for Black Women”, by Sunshine Muse and the Black Mamas Matter Alliance Care Working Group Members
“For Serena Williams, Childbirth Was a Harrowing Ordeal. She’s not alone.”, by Maya Salam
“How Hospitals are Failing Black Mothers”, by Annie Waldman
“An inconvenient truth: You have no answer that Black women don’t already possess”, by Karen A. Scott, Stephanie R. M. Bray, Ifeyinwa Asiodu and Monica R. McLemore
“For Serena Williams, Childbirth Was a Harrowing Ordeal. She’s not alone.”, by Maya Salam
“Obstetric Racism: The Racial Politics of Pregnancy, Labor, and Birthing”, by Dana Ain Davis
“What blame-the-mother stories get wrong about birth outcomes among black moms”, by Monica McLemore
“A Larger Role for Midwives Could Improve Deficient U.S. Care for Mothers and Babies”, by Nina Martin
“How Doula Care Can Advance the Goals of the Affordable Care Act: A Snapshot From New York City”, by Nan Strauss, Katie Giessler, and Elan McAllister
“Paid Family and Medical Leave: A Racial Justice Issue - and Opportunity”
Session 1: Black Maternal Equity
SESSION 2: CURRENT FIGHTS FOR JUSTICE
“Obstetric Racism: The Racial Politics of Pregnancy, Labor, and Birthing”, by Dana Ain Davis
“The narrowing, but persistent, gender gap in pay”, by Nikki Graf, Anna Brown, and Eileen Patten
“Historical and and Recent Trends in Childbirth in the United States”, National Center for Health Statistics
“Key Characteristics of Parental Leave Systems'“, OECD Social Policy Division
SESSION 3: FORGING A NEW POSTPARTUM CULTURE
“Why is the US Cesarean Section Rate So High?”, Childbirth Connection
“The Seven Postpartum Wisdoms Distilled From Traditional Cultural Practices”, by Marilyn Wong, Mothers-to-Mothers Postpartum Project, March 2019.
“Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review”, by Cindy-Lee Dennis, Kenneth Fung, Sophie Griogoriadis, et al.