Black Families Matter

The Highland Hospital midwives are calling out an immediate need to support Black birthing families.

The money we raise will be used for two midwife led initiatives: 

1. BElovedBIRTH Black Centering, group perinatal care  by, for, and with Black people - an innovative new program designed to provide culturally attuned and racially concordant care for Black birthing people.  Our very own, Jyesha Wren, CNM is the co-founder and program coordinator!

2. Direct monetary support to Black birthing families, gifted directly by the Highland Black midwives in the spirit of community and love. We are inspired by, and give thanks to Asmara Gebre, CNM, a San Francisco midwife who has started a project to gift cash aid to Black families in her care.

We can make a much needed difference for Black families who are facing multiple crises, including systemic racism police brutality, the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting economic fallout.  Systemic and institutional  racism in schools, businesses, healthcare, and social services have left Black families with inadequate resources.  Since shelter-in-place began, we hear from our families that they are not able to access essential services like WIC, CalWORKs, and State Disability.  Black families deserve to feel joy as they welcome a new child into their life. 

We know Black birthing people have long suffered disproportionate rates of maternal mortality with systemic racism being a significant factor.  The same holds true for Black people suffering and dying disproportionately from COVID-19.

We are calling on you to join us in saying enough is enough. We must commit to health equity initiatives, and work to eliminate racism-based health disparities. We have to act now, justice delayed is justice denied. And it’s a matter of life and death for our communities. 

Possible ways your donation will support our Black families:

$2500 could cover a family’s rent for one month
$1000 could supply a family with diapers for an entire year
$800 could supply groceries for a family for one month
$500 could buy a fetal heart rate doppler for prenatal care with BElovedBIRTH Black Centering
$300 could supply a family with a baby crib
$250 could supply a tablet for virtual group care for BElovedBIRTH Black Centering
$200 could cover a family’s utility bills for 1 month
$180 could supply a family with a baby stroller
$150 could supply a family with an infant car seat with base
$120 could supply a family with a video baby monitor
$100 could supply a family with a baby carrier
$80 could supply a family with a highchair
$50 could supply a family with diapers for the newborn’s 1st month of life
$40 could supply a family with a breastfeeding pillow 
$35 could buy a blood pressure cuff for self-monitoring at home while families shelter-in-place
$25 could supply a family with a set of baby swaddlers

Your contribution will make a difference for a family in our community. 
Any amount will be greatly appreciated.

And, please SPREAD THE WORD! After you donate, make sure to let you your friends and social networks know - they will want to donate too!

Thank you,
The Midwives  of Highland Hospital/Alameda Health System
Oakland, CA 


#BlackLivesMatter #BlackFamilesMatter #BlackBirthMatters


This fundraiser is organized by Highland Hospital and Alameda Health System midwives in their private capacities; it is not sponsored or endorsed by Alameda Health System.