This year, we are celebrating the diversity of Black Maternal Health and highlighting the joys, the victories, the stories and testimonials, the ways disparities are being fought and overcome, and the trailblazers who are making positive changes in the Black Maternal Health world.

Join us to celebrate the COLORS of Black Maternal Health!

Annually, Black Maternal Health Week is celebrated April 11-17. Birth in Color is proud to bring (more than) a week of events and programs around the state of Virginia, offering community carnivals, resources to families, educational and informational opportunities, and the annual Black Maternal Health Summit.

Want to get involved? You should be there!

Join as an attendee – Bring your family and friends to a Color Carnival, get free wellness services at the Black Women's Wellness Day, and get your tickets to the Black Maternal Health Summit on April 12.

Become a Black Maternal Health Week Sponsor – Promote your Brand, show your community support, reach a diverse audience, and empower your brand reputation as a Black Maternal Health Week Sponsor! Click here to review partnership options.

Our Black Maternal Health Summit Keynote Speakers

Loretta J. Ross is an activist, public intellectual, scholar, the 2022 recipient of the MacArthur Foundation "Genius" award, and an Associate Professor at Smith College. She has a passion for innovating creative imagining about global human rights and social justice issues and started her career in activism and social change in the 1970s. In 1978, she was the third executive director for DC Rape Crisis Center, the first rape crisis center in the country. This was her entry point into the women’s movement where she learned about women’s human rights, reproductive justice, white supremacy, and women of color organizing. Through her organizing, she helped launch the movement to end violence against women that has evolved into today's #MeToo movement. Throughout her 50-year career, she has worked with the National Football League Players' Association, the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Black Women's Health Project, the Center for Democratic Renewal (National Anti-Klan Network), the National Center for Human Rights Education, and SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. Loretta retired as an organizer in 2012 to teach and follow her passion to educate. In 1996, she founded the first center in the U.S. to innovate creative human rights education for all students transforming social justice issues to be more collaborative and less divisive. In her work Calling In the Calling Out Culture, she transforms how people can overcome political differences to use empathy and respect to guide difficult conversations. In 2023, Loretta was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Chidiebere Ibe, BSc, is a TEDx speaker, a medical student, Nigerian Medical Illustrator and a professional among the few in Africa. He is the Founder of Championing Change Africa. The Creative Director at the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons (AFAN), Young Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (YCAANS) and Creative Director and Chief Medical Illustrator of the Journal of Global Neurosurgery. He is also a Junior Committee Member-World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies - Global Neurosurgery and a Medical illustrator at the International Centre for Genetic Diseases- Harvard Medical School. He is also the Lead Illustrator-Illustrate Change. Chidiebere Ibe is passionate about contemporary illustrations of black patients and has been acclaimed globally for creating the black fetus illustration.

Dr. Karen A. Scott, MD, MPH, FACOG (she/her), proudly stands as the Chief Black Feminist
Physician Scientist, Founding CEO, and Owner of Birthing Cultural Rigor, LLC, boasting a
remarkable legacy of service, leadership, teaching, mentorship, collaborations, activism, and
advocacy spanning over 25 years. Dr. Scott's unwavering commitment unveils a critical
exploration of health services, dissecting design, provision, evaluation, and training in obstetric
units as arenas perpetuating obstetric racism against Black women, girls, and gender expansive
individuals, with the power and potential to better serve, protect, and care for our Black
communities with dignity and grace.

Kenda Sutton-EL is the esteemed Founder and Executive Director of Birth In Color, an organization at the forefront of advancing Reproductive Sexual Justice, Birth Justice, and Black Maternal Health. A native of rural Virginia, Kenda is dedicated to addressing Structural Racism and advocating for incarcerated pregnant individuals, actively working to combat human rights violations. An influential activist, Kenda specializes in training individuals of color to become doulas and conducts racial bias training for healthcare systems and professionals. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science, Kenda is also a Doula Trainer, Diversity Equity Inclusion Consultant, and Policy Analyst, showcasing her multidimensional expertise. Kenda Sutton-EL emerged as a trailblazing leader in Virginia, initiating awareness campaigns and impactful initiatives for Black Maternal Health. As the Chair of the Virginia Doula Taskforce, Chair of the Greater Richmond Regional Maternal Child Health Taskforce, and a member of the Virginia Maternal and Data Outcomes Taskforce, she plays a pivotal role in shaping maternal healthcare policies. In recognition of her contributions, Kenda had the honor of participating in Vice President Kamala Harris's roundtable discussion on Reproductive Health. She co-founded "Black Maternal Health Week" in 2019 and spearheaded the campaign for Doula Medicaid Reimbursement in Virginia. Kenda's dedication to reproductive justice extends to numerous accolades and acknowledgments. Notably, she was a 2019 Gamechanger Nominee, creator of "Herstory" in partnership with Urban One Radio in 2020, and received the "Women of the Year" ACHI Magazine Award, Urban One Hometown Hero Award, and recognition by RTD for Visionary Black History Month in 2021. In 2023, she was a nominee for 804 Woman Making History and Small Deeds, Big Impact. In 2024, Kenda Sutton-EL was honored with the Health Equity Advocate of the Year award by Families USA, underscoring her impactful contributions to the field of maternal health.

Our Black Maternal Health Week Events

DATE	EVENT
Saturday, Apr 6	Color Carnival + Community Baby Shower, Newport News
Sunday, Apr 7	Color Carnival + Community Baby Shower, Lynchburg
Friday, Apr 12	The Annual Black Maternal Health Summit, Richmond
Saturday, Apr 13	Color Carnival + Community Baby Shower, Danville
Sunday, Apr 14	Color Carnival + Community Baby Shower, Richmond
Tuesday, Apr 16	The Milk Bar – Finding Joy in Breastfeeding
Tuesday, Apr 16	Black Women’s Wellness Day

Here are some reviews from guests at last year's Black Maternal Health Summit ...

"I enjoyed this so much in my professional and especially my personal capacity as a woman and someone who wants to give birth and will support people in giving birth throughout my life. It was such a joyful and informative day - I wish these kinds of events happened for all women so they could learn more about the birth experience and feel connected to other women!"

" I thought it was excellent and I plan to go again next year and bring a friend (or 5)!!!"

Our Event Sponsors

Champion Sponsors

Sapphire Color Carnival Sponsors

Black Maternal Health Week 2024

Celebrating the COLORS of Black Maternal Health, Birth in Color has collaborated with stakeholders to host an eventful Black Maternal Health Week and annual Summit.

Team Members