Black Maternal Health Week 2026: Innovating Systems, Inspiring the Next Generation

April 2026 | Northtown Mall – Health & Wellness District | Spokane, WA

Hosted by: The Shades of Motherhood Network In collaboration with: Diverse Roots • Sacred Wisdom • Common Grounds

Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW)

Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is a nationally recognized week of advocacy created by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to center the lived experiences, voices, and leadership of Black mothers.

Since 2022, The Shades of Motherhood Network has led Spokane’s BMHW programming, creating accessible, community-centered experiences that bridge healthcare, education, art, and meaningful systems change.

In 2026, BMHW transforms Northtown Mall within the Health & Wellness District into a shared, interactive community space for healing, collaboration, and innovation, centering Black mothers, children, and future generations.

2026 Focus

Systems Change Through Innovation & Inspiration
This year’s programming demonstrates how collaboration across systems can:
Build trust
Heal historical harm
Create lasting, people-centered change
Inspire the next generation of leaders, healers, advocates, and changemakers
Community Pillars
The S.O.U.L. Framework
An Interactive Community Experience

Activating the District

Diverse Roots
- Art, storytelling, and culturally rooted wellness practices that elevate BIPOC voices and lived experience.
Sacred Wisdom
- Ancestral knowledge, holistic health traditions, and intergenerational healing passed down through generations.
Common Grounds
- Dialogue, connection, and cross-sector collaboration among families, youth, providers, and system leaders.

At the heart of Black Maternal Health Week 2026 is an interactive showcase of the S.O.U.L. Framework, demonstrating how intentional collaboration can transform systems from the ground up.

Through facilitated conversations, youth-centered activities, creative installations, and live demonstrations, the framework shows how community-led systems change works in real time.

The S.O.U.L. Framework: Speak, Observe, Understand, Lead

Supports healing for mothers, children, and families

Builds trust between communities and institutions

Encourages collaboration over silos

Creates sustainable change rooted in community strengths

Cultural Foundation: The Nguzo Saba

BMHW 2026 is guided by the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa, grounding this work in African-centered values:

Unity • Self-Determination • Collective Responsibility • Cooperative Economics • Purpose • Creativity • Faith

These principles shape how we approach systems change, community healing, and collective liberation.

Why This Week Matters

Black Maternal Health Week 2026 is more than a series of events; it is a living model of what care, trust, and collaboration look like when the community leads.

When Black mothers are supported:

Children thrive
Families are stronger
Communities are healthier
Join the Community

Many events are free and open to the public. Families, youth, elders, birth workers, artists, educators, and allies are all welcome.