OVERVIEW
We are so excited to have you join us for a powerful set of events commemorating Black Maternal Health Week 2023!
The schedule below includes community-based and educational events led or co-led by the MCH Equity Research Lab and a Faith and Reproductive Justice Series led by local diverse faith leaders in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex area.
Health and Hygiene Drive Service Activity: During this week, we are collecting donations for unused Black hair care products, underwear and/or period products. These items will be donated to Hagar’s Heart who will distribute them to local shelters and organizations serving women.
Event Vendors and Sponsorship: If you are interested in being a vendor or want to sponsor door prizes, CLICK HERE.
Planning Committee
A special thank you to the planning committee members: Reverend Deneen Robinson, Misty Wilder, Dr. Jessica Dupree, Dr. J’Vonnah Maryman, Dr. Brandie Green, Tamaya Jones, Dr. Kyrah Brown (Chair).
TUESDAY | APRIL 11
#BMHW DANCE PARTY
Date/Time: April 11, 2023, 6:00PM
Location: Cherry Moon Grill and Bar, 3610 S. Cooper Street, #120, Arlington, TX
The purpose of this event is to bring the community together for an evening of line dancing, raising awareness about Black maternal health and Black birthing joy, providing health screenings and community resources, and door prizes.
For more information or questions, please email us at mchequitylab@uta.edu.
**Health and Hygiene Drive Drop-Off Location
FAITH AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE SERIES
“Call the Midwives”: A Message Based on Exodus 1:15-22
Speaker: Reverend Barbara Dunlap
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 @ 12:00PM
IG: sacred_worth
IG Live: Click HERE
WEDNESDAY| APRIL 12
BIRTHING JUSTICE FILM SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION
Date/Time: April 12, 2023, 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: University of Texas at Arlington, 500 W. Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX
DEADLINE: April 7, 2023
This event is co-hosted by the UTA MCH Equity Lab in partnership with Health Equity Alliance and UTA Public Health Programs. BIRTHING JUSTICE is a feature length documentary whose purpose is two-fold: to discuss issues fueling the maternal health crisis within the African American community and to advocate for best practices to enhance birthing equity for all women, especially Black women. This film flips the victim-blaming narrative, centering on lived experiences of Black women and their advocates as they fix a broken system and transform the future, one birth at a time. https://www.birthingjustice.com/
**This event is a Health and Hygiene Drive Drop-Off Location.
**If you are experiencing any COVID symptoms, please remain at home. Here are the CDC guidelines for more information. Masks and sanitizer will be available at the registration table.
For more information or questions, please email us at mchequitylab@uta.edu
FAITH AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE SERIES
New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church Events 
“YOU HAVE A VOICE”: ESTHER EMPOWERS BLACK WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | 6:30PM
Location: 2864 Mississippi Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76014
Virtual: Click HERE for Zoom Link (Meeting ID: 836-5714-0979; Passcode: 903987)
THURSDAY| APRIL 13
BLACK MATERNAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SUMMIT
Date/Time: April 13, 2023 | 8:00AM – 3:30PM
Location: The Commons, University of Texas at Arlington, 440 S. Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX
Deadline: April 7, 2023.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Registration includes a light breakfast, lunch, parking pass, and continuing education credits.
2023 Black Maternal and Reproductive Health Summit Agenda
The aims of this inaugural summit are to provide education to attendees through presentations on research and community-based innovations focused on Black birthing people and their families, provide a professional space to foster collaboration, and convene diverse stakeholders to create a shared agenda for Black maternal and reproductive health research, practice, and policy. The long-term goal of this summit is to become a premier summit for diverse stakeholders focused on both academic research and practice that centers Black women and birthing people and their families. This summit is open to community members and advocates, students, health researchers, birth workers, healthcare and service providers, public health professionals, social workers, health educators, policy experts, etc.
Attire: Attendees are welcome to wear traditional cultural attire or business casual
Registration Fees: General Registration ($50), Student Registration [must register with student email]($10). SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE: Please email mchequitylab@uta.edu.
*If students need to leave early for class, they may do so.
****If you are experiencing any COVID symptoms, please remain at home. Here are the CDC guidelines for more information. Masks and sanitizer will be available at the registration table.
FAITH AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE SERIES
New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church Events
“SELF-CARE WORKSHOP”: ENHANCING ESTHER FOR BLACK WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE AND FREE MAMMOGRAMS
Speaker: Kayla Fair, DrPH, MPH, RN, Assistant Professor of Public Health, UNTHSC
Date/Time: Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 11:00AM
Location: 2864 Mississippi Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76014
Virtual: Click HERE for Zoom Link (Meeting ID: 836-5714-0979; Passcode: 903987)
FRIDAY| APRIL 14
BMHW MIXER @ HOTEL DRYCE
Date/Time: Friday, April 14, 2023 | 5:30PM
Location: Hotel Dyrce, 3621 Byers Avenue, Fort Worth, TX
During this event, we will look forward to meeting new faces who are passionate about reproductive and perinatal justice as well as enjoying music and fellowship.
SATURDAY| APRIL 15
FAITH AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE SERIES
Muhammad Mosque #52, Ministry of Health and Human Services
THE AFTERSHOCK: A Film Viewing and Conversation with the Community
Featured Panelists: TBA
Date/Time: Saturday, April 15, 2023 | 4:00PM
Location: 2401 Scott Avenue, #130, Fort Worth, Texas 76103
*Refreshments will be served
SUNDAY| APRIL 16
FAITH AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE SERIES
New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church Events
GOD CARES ABOUT BLACK MAMMAS (Sermon Dedication)
Speaker: Minister Mark Cunningham, Jr., PhD, MBA
Date/Time: Sunday, April 16, 2023
Location: 2864 Mississippi Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76014
Watch Online: www.newmountrose.com/watch
SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
Learn More About Black Maternal Health Week
The Black Maternal Health Week is an annual week-long public health campaign founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to build awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people. The week is intentionally held during National Minority Health Month and begins on April 11th annually to join dozens of global organizations in marking this day as International Day for Maternal Health and Rights – an opportunity to advocate for the elimination of maternal mortality globally. The activities and conversations hosted throughout the week intentionally center the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.
BMMA uses the phrase “BLACK MAMAS” to represent the full diversity of our lived experiences that includes birthing persons (cis women, trans folks, and gender expansive individuals) that are people of African descent across the diaspora (Afro-Latinx/e/a/o, African-American, Afro-Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean, Black, and African Immigrant, etc.).
This year’s official theme for Black Maternal Health Week 2023 (#BMHW23) is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!” In light of the steadily alarming rise of maternal mortality in the U.S., which recent data shows has been exacerbated by the pandemic; and amidst growing cases of clear neglect in care in hospital systems immediately after labor and delivery, BMMA continues to highlight and center culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care as sound, evidence-based solutions. Most importantly, these are practices and solutions that incorporate the true needs, wants and desires of Black women and birthing people.