
July 16, 2025
2025 National Justice Convening
Chicago Beyond's National Justice Convening, a National Conversation on Holistic Safety in Corrections will be held on October 29-30, 2025 in Chicago. Thi
Read MoreFour fellows to receive $500,000 in unrestricted grants to transform maternal healthcare
Today, Chicago Beyond, a national philanthropic organization that addresses systemic inequity by backing solutions led by those closest to the issues, announced the launch of its Fellowship for Black Maternal Health. The groundbreaking multi-million dollar initiative is designed to accelerate the impact of leaders driving transformative change in maternal healthcare. The Fellowship will provide unprecedented catalytic grants and specialized support to a select cohort of four maternal health leaders across the United States.
The Fellowship for Black Maternal Health was inspired by the urgent call from birth justice leaders. According to the CDC, Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications. Recognizing the critical need to address the alarming disparities, Chicago Beyond publicly committed to the Fellowship at the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, pledging $2M to illuminate and support the work of distinctive leaders who have firsthand experience within the field. Each Fellow will receive a $500,000 unrestricted award over three years, along with curated programming to connect Fellows and further support their leadership. This collaboration is designed to promote visibility of their work and to advance their mission.
“We are honored to support four visionary leaders who are delivering innovative, holistic solutions to advance maternal outcomes in their communities,” said Liz Dozier, Founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond. “The Fellowship for Black Maternal Health is a response to the systemic challenges that have long undermined the health and wellbeing of Black mothers and their children. Our hope is that this Fellowship will serve as an inspiration for what funding can look like in this issue area and amplify the work of community leaders who are redefining what maternal care looks like.”
The Fellowship nomination process involved engagement with a diverse group of nominators including community leaders, policy visionaries, and birth workers who represented various geographies, identities, and relationship networks. As a result of this process, Chicago Beyond selected the following 2025 Fellows who are poised to make a profound impact in their communities:
Jamarah Amani, Executive Director, Southern Birth Justice Network – Miami, Florida
Lucia Soraya DosSantos, Founder and CEO, Sacred Birthing Village – New Bedford, Massachusetts
Femeika Elliott, Founder, The Lotus Program Experience – Knoxville, Tennessee
Nikki Hunter-Greenaway, Founder, Bloom Maternal Health – Houston, Texas
The Fellowship builds upon Chicago Beyond’s expertise in culturally-concordant health investments and philanthropic partnerships, as well as its track record of supporting leaders who bring first-hand experience to addressing systemic issues that have been historically overlooked.
July 16, 2025
Chicago Beyond's National Justice Convening, a National Conversation on Holistic Safety in Corrections will be held on October 29-30, 2025 in Chicago. Thi
Read MoreJuly 3, 2025
Soraya DosSantos received a three-year, unrestricted investment through Chicago Beyond’s Fellowship for Black Maternal Health, she can deepen her work, expand her vision, and continue raising awareness for the gaps in care many women and families are fa
Read MoreJune 17, 2025
Chicago Beyond, a national philanthropic organization that addresses systemic inequity by backing solutions led by those closest to the issues, hosted birth justice leaders as part of its Fellowship for Black Maternal Health in Chicago, IL.
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