Chicago Beyond Hosts Transformative Fellowship Experience for Black Maternal Health Birth Justice Leaders

Fellows engaged in community-driven learning and collaborative goal-setting to combat the rising maternal mortality rates nationwide

Last week, 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. The gathering held on June 5-6 brought together four extraordinary maternal health birth justice leaders who are the inaugural fellows of Chicago Beyond’s Fellowship for Black Maternal Health, a groundbreaking $2 million dollar initiative designed to accelerate the impact of leaders driving transformative change in maternal healthcare.

The gathering allowed the Fellows to meet, learn from each other, and gain firsthand insight into groundbreaking community-centered maternal health initiatives. Fellows visited the Chicago South Side Birth Center (CSSBC), which was founded by Jeanine Valrie Logan, Chicago Beyond’s Leader in Residence. CSSBC provides holistic, community-based care, allowing the Fellows to witness the intersection of care, identity, and liberation for Black mothers. During this visit, the Fellows learned directly from Jeanine’s journey and discussed the need for more inclusive, affirming birthing options for Black families in the U.S.

On June 6, the Fellows spent the day reflecting on their aspirations for the future of their work, sharing ideas, challenges, and resources that would help them expand their efforts in their communities. Topics ranged from the barriers that health leaders face in securing necessary funding to the structural and institutional changes needed to promote equitable healthcare access.

“Each of these four birth justice leaders brings a deep understanding of the systemic challenges facing Black maternal health in their communities,” said Liz Dozier, Founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond. “Bringing these leaders together allowed the continued cultivation of space for bold ideas and a reimagined vision for justice and equity in healthcare. The resources from the Fellowship will enable them to expand their work and deepen their impact.”

Meet the Fellows:

• Jamarah Amani, Executive Director, Southern Birth Justice Network (Miami, Florida): A licensed midwife and activist, Jamarah Amani has spent over 15 years addressing Black maternal and infant mortality through a birth justice and reproductive justice lens. As Executive Director of Southern Birth Justice Network, she advocates for community-led maternal care, midwifery and doula access, and public health solutions based in human rights. 
• Nikki Hunter-Greenaway, Founder, Bloom Maternal Health (Houston, Texas): A board-certified family nurse practitioner, lactation consultant, and perinatal mental health provider, Nikki Hunter-Greenaway founded Bloom Maternal Health to provide Black parents with accessible, barrier-free maternal care. Through her innovative approach and collaboration with top institutions, she is strengthening maternal health by prioritizing community-driven solutions and proactive care.
• Femeika Elliott, Founder, The Lotus Program Experience (Knoxville, Tennessee): Drawing on her diverse experiences as an urban farmer, social worker, and chef preparing medically tailored meals, Femeika Elliott’s work sits at the intersection of food, reproductive health, maternal health, herbalism, and regenerative medicine. Femeika’s work addresses the maternal health crisis in East Knoxville and rural Tennessee.
• Soraya DosSantos, Founder and CEO, Sacred Birthing Village (New Bedford, Massachusetts): Soraya is leading a transformative movement in New Bedford, MA, through Sacred Birthing Village, reclaiming birth as a sacred rite rather than a crisis to manage. Rooted in Indigenous and ancestral traditions, her work restores community power, intergenerational healing, and the liberatory wisdom of midwifery-based care.

As part of Chicago Beyond’s commitment to support these visionaries, each Fellow received a $500,000 unrestricted grant to further their efforts over the next three years. This financial backing, combined with curated and collaborative programming designed with the fellows, will provide the tools and connections necessary to amplify their efforts in addressing the maternal health crisis in Black communities.