Greater Boston Birth Equity Coalition
The Greater Boston Birth Equity Coalition
How can we build community power to achieve equity and justice for birthing families? Vital Village Networks has partnered with community leaders, health care providers, and advocates to launch the Greater Boston Birth Equity Coalition focused on serving families furthest from opportunity as they welcome new children. Community partners from across the region worked collaboratively to design the foundational elements of a coalition governance and decision-making structure that uplifts the dignity of its members and is grounded in healing-centered advocacy and practices. This work builds upon an extensive cross-sector effort led by Ariadne Labs to advance equitable maternal health and build social support programming for birthing families.
Download the Coalition Framework
Meet the Servant Leadership Team
About the Greater Boston Birth Equity Coalition
Members of the coalition will collaborate as equal partners in achieving the shared vision of ensuring equitable and just experiences for people planning, preparing for, and welcoming children into their lives. Each member would support the coalition through the following actions:
- Helping to create a nurturing community of like-minded and diversified folks with shared interests, and networking opportunities for interactions, collaborations, and support.
- Sharing availability for participating in the coalition
- Supporting Member outreach, engagement, growth, and retention
- Sharing or discussing their experiences, ideas, problem-solve, and generate solutions-oriented and holistic approaches to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality, and improve maternal and infant health and birth care
- Participating in the development and sharing of resources, communications, advocacy actions and events
Join the Greater Boston Birth Equity Coalition:
If you are interested in joining the coalition as a general member, or an advisor on the Elder Counsel please review the interest or nomination form below.
Nominate or Express Interest Here
How to Get Involved
You are invited to join the Greater Boston Birth Equity Coalition (GBBEC) Community Coalition Meeting on November 16th from 2pm to 4:30pm at the Roxbury Public Library in Nubian Square.
Register Here to Join us November 16th
You may nominate a leader or express your interest through this online portal.
While nominations are not required, if you know of anyone that sounds like a good fit for the coalition, you can nominate them here. In addition, we encourage you to help spread the word about the application by using language from our communications toolkit.
If written applications are not accessible for you please contact leidy.quiceno@bmc.org for an alternative option. .
You can read more about the Coalition Nomination and Expression of Interest Application process here. For any general questions about the coalition please contact leidy.quiceno@bmc.org.
Sign-up for email communications here
2023 Coalition Governance Design Team
Over twenty-five community leaders from across the region worked collaboratively to design the foundational elements of a coalition governance and decision-making structure that uplifts the dignity of its members and is grounded in healing-centered advocacy and practices. Thank you to our dedicated partners for their continued guidance and support:
- Emily Anesta
- Eurnestine Brown
- Dawn Christie
- Melody Cunningham
- Soraya DosSantos
- Ketaura’h Edwards-Robinson
- Rita Maria Fernandes
- Elaine Fitzgerald-Lewis
- Bonnie Glass
- Linda Hudson
- Rose Molina
- Julie Mottl-Santiago
- Jeannette Myrick
- Jennifer Pfau
- Jessica Pimentel
- Candice Privott
- Vanessa Robinson
- She-Tara Smith
- Merline Sylvain-Williams
- Tiffany Vassell
- Jenny Weaver
2022 Coalition Framework and Principles Design Team
Acknowledging the leadership team to worked collaboratively to develop the coalition framework and principles:
- Fiona Almeida, Resilient Sisterhood Project
- Eimaan Anwar, MotherLab
- Nora Bent, Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, Birth Justice Task Force
- Joyce Clark, The Birthingheirs Project
- Jessie Colbert, Mass. PPD Fund
- Keiana Cox, Community Member
- Dolores Cox, Community Member
- Bonnell Glass, The Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts
- Becky Cruz-Crosson, Boston Public Health Commission
- Jallicia Jolly, Amherst College and Birth Equity and Justice Massachusetts
- Jessie Laurore, Neighborhood Birth Center
- Lilly Marcellin, Resilient Sisterhood Project
- Kristin McSwain, Office of Mayor Michelle Wu
- Jisca Philippe, Office of Mayor Michelle Wu
- Yaminah Romulus, Health Care For All and Birth Equity and Justice Massachusetts
- She-Tara Smith, The Birth Co.
- Sarah Stone, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
- Morgan Taylor, Boston Public Health Commission
- Alexandra Valdez, Office of Mayor Michelle Wu
- Brandy Watts, Boston Public Health Commission
Learn more about the framework of coalition princples here:
Ehnahncing Equitable maternal Health in Greater Boston: Framework of Coalition Principles
For questions, please contact Leidy Quiceno at leidy.quiceno@bmc.org.
This coalition is supported by a grant from The Boston Foundation.