About Us
Our Story
The California Coalition for Black Birth Justice (the Coalition) was launched in January 2022 by Black women leaders from birth equity initiatives in Northern and Southern California to unify and strengthen the Black birth justice movement across the state. The Coalition came together in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and on the heels of the national "racial reckoning". While California leads the nation in its investment and commitment to birth equity and justice, there was no unified vision or strategy to make this a reality. As Black women with roots across the diaspora and deep expertise in policy, community organizing, clinical care, and more, we came together to help meet a critical need. To our knowledge, the Coalition is the first entity that aims to create statewide collaboration and coordination among Black birth equity and justice efforts.
Our Approach
We believe that in order to truly disrupt and ultimately reverse the inequities in maternal and infant health, we need sustained investments in Black-led organizations, new ways of working together, and equity-centered actions from our policymakers, philanthropists, and healthcare systems. Therefore, our work is focused on being a statewide connector and convener, supporting the care and capacity of the Black birth justice workforce, and scaling systems change improvement efforts with health care organizations.
Mission
We are on a mission to unify and strengthen the Black birth justice movement in California.
Vision
We imagine a California where Black women's leadership is prioritized and Black families are valued and supported before, during, and after pregnancy.
Values
We believe in deep collaboration, transparency, systems accountability, and nurturing ourselves and our communities.
Related resources:
Op-Ed by Executive Director, Dana Sherrod: Black women in California need more than short-term solutions for maternal health disparities