Upcoming Events

Speak! Move! Change! for Black Maternal Health Week 2024
In this year’s convening of Speak! Move! Change! the collective of stakeholders from across the nation and abroad, dedicated to fostering justice and healing through an Afrofuturistic lens, will gather virtually for a two-day convening on Monday, April 15, 2024, and Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in the format of a “hearing” to address the profound injustice rooted in the medical history of the United States: the exploitation inflicted by J Marion Sims that was endured by enslaved Black women Betsey, Anarcha and Lucy and countless others whose names we do not know.
This year we will be hosting a two day virtual event on Monday, April 15th and Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm EST, where we will present a virtual dramatization of a “community hearing” to address the inhumane treatment that enslaved black women endured at the hands of J Marion Sims and his colleagues during the antebellum period. The hearing will be facilitated using an indigenous centered practice called Mbongi, originating from the Bakongo Bantu people of Africa that embodies the essence of community, collaboration, interconnectedness and shared learning where all are welcome to participate without barriers or separation. 
Postpartum Awareness Week May 5-11th 2024
Dr. Shalon’s MAP, The ARIAH Foundation, and Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation, in partnership with stakeholders from across the country are launching the National Postpartum Awareness Campaign for Black Maternal Health!

Past Events

“Speak! Move! Change!” 2023 Virtual Event
April 17-19, 2023
Join this year’s SMC event, taking place virtually every evening from 7:00pm – 9:00pm EST from Monday, April 17 to Wednesday, April 19, 2023, to be inspired, motivated, and educated by conversations with reproductive justice activists and scholars, as well as, cultural and artistic presentations to amplify the message, promote positive change and forward the birth equity movement.
SMC is a FREE, VIRTUAL series that is offered annually to participants throughout the United States and abroad. The series is co-produced by three BIPOC and/or women-led organizations, committed to reproductive justice, birth equity, and the amelioration of black maternal/infant morbidity and mortality in the US and abroad. The SMC series invites the community at large, individuals and families with lived experiences, reproductive activists, advocates, academics, midwives, doulas, etc., to gather in a virtual space to learn, grow, heal and ACT in response to the black maternal health crisis. The virtual series will include ceremony, ritual, visual and performing arts, community dialogue, panel discussions and a call to ACTION!
REGISTER TODAY!
The series will be broadcasted every evening at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom video conference and Facebook Live. 
“Speak! Move! Change!” 2022 Virtual Event
April 10-16, 2022
We were honored to partner with Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project and The Ariah Foundation to host another weeklong “Speak! Move! Change! virtual event in 2022 in honor of Black Maternal Health Week. Taking place Sunday, April 10 – Saturday, April 16, the theme for 2022 was “Having Our Say: Creating A New Narrative For The Future of Black Maternal Health.”
The 7-day event series featured powerful stories honoring women who have passed during childbirth, lively panel discussions/guided conversations, artistic performances, and the sharing of important announcements and resources for the community.
Visit speakmovechange.net/events to see details and recordings from each day’s events.
CAPPA Conference 2018 Session
The Birth Worker’s Role in Reducing Racial Disparities in Maternal Health September 28, 2018
In this session at the CAPPA 2018 Conference, which took place in Tucson, AZ from September 28-30, attendees viewed the documentary, “Tatia’s Story: From Life to Death in 10 Hours,” and heard from Maddy Oden, Racha Tahani Lawler, and Ameenah Jackson about the reasons behind the racial disparities in maternal mortality rates and what we can do to help protect all women during childbirth.
Wichita Birth Alliance event: The Role of Consumers and Birthing Community in Improving U.S. Maternity Care January 20, 2018, Wichita, Kansas
This educational event hosted by the Wichita Birth Alliance featured a screening of “Tatia’s Story: From Life to Death in 10 Hours” and a panel discussion among consumers, maternal health experts and leaders in the birthing community about maternal mortality, the toll of racism on maternal health, and the dangers of Cytotec for labor induction. Maddy Oden was a speaker and panelist at the event. See images from the event below:
Premiere of Tatia’s Story: From Life to Death in 10 Hours January 14, 2017, Oakland, CA
The premiere of Tatia’s Story, took place on January 14, 2017 in Oakland, CA at the Oakland Museum of California. The event included a panel discussion with leading midwives and the producer/director of Tatia’s Story, as well as performances from Vukani Mawethu, a nonprofit multiracial choir. You can view the full video recording of the event on the Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation YouTube channel.
National Postpartum Awareness Week
May 7-13, 2023
As you know, Black, Brown, and Indigenous women and birthing people face significant disparities in maternal health outcomes. It’s time to take action and ensure safe pregnancy outcomes for BIPOC women and birthing people both locally and globally.
We are committed to engaging in the necessary work to make a difference, and we believe that you can help. Here are some ideas for how you can get involved from May 7th to May 13th:
Share on social media: Make a post or go live to bring awareness to postpartum awareness week. By sharing the message and information about the importance of maternal health, we can reach a broader audience and encourage others to join us in this critical work.
– Host a local event: Consider getting a group of people together to share their stories and experiences and come up with action items to continue this work. Together, we can identify strategies to address the disparities in maternal health outcomes for BIPOC women and birthing people.  You could also plan a local event to bring awareness to postpartum awareness week and encourage others to get involved.
– Join events hosted by the postpartum awareness week team: We will be hosting events throughout the week, and we encourage you to join us. By participating in our events, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from experts and connect with others who share our commitment to this critical cause. Register below to get more information about our events.
– Make a donation: We rely on the generosity of individuals and organizations to support our work. By making a donation, you’ll be supporting our efforts to champion this necessary cause and make a meaningful difference in the lives of BIPOC women and birthing people.
We really hope you’ll join us in this important week of action. Together, we can work to ensure safe pregnancy outcomes for all BIPOC birthing people.
Thanks so much for considering this and let us know if you have any questions or want to get involved!
REGISTER HERE!
Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project (MAP) “Speak! Move! Change!” Virtual Event April 11-17, 2021
We were honored to partner with Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project to co-host a weeklong virtual event during Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17, 2021, called “Speak! Move! Change! Creating A New Landscape For Black Maternal Health Through Advocacy & Artistic Expression.”
The 7-day event series featured powerful stories honoring women who have passed during childbirth, lively panel discussions/guided conversations, artistic performances, and the sharing of important announcements and resources for the community.
If you weren’t able to join, below are the agendas and recordings of each of the daily events:
Sunday, April 11: Flyer, Recording
Monday, April 12: Flyer, Recording
Tuesday, April 13: Flyer, Recording
Wednesday, April 14: Flyer, Recording
Thursday, April 15: Flyer, Recording
Friday, April 16: Flyer, Recording
Saturday, April 17: Flyer, Recording
Your participation with Speak! Move! Change! will allow us to strengthen our efforts, expand our reach and amplify the message about the Black Maternal Health crisis in America and across the globe.
Visit speakmovechange.net for more information about this event series.
Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill
Protecting America’s Mothers: Lessons from France, the U.K., and the U.S. on Reducing Maternal Mortality April 19, 2018
We hosted a Capitol Hill briefing on Thursday, April 19, to urge lawmakers to pass two bills that could help make childbirth safer in our country: H.R.1318 Preventing Maternal Deaths Act and S.1112 Maternal Health Accountability Act. The aim of the briefing was to highlight successful approaches to reducing preventable maternal deaths that have been implemented in the U.S. and in countries with much lower maternal mortality rates – France and the U.K. Panelists included:
Michael Lu, MD Senior Associate Dean, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
Shanna Cox, MSPH Associate Director for Science, Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Anne Loirette, Co-Founder, Timéo et les Autres
Jennie Joseph, LM, CPM, Founder and Executive Director Commonsense Childbirth (via video)
Christine Morton, PhD, Chair, Lamaze Institute for Safe and Healthy Births
Claudia Booker, certified midwife, owner of Birthing Hands Midwifery and Birthing Services
See below for the full recording of the event, which can also be found on the Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation Facebook page.
Hear Us: Grandmothers’ Perspectives on the Black Maternal Health Crisis September 10, 2020
On the eve of Grandparents’ Day 2020, this moderated conversation featured mothers who have lost their daughters, and in some instances grandchildren, due to complications during pregnancy, birthing, or the postpartum period. These grandmothers shared the joys, pains and triumphs of their journey toward justice.
Panelists:
Shawnee Benton-Gibson, (Brooklyn, NY), mother of Shamony Gibson and founder of The A.R.I.A.H. Foundation
Theresa Calhoun (Sylacauga, AL), mother of Gabrielle Calhoun
Wanda Irving (Atlanta, GA) mother of Dr. Shalon Irving and founder of Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project
Maddy Oden (Oakland, CA) mother of Tatia Oden French and founder of the Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation
Moderator: Priska Neely is an award-winning journalist who has reported on Black infant and maternal health for years. Most recently, she reported and produced an audio documentary for Reveal connecting current birth outcomes, to a history of medical racism in the U.S. Her reporting on Black infant mortality for KPCC, the NPR station in Los Angeles, has raised awareness and shifted policy discussions.
This event was hosted by Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project in collaboration with the CDC’s Hear Her Campaign and the Preeclampsia Foundation. This event was made possible with support from the Lawson Valentine Foundation.View the event recording below, or check it out on Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Health Project website. 
Mills College Film Screening February 13, 2018, Oakland, CA
The Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation, in collaboration with Black Women Birthing Justice and the H.E.A.L Club, held a screening of Tatia’s Story, followed by a panel discussion on maternal mortality and racial disparities at Mills College. Panelists included Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Mills College and founder of Black Women Birthing Justice, Chinyere Oparah, and Maddy Oden, among others.
The Role of the Birthing Community in Improving U.S. Maternity Care May 1, 2017, Washington, D.C.
This educational event included a screening of the documentary “Tatia’s Story: From Life to Death in 10 Hours,” and a panel discussion among maternal health experts and leaders in the birthing community regarding the issues of racial disparities in maternal mortality, the importance of being fully informed, and the dangers of using Cytotec for labor induction.
See below for the full event recording, which can also be found on the Tatia’s Story Facebook Page.