For many, the journey to parenthood is a mix of joyful anticipation and a sprinkle of anxiety surrounding the unknown. While most pregnancies end in minimally eventful births and healthy babies, some can take an unexpected turn. In the United States, Black women are more likely to experience pregnancy- or birth-related complications than any other racial or ethnic group, regardless of their income, social status or education. These complications range from preterm birth and babies with low birth weight to maternal morbidity and mortality. During a time that should be filled with excitement and joy, these realities leave many Black women feeling vulnerable and unsure.
While the outlook can be frightening, according to the CDC, 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Situated in the northeast quadrant of Washington DC, Mamatoto Village is a community-based organization that supports pregnant and postpartum women and their families across the District and surrounding areas. The organization, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023, is the brainchild of cofounders Aza Nedhari and Cassietta Pringle, who dreamed of creating a culturally affirming space for Black women to actualize the vision of healthy mamas, healthy babies and healthy communities.
The mission is twofold: to create a space that offers career pathways in maternal health and provides access to perinatal support services (perinatal being defined as the period of time from when you become pregnant and up to a year after giving birth).
Mothers Rising, the organization’s flagship program, prioritizes the needs of Medicaid-eligible pregnant and postpartum parents. It matches clients with a team of highly skilled professionals to provide evidence-based care that is also inclusive of cultural values, beliefs and practices (or “culturally congruent”) to address pregnancy, labor and delivery, parent education, lactation, health and wellness, mental health and stress management and intervention on any pervasive social determinate issues such as housing and food security.
The Power of Community
More than 3,000 parents have been welcomed into Mamatoto Village by a staff that reflects their culture and lived experience. The founders and women who provide administrative support and services within the program are all women of color living in the greater D.C. area, many of them navigating parenting themselves. This social proximity, along with authentic touches of cultural celebration, including original works of art and photographs adorning the walls, the laughter of sister-friends catching up with one another or the fragrance of familiar dishes coming from the kitchen, make the space feel like home. Mamatoto Village is exactly that – a welcoming village happy to provide families with the care they need and deserve throughout pregnancy, postpartum and beyond!
Mothers Rising participants often reflect that once they joined the program, they felt our staff became added family members to their lives. Participant T.Y. had both her babies with Mamatoto Village. Being involved with Mamatoto, she said, “really helped, especially the first time. The birth support, for me, was the most important part. The education on childbirth was especially helpful. I also got a lot of help with social services. Seeing a group of Black women who looked like me, giving back to the community … it’s inspiring. The advice, the day and overnight support definitely helped.”
Not only is their experience with the program positive, but there is also evidence to support that the model of care is working. Implemented by a staff that has completed hundreds of hours of training through the organization’s workforce development program, participants largely avoid preterm birth, successfully begin breastfeeding and maintain a 0% maternal mortality rate. These statistics that are staunchly different from community women of a similar background not receiving services.
Building a Workforce
The experience of being cared for, affirmed and validated during such a pivotal time in their lives often inspires women who were once clients to enter the workforce program with the goal of delivering the same care they received to other women in their communities. They spend many months training in how to provide culturally resonant, respectful, linguistically appropriate and healing-informed care. In the past, participants have gone on to work as OB-GYNs, family doctors, licensed social workers, midwives, nurses, doulas, program directors, home visitors and lactation consultants. In this way, Mamatoto Village is helping create financial stability for families and entire communities, while deploying skilled perinatal providers grounded in the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver life-changing and lifesaving care. To date, more than 200 people have been trained, and countless others benefited as a result, potentially changing the Black birthing experience throughout the District.
“Black women can be strengthened by one another, giving rise to a more radical, collective and supportive environment for wellness and thriving.” Mamatoto Village believes that every woman and every family have a fundamental right to health and safety through unlimited access to education, resources and quality care. Learn more about Mamatoto Village here.
Erin Snowden, MPH (she/her), is the director of data and social impact at Mamatoto Village. With 20 years of experience in health education and public health, Erin has worked as an educator, led health outreach at universities and developed community-based public health interventions. She is passionate about helping Black-led organizations create data stories that reflect Black lived experiences and values qualitative data that honors Black ways of knowing.