The African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative is announcing activation of a weeklong campaign geared toward spreading awareness of Black Breastfeeding Week, which was officially recognized by the LA County Board of Supervisors in June 2021. Co-sponsored by the South LA/South Bay Community Action Team (SLASB AAIMM CAT) and the LA County AAIMM Prevention Initiative,“Support/Protect/Welcome Black Breast/Chest Feeding Everywhere” is our theme for the week with supporting sub-themes around breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and pumping.

The terms "breastfeeding" and "chestfeeding" are used interchangeably and together to describe the action of feeding an infant human-milk. The term "chestfeeding" is offered as an alternate term for lactating persons that prefer not to use the term "breast" when referring to their own bodies. This is the AAIMM Prevention Initiative’s commitment to caring authentically about inclusivity and the well-being of all individuals (adapted from BreastfeedLA).

Black Breastfeeding Week was originally designated in 2013 by nationally recognized breastfeeding advocates and Black maternal health trailblazers Kimberly Seals Allers, Kiddada Green, and Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka. Since its inception, the campaign has been held annually from August 25-31 with the intention of raising awareness and empowering breast/chestfeeding persons within the Black community. Black Breastfeeding Week’s purpose is to close the racial disparity gap in breastfeeding rates while encouraging folks in the medical field to provide lactating mothers and birthing persons with the support and resources that they need to begin and stay the course throughout their breast/chestfeeding journey.

AAIMM’s Black Breastfeeding Week campaign will primarily consist of a digital and social media campaign, sharing images of Black breast/chestfeeding persons taken in iconic Los Angeles locations—including Nappily Naturals, Pucker Up, South LA Cafe, and Grocery Outlet—that are well-known within the African American community. These images will serve to normalize the feeding of babies in public places and encourage others to share their own breastfeeding journey using the campaign hashtags. Additionally, grassroots efforts will be made to spread the word about the campaign via events hosted by AAIMM Community Action Teams, a website hub that will host articles about breast/chestfeeding, and will culminate in a Breastfeeding Matters Walk on Saturday, August 28.

AAIMM’s campaign objectives are to:

Increase safety around breast/chestfeeding in public spaces
Reduce barriers to safety—including psychological safety/belonging/inclusion around breast/chestfeeding in Los Angeles (images will represent the South LA area)
Increase awareness and comfort among Black families in Los Angeles County

We encourage you to participate with us by sharing your own breast/chestfeeding journey and/or campaign images and content created by the AAIMM Communications Team via @blackinfantsandfamiliesla using the campaign hashtags:

#BlackBreastfeedingWeek2021
#BreastChestfeedingEverywhere
#BlackBreastfeedingMatters

Thank you for supporting our efforts to bring racial equity within the birthing and lactation community in Los Angeles County!

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BLACK BREAST/CHESTFEEDING WEEK
EVENTS & RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE:

AAIMM ANNOUNCES BLACK BREAST/CHESTFEEDING WEEK CAMPAIGN FOR AUGUST 25-31

Los Angeles, California (August 24, 2021) —The African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative announces the activation of a weeklong campaign geared toward spreading awareness of Black Breastfeeding Week, which was officially recognized by the LA County Board of Supervisors in June 2021. Co-sponsored by the South LA/South Bay Community Action Team (SLASB AAIMM CAT) and the LA County AAIMM Prevention Initiative,“Support/Protect/Welcome Black Breast/Chest Feeding Everywhere” is the theme for the week with supporting sub-themes around breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and pumping. This campaign is also made possible through the support, guidance, information, and resources provided by partners BreastfeedLA, CinnaMoms and March of Dimes.

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