On August 15, the AAIMM Village was at the Women’s Health Expo launching our Black Breast/Chest Feeding Week campaign and introducing attendees to our initiatives. AAIMM’s welcoming space featured a friendly cafe for mingling and conversation, as well as a massage zone to provide a pampering touch.

Pregnancy and parenting topics were highlighted in our panel discussion area, and guests were welcomed by volunteers and staff who provided helpful information, as well as referrals to various AAIMM programs and events. It was rewarding to connect with our community and do what we do: meeting Black birthing people and their families where they are. From offering families a safe and comfortable tent area to breast/chest feed and change their little ones, to doula information and community care - we brought it all.

We engaged with hundreds of people as they learned more about AAIMM and its programs while visiting the AAIMM Cafe, which featured coffee, tea and delicious strawberry lemonade. We provided more than 20 chair massages and people enthusiastically sought more information and updates from AAIMM, while volunteers passed out flyers and provided details about our Doula and fatherhood programs and other events.

We also co-hosted a special Expo breakout session panel with Kaiser Permanente entitled “AAIMM for Joy: Every Generation Has a Role in Maternal Health” focusing on how families, communities and systems shape healthier pregnancies and safer births.

We appreciate everyone who took part in our session and all who stopped by our booth. We look forward to building our relationship and sharing additional resources with you and your family. You affirm our message that Black maternal health is community health. Special thanks to our CAT members who spread the word about regional events, workgroups, public education programs, and volunteer opportunities.