In this issue: Black Breast/Chest Feeding Week 2023

Welcome to Black Breast/Chestfeeding Week! Our 2023 campaign, co-sponsored by the South LA/South Bay Community Action Team (SLASB AAIMM CAT) and the LA County AAIMM Prevention Initiative has now officially launched and we are looking forward to spreading awareness of Black Breast/Chestfeeding throughout the week and beyond. This campaign is also made possible through the support, guidance, information, and resources provided by partners BreastfeedLA, CinnaMoms and March of Dimes. 

In this email, please find resources that can be shared to support our efforts and help spread the word about the theme of our campaign: “Let's Grow the Village of Safe Spaces to Breast/Chestfeed,” 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 who  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 the well-being of all individuals and to inclusivity (adapted from BreastfeedLA).

Resources include:

• Safe Space Directory
• Events Calendar Link
• Social Media Resources

GROWING THE VILLAGE OF SAFE SPACES TO BREAST/CHESTFEED IN LA COUNTY

Working in collaboration with AAIMM’s programs (Doula, Fatherhood, Community Action Teams), the AAIMM Comms Team will continue its Safe Space grassroots effort to distribute window decals, tabletop tents, and posters to brick-and-mortar businesses in the Los Angeles County area that designate themselves as a “Safe Space” for Black women/birthing persons to breast/chestfeed.

AAIMM's Safe Space outreach effort is designed to:

• Increase safety around breast/chestfeeding in public spaces
  
  
• Reduce barriers to safety—including psychological
  safety/belonging/inclusion around breast/chestfeeding in Los Angeles County
  
  
• Increase awareness and comfort among Black breast/chestfeeding families in Los Angeles County 

AAIMM looks forward to continuing its efforts to bring racial equity within the birthing and lactation community in Los Angeles County.

Safe Space Directory

Dozens of businesses in Los Angeles County have already pledged to be a designated Safe Space for mothers and birthing persons to feed their babies. Now, AAIMM has created an online directory of those businesses as a resource for lactating mothers/birthing persons. Click the image above to take a look and please share with anyone you know who may find this resource valuable. 

Do You Want to be a "SAFE SPACE" Business?

If you own a business in LA County and would like to be listed, please fill out THIS FORM and we will add you to the directory and deliver Safe Space materials to you.*

Your support helps create a healthy and joyous start to Black babies’ lives by joining us in our mission to ensure that every space is a Safe Space for Black women/birthing persons to breast/chestfeed.

*While supplies are available. 

Events Calendar

Both in-person and virtual events will be held throughout the week to support our efforts to spread awareness about the importance of welcoming, supporting, and protecting Black breast/chestfeeding throughout Los Angeles County. 

See our events calendar with full list of events HERE. 

Social Media 

Please feel free to share the posts and images from our Instagram and Facebook accounts to share messages around Black Breast/Chestfeeding Week. 

Also, please tag @BlackInfantsandFamiliesLA and don't forget to use our campaign hashtags when sharing messages to your social media platforms:

#BBFW2023

#SafeSpacetoBreastfeed

#GrowTheVillage

For more campaign news and to stay updated...

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