We are honored to announce the AAIMM Compassion Response Fund, a one-time resource designed to provide timely, compassionate support to families experiencing perinatal or infant loss.

The AAIMM Compassion Response Fund offers a one-time award of $3,700 per eligible family to help address immediate needs during a period of grief and transition.

In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month (November), we sat down with Colleen Lovejoy, Founding Director, Care Consultant, and Sound Therapist of Sugar Heal Gang (SHG), to talk about what it truly takes to support birthing families — before, during, and after birth. SHG is a collective of Black and Indigenous healers based in Los Angeles, CA, working at the intersection of culture, care, and community. Since 2020, SHG has provided health and wellness support to families through high-quality, culturally rooted, holistic birthing services, training workshops, and cultural gatherings.

Can you share the vision behind Sugar Heal Gang and how cultural healing shows up in your work?

Black maternal health wasn’t something I studied. I didn’t start out thinking, I’m getting into Black maternal health. I had an experience and realized it wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. It wasn’t rooted in cultural healing or designed to empower women. Those are things you learn later, but you know when something isn’t right.

My birthing experience felt cold, isolating, and confusing. It felt like the people who held the knowledge were looking down on the very people who were trying to give birth and bring new life into the community.

And when my friend got pregnant, I told her, “It’s going to be awful and you’re probably going to have to keep switching doctors.” Then I heard myself and thought, Wait a second…

What if we could surround her? What if we could gather resources around her so she could create a birth plan and a birth team, and have what she wanted? What would feel like love? What would actually feel supportive and empowering? It really was that simple.

We didn’t even have words for it back then. We just created a care plan and came together and said, who do we know who brings healing? This person knows nutrition. This person can offer spiritual care. My sister knows a midwife — how much does she charge? Can we raise that? It was really just calling people together.

And once we did it, we knew we were on to something.

Because it was the care I wish I had. The support I wish I had. You don’t know what you’re missing until you’ve lived through it. And you can’t create something different until you actually create something different, and then you know: This is it.

The more options that exist — and the more organizations and people create new models of care — the more it will be talked about. For a long time, people just accepted what was, because… what was the alternative?

What does “The Village” mean in your approach to caring for birthing people?

I think of that old saying, it takes a village to raise a child, but really, it takes a village to raise a family. To help a family grow.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that so many breakups happen when kids are toddlers. In this country, there’s no free childcare and no guaranteed maternity or paternity leave. I really wonder if support like paid leave and universal childcare existed whether divorce rates among parents of kids ages zero to five would go down.

I keep seeing this conversation about a loneliness epidemic and it shows up for birthing families, too. People are isolated. On a good day, you might be able to hold it all together, but nobody can get sick, nobody can lose a job, nobody can have a hard month financially. There’s no backup.

You can’t even really give birth without thinking, Do I have time off? Do I have savings? Do I have support? It’s heavy.

So, I think the village has to start with us finding each other again. It’s generational knowledge, people who’ve given birth telling you, be ready.

You need community. And if you don’t have family, you have to build it. There are organizations, spaces, and people where you can find your village.

Looking back, I don’t think I had my village set up. I thought I had friends, but I didn’t know how to call on them. I didn’t know how to ask for help, and it created so much unnecessary stress.

I also think proximity education is so interesting. I don’t hear people talking about it. We’re taught to go to the college with the specialty you want, and then you go work, but no one talks about what you give up when you move away from your friends and family.

It’s easy when there are no kids in the picture. But once you’re giving birth — especially if you have complications — everything has to go right, or things can become really hard really fast.

It can become life-threatening very quickly. And it can threaten the life of the baby, too, especially when we’re talking about preterm birth.

In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month (November), we spoke with Jessica Wade, Founding Director, Care Consultant, and Sound Therapist of Mighty Little Giants (MLG), to talk about what it truly takes to support birthing families — before, during, and after birth. Mighty Little Giants (MLG) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that advocates through providing support, education, and hope for Black mothers/birthing persons and fathers experiencing preterm deliveries resulting in long-term stays in hospital NICUs. MLG’s mission is to stand in the gap with and for Black families with babies in the NICU by embracing MLG’s core values: Integrity, Compassion, and Encouragement.

Can you share the origin story of Mighty Little Giants and how your personal journey shaped it?

Mighty Little Giants (MLG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 by myself [Jessica Wade] from my hospital bedrest stay of 58 days and my son's 143 day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Out of my lived experience of not being heard and losing everything came our mission: to stand in the gap for families with babies in the NICU by providing compassionate support, advocacy, and a path toward healing. MLG exists to uplift mothers, fathers, and caregivers facing preterm birth and extended NICU stays, with a special focus on engaging families as whole units in the healing process.

What are some of the biggest emotional challenges families face in the NICU?

Some of the greatest emotional challenges for NICU families stem from having to navigate complex systems of care, not only for their hospitalized baby but also for themselves. Parents are often trying to heal mentally and emotionally from a potentially traumatic birthing experience with unexpected outcomes, all while managing the financial demands of their household. Many also face separation anxiety if they have other children at home and must balance postpartum recovery with the immense responsibility of making lifesaving decisions for their child fighting for survival in the NICU or NICCU. The weight of these overlapping challenges takes a profound toll on their emotional well-being.

How does your team support parents during long-term NICU stays?

At Mighty Little Giants we support our families in multiple ways. Our current programs include:

• In Hospital Support Groups [Crafts & Conversations]
• NICU Support Group Chat [Peer-to-Peer Support]
• MLG Literacy Corner [Advancing Early Childhood Education]
• NICU Essential Selfcare Kits that can be ordered online
• Educational Webinars [ Through MLG Academy] 

What role can extended family, friends, or community play in supporting parents of premature babies?

Some of the most important things that family can do to support are:

• Be Present and hold space for the families without assumption, judgement or a million questions!
• Ask how THEY are doing. I’ve noticed that families always ask how the child is doing, not realizing that the parents are carrying a lot of weight.
  
  
• Instead of saying "let me/us know what you need”, let them know what you will do for them. “We will be hosting a meal train, I can help with picking up the other kids from school, I can have a housekeeper come by on Friday, etc. Most of the time NICU families need more than they can explain, taking the weight off their shoulders of thinking about their needs would be helpful.
  
  

Prematurity can feel isolating. What does it look like when “the village shows up” well?

When your village shows up well you can truly get REST, at times uninterrupted REST! My mother and mother-in-law would come and sit with our son when he was in the NICU so that I could take a nap in our room at the Ronald McDonald house and that meant more to me than I could even explain!

I had anxiety leaving the NICU/NICCU, so they knew I wasn’t getting rest. They didn’t ask, they just showed up and took turns, I really appreciated them for that.

Mighty Little Giants (MLG) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that advocates through providing support, education, and hope for Black mothers/birthing persons and fathers experiencing preterm deliveries resulting in long-term stays in hospital NICUs. MLG’s mission is to stand in the gap with and for Black families with babies in the NICU by embracing MLG’s core values: Integrity, Compassion, and Encouragement. Within its  mission, one of its main goals is to empower the prenatal moms/birthing people that the organization supports (that are on bedrest) with the tools they need to advocate for a joyous birthing experience. For families who have babies in the NICU, MLG strives to provide them with peace, education, compassion, and support in the midst of their storm.

A member of the Antelope Valley AAIMM Community Action Team, MLG believes that it’s important to uplift black women into positions of power and let their voices be heard loud and clear in an effort to end racial disparities. Therefore, MLG strives to highlight the work of Black women by participating in Black female-lead events, sponsorships, fundraisers, and promotions. Jessica Wade, founder of MLG, is a Black woman and has ensured that the organization also has Black women on its Board of Directors. MLG believes that this is an integral part of the work and enables the organization to better empathize with the families it serves. 

“There are so many racial disparities and lack of education and advocacy when it comes to preterm Black babies as well as Black babies and families in the NICU. There are many support programs for preterm births and NICU support groups, but not too many meet the needs of black families,” stated Wade. “I have yet to come across a Black woman lead organization that provides wrap-around support for Black mothers on bedrest as well as support while navigating the NICU with the countless stressors that occur inside and outside of the hospital.”

MLG’s mission of supporting the physical and mental well-being of Black women/birthing persons, fathers, partners, and families before, during, or after birth by providing respite care; fostering a positive sense of self, and increasing access to healthy and joyous births aligns with the mission of AAIMM. The foundation of MLG’s support for Black moms is built on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. In order to bring mothers peace during this stressful time, MLG focuses on the overall health and well-being of the birthing person. MLG is committed to ensuring that all of the needs of the mothers they support are met and they have the confidence needed to stand in the gap for their birthing story as well as their child. 

MLG now provides doula support, lactation education and so much more! If you’re an expecting mom on bedrest, or a new mom/birthing person in the NICU, when you are supported, educated, empowered and receive compassion from someone who looks like you, that automatically provides a joyous and healthy birthing experience and a sense of security.

Pregnancy should be a time filled with anticipation and joy, but for many women, it can also be a time of intense stress, uncertainty, and hardship. African American women especially face significant risks during their pregnancy journey, so a village of support is even more crucial to ensure a safe and healthy birthing process. For Breanna Gomez, the Abundant Birth Project (ABP) became a lifeline during one of the most challenging chapters of her life.

Before joining the program, she was facing financial instability, emotional exhaustion, and the heavy burden of navigating pregnancy while recovering from domestic violence. Like many women, Breanna was left without paid leave from her job and overwhelmed by how she would afford even the basics while preparing for her baby. She described being mentally drained and in urgent need of a safe path forward. The immense stress she was under "affected [her] mental health and made it hard to really enjoy the experience of becoming a mother."

That's where the Abundant Birth Project stepped in.

Becoming a parent for the first time can be both a joyful and overwhelming experience. For Latanza Price-McGee’s family, The Abundant Birth Project (ABP) has been more than just a program—it has been a lifeline of support, guidance, and empowerment during one of life’s biggest transitions.

Through monthly check-ins, community-building activities, educational resources, and emotional guidance, ABP has offered Latanza and her husband a strong foundation as they welcomed their baby girl. The sense of belonging and support they found through their dedicated Abundance Coach helped them define their approach to parenting while also giving them space to grow into their roles with grace and confidence.

“The Abundant Birth Project has provided a fantastic platform for us to gain knowledge while I was pregnant, preparing us to happily embrace both the joys and the challenges of being new parents,” shared Latanza.

A cornerstone of this support has been the monthly stipend, which has made a tangible difference in managing household expenses and newborn necessities. This financial relief has reduced stress and allowed the family to focus on nurturing their daughter with greater peace of mind.

Q&A with Davion Mauldin, Coordinator of AAIMM Fatherhood Programs and father of DeAsia, age 16.

AAIMM: Tell us about your experience as a father and your journey with Black maternal health.

DAVION:  My journey was one of tremendous family support. We were 19 years old and were fortunate enough to have guidance from the women in our families. My personal journey was very nerve-wracking and anxiety-filled, not knowing how to help, how to support, or how to prepare. I was still in school and feeling overwhelmed and excited at the same time. I never doubted myself as a person, but the thought of caring for another person was scary without any male input or help.

AAIMM: How should fathers support Black maternal health?

DAVION: The role of fathers is very impactful for the entire family. I also see the need for guidance, help, and education. I hear the desire from fathers wanting to support their partners, and I hear the fear of possibly failing. I hear the request for help and for services. It all comes down to new fathers wanting to be great in their role, and it takes a community to help prepare fathers and/or empower them to realize they are more prepared than they think.

AAIMM: As a Black father, what challenges did you face when navigating the healthcare system during your partner's pregnancy and childbirth experience?

DAVION: My challenges came from not understanding the impact I had during pregnancy. I did not know I could speak up to support her. I did not know I should be a part of the process in the healthcare system. I did not know how to advocate. My lack of understanding caused me to be more withdrawn in these settings when I should have been assertive. When I was not directly acknowledged, it did not feel wrong or uncomfortable, it felt like that’s how it was supposed to be.

AAIMM:  Did you witness or experience any instances of racism or bias while supporting your partner? How did it impact your experience as a father?

DAVION: I experienced bias after my daughter was born and I would take her to medical appointments by myself – microaggressions about why I was with her and not her mom, and comments about if I knew how to care for a little girl.

A Doula from AAIMM Can Provide Helpful Prenatal Care, Support at Delivery, and Breastfeeding Education

From prenatal visits and support during labor to help with newborn feeding, doulas play a vital role in Black maternal health. Doula support may reduce medical interventions (including C-sections), improve mood and satisfaction with the birth experience, and increase breastfeeding success. 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA – In honor of National Public Health Week (April 7–13), the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM) hosted two impactful town halls spotlighting the critical role of midwifery in improving perinatal health outcomes for Black families in Los Angeles County. 

Held on April 8 and April 11, 2025, in partnership with Kindred Space LA, Charles Drew University’s Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence, Black Women for Wellness, and the California Black Women’s Health Project, these events brought together public health leaders, midwifery professionals, birth equity advocates, and community members for dynamic discussions on the state of midwifery care.

“Midwifery care is preventative care. The pregnant person is healthier because they have access to information and support,” said panelist Allegra Hill, LM, CPM, IBCLC, Co-Founder of Kindred Space LA. “Support and education have a positive outcome on the birth and postpartum experience and the health of the family moving forward.”

Doulas Increase Breastfeeding Success and Help Reduce Medical Interventions, including C-Sections

To celebrate World Doula Week, March 22-28, we honor the dedicated professional Doulas in our community.