Join the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM) to celebrate and support expectant Black moms / birthing persons and their families at the 2024 Taste of Soul LA event on October 19 on historic Crenshaw Boulevard between Barack Obama Blvd. and Stocker Ave., in South LA. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m.
Please visit our AAIMM Village in the KJLH area. Learn about our free doula services, Black dad groups, and how you can get involved in local efforts to ensure Black parents have access to healthy and joyous births through one of our AAIMM Community Action Teams. You will also find pregnancy tips, and resources for Black families, including information about our Safe Space directory, which lists local businesses that offer safe spaces for breast/chestfeeding.
As in previous years, our booth will include a breast/chestfeeding safe space—a cozy oasis designed with you in mind. Enjoy the comfort of rocking chairs, and a peaceful, private area to feed or change your little one. Whether you’re here for a quick break or a longer stay, we’ve created the perfect spot to relax and recharge.
Giveaways will be provided while supplies last.
Photos from 2023 Taste of Soul LA
SPOTLIGHT
Growing our Village: San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valley AAIMM Community Action Team
As AAIMM builds our village of support throughout our vast county, AAIMM’s San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valley Community Action Team (SFSCV CAT) is working to ensure Black mothers and birthing people have the resources they need to have safe and joyous childbirth and postpartum experiences in one of LA’s largest regions. The SFSCV CAT represents the largest of Los Angeles County’s eight Service Provider Areas – (SPA 2) spanning more than 1,100 square miles with a population of more than 2.1 million people.
With such a large service area, it is no wonder SPA 2 is home to the largest percentage of live births in LA County at 22 percent. But the geographic expanse makes it challenging to reach Black families who make up less than 4 percent of the population in SPA 2. Thankfully the SFSCV CAT is up to the task, activating groups like the African American Leadership Organization (AALO) and Black Moms in the Valley to plan events and create safe spaces for Black families. Most recently, the SFSCV CAT hosted a Baby Shower Brunch during Black Breastfeeding week, and hosted an online event for parents of school-aged children entitled “The ABCs of Black Student Empowerment.” SFSCV CAT meetings are held monthly online.
“This is why AAIMM Community Action Teams matter,” says Jessica Sullivan, AALO Executive Director and SFSCV CAT member. “They build meaningful connections, the kind that really matter. They can make all the difference for a mom and her children.”
Read more about recent activities in the SFSCV CAT. To get involved or learn more, visit: https://www.blackinfantsandfamilies.org/scv_sfv.
To learn more about all of AAIMM’s Community Action Teams in Los Angeles County, please visit: https://www.blackinfantsandfamilies.org/cat.
New Round of AAIMM Village Funding Open, Apply Now
The fifth round of grant applications to the AAIMM Village Fund is now open! In the spirit of “it takes a village to raise a child,” the Village Fund seeks applications from organizations, networks, coalitions, individual service providers, enterprises or small businesses whose services will contribute to joyous and healthy births for Black families in Los Angeles County. Priority consideration will be given to entities that are Black-led.
The Village Fund seeks to support community-led efforts that reinforce the broad goals of the AAIMM Initiative. Past funded projects include prenatal yoga, lactation education and support, baby supply drives, support for parents with babies in the NICU, nutrition education, support for teen parents, wellness circles, special needs screening and education, parent support groups and resources, commissioned art, community education and outreach, hairstyling services for pregnant mothers, doula/midwifery support, pelvic physical therapy services, multimedia educational resource development, and more.
Download the full RFP here (PDF). Interested applicants should apply at bit.ly/VillageFund2024 by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, November 4, 2024. For more information visit VillageFundLA.org/apply.
Upcoming Events and Campaigns
Take part in our programs to support healthy and joyous births for Black families.
Click the flyers below for more information!
Breastfeeding Walk - Join the South LA/South Bay African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Community Action Team (SLASB AAIMM CAT) as we host our inaugural Breast/Chestfeeding 5K Awareness Walk. Our goal with this walk is to raise at least $650 dollars to provide lactation consultant services to Black moms/birthing persons in need of support with their breast/chestfeeding journey. Donations aren't required to participate in the walk, but encouraged. To register and learn more information on how to donate visit: https://tinyurl.com/BCFAW24
Black Men’s Wellness Day – Support Black Men’s health on Black Men’s Wellness Day, Saturday, November 2, starting at 7 a.m. at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex, 5001 Obama Blvd., Los Angeles. Hosted by the African American Male Wellness Agency, the event includes a 5K run and walk, free health clinics, a kids zone and live entertainment. To sign up, or for more information, visit: aawellness.org/los-angeles-california.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwswc4miNGQ&t=222s
Caption: Watch as mother Jessica Wade shares her inspiring story of premature birth in “Dear Baby.”
In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month in November, AAIMM is sharing resources and tips to help reduce the risk of premature birth. Visit AAIMM’s Premature Birth Prevention and Support hub, for more information, and to learn about organizations helping Black Families with preemies, including Mighty Little Giants and Parenting for Liberation, as well as California Black Infant Health and March of Dimes.
Throughout November, join us in raising awareness about premature birth:
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Follow AAIMM us on social media @blackinfantsandfamiliesla and share our campaign messages.
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Use the hashtag #PrematurityAwarenessMonth, #WorldPrematurityDay and #AAIMM to share your own stories and those of others.
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Download Prematurity Awareness: Activate Your Village as an Anchor of Support and share it with others.
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Host or attend events and conversations around the subject of Premature Birth and prevention during the month of November.
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Get involved with our partnering organizations linked above, who are doing work to directly help families who are experiencing premature birth and/or stays in the NICU.
Ongoing Programs
Black Daddy Dialogues – AAIMM’s South LA / South Bay Community Action Team continues to change the narrative around African American/Black fathers and families with our monthly Black Daddy Dialogue meetings available to participants countywide. Fathers and father figures of all ages who are supporting pregnant people or raising African American/Black children are welcome at these virtual meetings, held on Zoom every 2nd Wednesday at 6:30 pm. For more information about AAIMM’s Fatherhood Program, call or text DAD to 323-745-2771.
Black Daddy Dialogue: via Zoom
The next session is November 13, 2024 at 6:30 pm
No registration is required
Expecting fathers group - Designed for Black soon-to-be fathers, this community provides education, support and navigation tools for the prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum and early parenting periods.
The group runs for five consecutive weeks. With the knowledge gained and community created, expectant dads will be well prepared to support their birthing partners, help to reduce stress, and prepare for baby and family bonding. The Expecting Fathers Group is led by Davion Mauldin, MS, DPH, AAIMM Fatherhood Coordinator. To sign up for these free Zoom workshops, please email: [email protected]
Abundant Birth Project – Developed by Expecting Justice in northern California, the California Abundant Birth Project has arrived in LA County and provides a guaranteed monthly cash award of $807 per month for 18 months during pregnancy and postpartum to prevent stress among those at greatest risk of adverse birth outcomes. Research shows financial stability is likely to prevent babies from being born too early or too small and can also protect the health of the mother (birthing parent).
For decades public health has described the influence of social determinants on health outcomes including preterm birth. Yet, rarely do health interventions attempt to modify them directly. The Abundant Birth Project offers the opportunity to test whether intervening on a social determinant - economic security - can improve perinatal health.
The Abundant Birth Project is the first pregnancy guaranteed income program in the United States, designed based on evidence of what is causing long-standing disparities in birth outcomes. Providing direct, unconditional cash gives mothers and birthing people the power and the dignity to make decisions for themselves and their babies. Providing a guaranteed income can reduce stress, which is particularly toxic to pregnancies, by buffering against financial hardship.
In Los Angeles County, 400 eligible participants will be selected to participate in ABP and will receive $807 a month for 18 months.too early or too small and can also protect the health of the mother (birthing parent).
Abundant Birth Project: Review eligibility criteria and apply.
AAIMM Community Action Teams (CATs) – Join our efforts to end Black infant and maternal deaths in Los Angeles County by making a difference in your community by participating in a partnership centered around creating interventions and strategies to improve pregnancy and birthing outcomes:
Antelope Valley AAIMM CAT
Join our team: for more information, email [email protected] or [email protected]
Next Meeting/Event: Day of Remembrance - “A Wave of Light Celebration”
October 24; 4:30pm - 6:30pm
South LA & South Bay AAIMM CAT
Join our team: for more information, email [email protected] or [email protected]
Next Meeting/Event: SLASB AAIMM CAT Bi-monthly Regional Meeting
Every Other Month, the 4th Thursday: upcoming Nov. 9; 4pm – 7pm
San Gabriel Valley CAT
Join our team: for more information, email [email protected] or [email protected]
Next Meeting/Event: SGV AAIMM CAT Bi-monthly Regional Meeting
Occurs the Last Wednesday of Each Odd Month: upcoming Nov. 30; 3pm - 5pm
Santa Clarita & San Fernando Valleys AAIMM CAT
Join our team: for more information, email [email protected] or [email protected]
Next Meeting/Event: SCSFV AAIMM CAT Meeting
Upcoming Nov. 16; time TBD
Send us Your Upcoming Events
If you would like to see your event added to our next newsletter, please use the AAIMM Village News Updates form to let us know about any news, stories, events, or important information that you'd like to share with the AAIMM community. The next edition of the AAIMM Village News will be sent out in mid-December.
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