Giving life should not equal a death sentence for Black women.
Support Postpartum Awareness Week
The ARIAH Foundation, Dr. Shalon’s MAP & The Tatia Oden French Foundation, in partnership with stakeholders across the United States, have co-created a vision to restore light, life and dignity to the birthing and postpartum experiences of BIPOC. We have formed a collective that is co-creating a national campaign that will focus on the postpartum period for BIPOC birthing people who are more likely to experience adverse outcomes after giving birth to their children. Our collective is committed to amplifying the needs and the voices of BIPOC so that “birthing while black” in this country will no longer be life threatening.
The members of the postpartum awareness campaign have committed to launching the campaign in May 2023. To that end, we have been meeting regularly to strengthen our relationships, organize, strategize and share ideas. We invite you to join us in this space where powerful people and connects are forged between like-minded people in this movement. To join our collective and to share what team(s) you would like to work on, please email--wanda@drshalonsmap.org, sowleadershipdevelopment@gmail.com, or momoden@sbcglobal.net.
Save a Child from Intergenerational Trauma
Save a Child from Intergenerational Trauma
The loss of a mother is a trauma that doesn't go away. Many people believe that children are resilient. But believe me, children NEVER get over the trauma of a mother's death or growing up without a mother's love. Researchers are starting to understand the link between childhood trauma and adult health. A growing body of knowledge suggests that this kind of trauma is intergenerational and can be evident in up to seven generations.
PLEASE GIVE TODAY.
Our work is based on the life philosophy of Dr. Shalon:
“I see inequity wherever it exists. I am not afraid to call it by name and work hard to eliminate it. I vow to create a better earth.”
At Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project, we work to remove barriers, biases, and disparate practices that impede access to equitable, quality care for Black women and women of color.
The mission of Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project is to increase awareness of the Black maternal health crisis, and to develop and promote community-based action-driven strategies that improve reproductive health outcomes and recognize the human-centered value of Black birthing people and families.
Dr. Shalon’s Legacy
On January 28, 2017, Dr. Shalon Irving passed away from complications after giving birth to her daughter, Soleil. We believe that her death was preventable.
Her passion for justice and trailblazing work in community health inspire us to fight for a bright future for black mothers—one in which black women are not dismissed, but are heard, respected, and cared for as equal individuals.
Four Pillars
Maternal mortality is a complex issue. We believe change needs to happen at national and institutional levels, supported by leaders in politics and healthcare. But we also believe that the most powerful tool a black mother has is her voice.
That’s why we developed four pillars with which we use as the base of our action and strategic partnerships. All the work that we do is centered around Storytelling, Empowerment, Community-Building, and Education.