Abundant Times
Monthly Birth Center Equity Newsletter
Growing community birth infrastructure for generations to come
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Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center Expands to Another Community! |
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When BCE Capital Circle member Tara Lawal (Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center) heard that one of the busiest birth centers in Washington was looking for new ownership, it felt like a dream come true. Lawal had been hoping to open a clinic to serve the Asian and Pacific Islander and other Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities in Seattle’s inner suburbs, so the potential to own an already thriving birth center in Renton, WA was a perfect fit.
To seize on the opportunity, Tara applied for a loan through a private bank – until she talked to BCE. With BCE’s mission of growing birth center infrastructure for generations to come, our approach to making strategic investments that significantly accelerate birth center growth and development, and our commitment to opening 10 new community birth centers by 2023 through our Open Doors Initiative, BCE was delighted to put resources toward Rainier Valley’s purchase of the Renton site. With a $75k Open Doors Initiative grant from BCE, Rainier Valley midwives expanded the reach of its services and is ensuring that API/BIPOC community birthing needs and voices will be elevated in Renton. In Tara’s words, “I’m committed to creating a place for all birthing families to BELONG to, and for birth workers to be treated with kindness and equity.”
Congratulations Tara and Rainier Valley Midwives!
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BCE Gathers at Decolonizing Midwifery |
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BCE staff members Leseliey Welch, Nashira Baril, and Marinah Farrell gathered with BCE-co conspirators/advisors Tenesha Duncan and Cass Osei of Orchid Capital, along with midwives, birth workers, healers, and funders in upstate New York June 19-23 for the Decolonizing Midwifery Convening organized by Black Women’s Blueprint and North American Indigenous Center for Culture, Equity, and Economic Empowerment. The gathering focused on “decolonizing midwifery, disrupting gender, and taking extraordinary measures to reify body sovereignty” and included bountiful open time to reconnect with land and spirit and forge new connections across the network. BCE is grateful for the relationships, insights, and gifts that keep unfolding from this time together.
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BCE Welcomes Social Media Manager Hoai An Pham! |
Noticing a little more pizazz in BCE’s social media lately? Our fresh content -- such as our animated father's day post -- is thanks to our new Social Media Manager Hoai An Pham! Hoai An is an organizer from Ann Arbor, MI, where she was born and raised as a first generation Vietnamese American. As a disabled abolitionist, she has worked in movements around immigration, labor, climate, prisons, and racial justice, with the goal of building long-term, welcoming community. Hoai An comes to BCE from her role as Digital Organizer for We the People-Michigan. Hoai An will be relocating to Boston in fall 2022, where she will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Health at Harvard University, while continuing her BCE role.
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BCE Workshop Coming to AABC Birth Institute Fall 2022. BCE is honored to be presenting our work and thoughts at this year’s American Association of Birth Centers’ Birth Institute: Birth Centers Rising On the Tide of Change, to be held in San Diego, CA, September 15-18. Look out for Leseliey Welch and Marinah Farrell’s presentation on the 15th!
Power Hours Begin For BCE Members. In July BCE launched our new “Power Hours” as open time for BCE members to mingle at the end of the week with other BCE members to talk all things birth centers. Every other week, BCE team member and midwife Marinah Farrell open the power hours with a topic (e.g., how are birth centers doing billing?) and then open the space to everyone’s questions and thoughts. We’re excited to offer this time for birth center owners and dreamers to share knowledge.
BCE Staff Shape Plans in Boston Retreat. Working with the incredible Kad Smith, BCE staff gathered in Boston in early June for two days to focus on how to adopt Pro-Black anti-capitalist principles in our organizational development. With specific focus on nourishing the leadership of our co-directors Leseliey Welch and Nashira Baril to grow BCE, while concurrently working to open birth centers in Detroit and Boston, the team crafted powerful internal agreements, more clearly defined roles, and shaped strategy with 5 and 10 year goals.
A Note About August: Practicing BCE's values of abundance and liberation, BCE co-directors Leseliey Welch and Nashira Baril will be taking time in August to be with loved ones and replenish their hearts and souls. Please look for their rejuvenated spirits in September. If you need to reach someone at BCE immediately, please contact Marinah at marinah@birthcenterequity.org.
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