Our Mothers and Us, Inc.

The Elevate Prize funding will enable us to freely operationalize our activities and maximize our reach throughout Arizona. As the bulk of our initiatives are centered around in-person interaction with mothers and families (i.e. focus groups, in-person interviews, classes, workshops), we have strategized how to combat the restrictions COVID-19 has brought about.  One strategy, for example, has been to expand our reach through digital methodologies and platforms (such as video) to conduct projects and activities.  Another is to put community partnerships to use (health centers, social services providers, activists groups) that cater to our population. This way, we eliminate transportation barriers that community members may have.  This is especially important for our Black women and families, as they are often seen in clusters and are spread out across Arizona.  

Specifically, the funds will allow us to:

• Facilitate more rigorous research to be done by, within, and for the community.
• Provide incentives or "thank yous" for participation in projects or goods to families (i.e. gift cards, infant care items, or supplies).
• Provide educational/training opportunities for women and families (CPR/First Aid, car seat installation, budgeting, etc.).
• Compensate videographers/photographers for their work on OMUS projects, capturing interviews and focus group discussions, etc.

I have an unexplainable passion for all things pregnancy and infant-related.  I believe that is because my purpose is tied to this passion.  Furthermore, as a Black woman in the public health and development field, I am personally moved by the health disparities and inequalities that exist in maternal health.  Hence, the start of Our Mothers and Us (OMUS).  OMUS began as a simple social media campaign project I started in participation and support of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance’s Black Maternal Health Week in 2018.  Initially, the goal behind the campaign was to raise awareness about the disparities that exist nationally for Black women and families, as well as, promote and advocate for their health, well-being, and frankly, their existence.  Today, I have made it my duty to continue this work, to be of service to our communities- our mothers, fathers, infants, and children. I also intend on becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) to directly service pregnant and birthing women and families.

According to UN Women, 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth around the world.  In the United States, the risk of pregnancy-related deaths for Black and Native American women is two to three times higher than White women. In Arizona, Black women experience preterm labor, low birthweight babies, and infant loss at a significantly higher rate compared to women of other racial backgrounds. Our Mothers and Us (OMUS) is a local nonprofit organization that advocates for our Black and women and families in Arizona.  OMUS does so by conducting health promotion, education, and outreach activities.  We conduct local research/passion projects called "Brown-work Groundwork" that explore topics related to health, community, and cultural preservation within BIPOC communities in Arizona.  We also host educational classes and creative expression workshops within the community, meant to cultivate discussion about maternal health, parenting, and health goal-setting— social, emotional, mental, and physical health.  Through these activities our organization aims to 1.) explore the contributing factors that prevent an ideal pregnancy and optimal birth for Black families in Arizona; 2.) provide tools so that families can make informed decisions related to pregnancy, birth, and parenting; and 3.) decrease the racial disparities.

What makes our work disruptive is that we are redirecting how we view and approach health promotion and education in maternal health.  Whether in academia, public health, international development, or medicine, we believe there is a bit of  “un-learning” to be done.  Our approach? Leveraging community voices and power in every aspect of our activities.  Amplifying and using their voices, experiences, and perspectives as the health education and promotion strategy (and the start of effective solutions) rather than the traditional “top-down” approach coming from higher-ups in the public health sector.  With the guidance of (rather than the dependency on) global and national goals and initiatives (i.e. the Sustainable Development Goals, Healthy People 2030), OMUS is reclaiming the power of grassroots and community-based participatory approaches through our research endeavors, classes, and workshops.   

We are impacting humanity by first raising awareness of the issue in our communities throughout the state of Arizona.  In turn, our efforts (and findings) will then be able to translate on a national scale, which then contributes to the global state of maternal and child health.  

The steps we are taking to achieve such impact are:

1. Continue to provide the platform and opportunity for Black pregnant women, mothers, and fathers to share their perspectives.  In this way, they are accurately represented and heard in their fight (as not being heard or listened to has been a common complaint from our community).  This also allows for cultural information and knowledge-sharing to take place among one another (i.e. during focus groups, events, workshops, classes), as well as, across socioeconomic statuses.  Altogether, such encourages and promotes self-advocacy, healthy behavior-change, and a sense of agency over one’s own health and well-being.

2. Collaborate with key stakeholders and develop cross-sectoral partnerships with other entities.  This will achieve mutual goals, as well as address critical social determinants of health.

3. Eventually, advocate at the policy level and build national alliances to create innovative strategies that center individuals and communities.