Happily Divorced And After

By Lou K. Coleman

Who lead the world in every abomination known to man. “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: who has forsaken the Lord, who has provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, who has gone away backward.” [Isaiah 1:4]. Woe unto you! Professing to be wise, became fools, changing the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Changed the truth of God into a lie, worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator.

America, being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, deceit, whispers, backbiters, despiteful, proud, boasters, disobedient, covenant breakers, implacable, unmerciful, haters of God: Who knowing the judgment of God, that what they commit is worthy of death… [Romans chapter 1]. Woe to America! Cunningly guided the world in spiritual fornication. “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies” [Revelation 18:3-5]. I tell you, you will be a curse and an object of horror, a curse, and an object of reproach; you will never see this place again. [Jeremiah 42:18]. For the judgment of God for you have reached the point of no return. Your destruction will be like an overwhelming flood, uniquely vast and deep. Overpowering. Unescapable. Unstoppable, says Almighty God.

Come near, you nations, to hear; and listen, you peoples! Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it. For the Lord’s anger is against all the nations, and His wrath against all their armies. He has utterly destroyed them; He has turned them over to slaughter. So, their slain will be thrown out, and their corpses will give off their stench, and the mountains will be drenched with their blood. And all the heavenly lights will wear away, and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; For My sword has drunk its fill in heaven; and it shall descend for judgment upon [America] and upon the people whom I have designated for destruction… Woe to America! Its streams will be turned into pitch, and its loose earth into brimstone, and its land will become burning pitch. It will not be extinguished night or day; Its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation, it will be desolate; none will pass through it forever and ever. [Isaiah 34:1-10].

At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. [Jeremiah 18:7-8].

For, I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. [Acts 20:27].

RIALTO, CA— Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. was pleased to present a transformative $2.7 million investment into the baseball fields of Eisenhower High School and Rialto High School within the Rialto Unified School District.

Supervisor Baca, Jr., adds, “This is more than just an upgrade. It’s a commitment to our students, ensuring they have access to facilities that are safe, modern, and inclusive,”

This pivotal allocation comes after both schools actively sought funding for modernizing their sports facilities. Beyond the aesthetics and functionality, the upgrades are pivotal in ensuring both schools’ facilities align with the ADA requirements set by the Division of State Architect.

Eisenhower High School was awarded funding of $1.5 million which will introduce a state-of-the-art Musco Lighting System, enhanced seating with new bleachers, revamped dugouts, and a heightened backstop for better viewer experience. Rialto High School received an investment of $1.2 million to not only equip the school with a Musco Lighting System but also focus on essential updates to their path of travel, making it compliant with ADA guidelines.

Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. reflecting on the announcement, shared, “I have a deeply personal connection to Rialto. I grew up here, attending Morgan, Frisbee, and Eisenhower schools. My bond with this community was further cemented during my tenure as a teacher at Rialto High, where I also had the honor of coaching baseball and softball.”

The Rialto Unified School District has ratified the funding contract with San Bernardino County, setting the stage for these anticipated enhancements.

NEW YORK, NY— GIRLS PREP BRONX II ELEMENTARY was the epicenter of a heartwarming philanthropic initiative led by two-time New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Frederick Joseph. Reflecting his ongoing commitment to communities and young people, Joseph generously donated $20,000 worth of essential back-to-school supplies and books to children at the school.

The generous contribution included copies of his recent work, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – The Courage to Dream,” Nike book bags, school supplies, notebooks, and stress-relief balls. Beyond the tangible items, Joseph also ensured that attendees were well-fed, providing food for the event. Recognizing the financial challenges that some families face, he went a step further by distributing $50 gift cards to parents in attendance.

“I’m from these neighborhoods in New York, and these kids remind me of myself,” Joseph shared. “I want to help provide for them some of the same things I wish people provided for me when I was that age.”

About Frederick Joseph:

Frederick’s literary prowess is evident with New York Times bestsellers like “The Black Friend” (2020) and “Patriarchy Blues” (2022) under his belt. He’s been a beacon in the literary world, gaining accolades such as the International Literacy Association’s 2021 Children’s & Young Adults’ Book Award and making the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2019. His activism, philanthropy, and poetic gifts have led to numerous honors, including the 2023 Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Vanguard Award.

Notably, Frederick’s community-driven endeavors have amassed over $50 million to support marginalized communities. His initiatives, like the #RentRelief campaign during the height of the pandemic and the #BlackPantherChallenge, resonate globally, bringing hope and change.

Eager readers can anticipate Frederick’s upcoming works, including his debut poetry collection “We Alive, Beloved,” novel “This Thing of Ours,” and the non-fiction essay anthology “Color Me Grateful.” Visit FrederickJoseph.com or @FredTJoseph to learn more.

About Girls Prep Bronx II Elementary School:

Girls Prep Bronx II Elementary School is a part of the award-winning, Public Prep network of charter schools across Manhattan and the Bronx and the nation’s first non-profit tuition-free charter school network that develops exceptional Pre-K, and single-gender elementary and middle public schools. We envision a world where every scholar realizes their greatness inside and outside of school, and where classrooms are beacons of the community, fostering courageous learners, critical thinkers, and resilient leaders with strong personal agency.

About Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – The Courage to Dream:

Set in the world of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from Marvel Studios, The Courage to Dream is an inspiring picture book about a young Wakandan finding her destiny, from two New York Times best-selling creators. The Courage to Dream tells the story of Assata, a young Wakandan who hopes to become one of the Dora Milaje, the warriors who protect Wakanda. But because of Assata’s disability, she lets go of her dream. Assata’s light shows through all the same, introducing her to surprising friends: the princess Shuri, the warrior Okoye, and the powerful M’Baku. But only Assata can give herself what she’s missing: the courage to dream.

By Antonio Ray Harvey| California BlackMedia

The Ethnic Media Conference Awards and Expo took place at the Kimpton-Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento on August 31. The event celebrated the work of journalists, podcasters, photojournalists, and investigative reporters whose contributions have been published by media outlets serving ethnic audiences across California.

The awards ceremony, sponsored by Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media, recognized winners selected from over 300 entries republished between January 1 and December 31, 2022.

“We had more awards, we had more submissions than ever, and we had judges saying this was the best we’ve ever seen. “Now, that is against the odds of remarkable,” said Sandy Close, Ethnic Media Services (EMS) Executive Director.

In all, 26 writers, communications specialists, educators, playwrights, and publishers from across the state served as the judges. The award categories were: Breaking news, commentaries, explanatory analyses, feature reports, and photography.

The Ethnic Media Conference Awards and Expo was a full day event attended by over 300 journalists, publishers, elected officials, business leaders, and others.

Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and U.S. Census Director Robert L. Santos opened the conference with messages that underscored the importance and power of ethnic media in California.

“California is the most diverse state in this nation, and it’s reflected in this room,” said Weber. “It’s reflected in our relationships with each other, and it’s reflected in our values. We will always celebrate that.”

California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) Chair Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) and CLBC’s vice chair, Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) made appearances at the event. State Controller Malia Cohen was the guest speaker at the awards ceremony and Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin participated in a plenary session.

Three plenary sessions were held. The breakout meetings were designed to discuss pressing statewide issues and how to develop public awareness campaigns that resonate with and engage all communities.

Rick L. Callender, the President of the California/Hawaii NAACP State Conference, spoke on behalf of Community- Based Organizations (CBOs) about how ethnic media covers issues that the mainstream media often overlook.

“If we cannot rely on the ethnic media and the Black press to do exactly what they are doing, to continue to report on what’s going on out there, or if we cannot partner with the ethnic media in the ways that we have; we won’t have anyone telling our stories. We need a strong, funded ethnic media,” Callender said.

“I know when I was listening to the folks from the state, we talked about the $90 million that was put into the community. Well, that’s excellent but I need to make sure that these dollars are getting to our ethnic media,” Callender added.

The final session before the presentation of awards was a Reporters Roundtable. A diverse group of journalists discussed the challenges of breaking the silence around community taboos and other sensitive issues that sometimes are left uncovered.

Ethnic media outlets are designed to cater to audiences defined by characteristics such as race, ethnic origin, religious affiliation, or gender identity.

Pan-ethnic media outlets target multiple ethnic audiences (such as pan-Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, pan African diaspora, pan-immigrant, pan people-of-color, pan LGBTQ+).

Integrated into the Ethnic Media Conference Awards and Expo was the Stop the Hate Campaign (STH). This campaign facilitates cooperation between leaders of community-based organizations and ethnic media to address inter-ethnic tensions and help communities heal from hate.

Authorized by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the STH program provides funding to qualified nonprofit organizations. These organizations offer support and services to victims and survivors of hate incidents and hate crimes, as well as their families. The program also promotes crime prevention measures.

The sponsors of the Ethnic Media Conference Awards and Expo were: Pacific Gas and Electric; BMO; SoCalGas; the California Wellness Foundation; the California Newspapers Publishers Association; Stop the Hate, Spread the Love; and Blue Shield California Foundation.

“Every time we come together like this, representing Black- owned and other Ethnic-owned media in California, we display the power we have to effect change in our communities and in our state government,” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director, California Black Media.

“The work we do in our communities is based on trust we have earned, commitment we have shown and relationships we have built over decades,” Wilson said. “Organizations can’t just show up, slap an ‘ethnic’ name on a media company and claim that they are serving our state’s diverse communities.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- A memorial tribute to Dr. Robert L. Fairley will be hosted at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1575 W. 17th Street, San Bernardino, CA on Saturday, September 9 at 10 a.m.

Dr. Micheal Andrew Owens, current pastor at New Hope and congregation will salute Dr. Fairley Pastor Emeritus’s legacy. The legendary, Inland Empire’s Dr. Robert L. Fairley served at New Hope for a total of 23 years until his retirement. The wisest, kindest, most caring community leader a congregation could ask for has passed on. A preacher, teacher, par excellent, received his crown of glory.

Dr. Fairley’s beloved family members, First Lady Mary Fairley, daughter Lori Fairley-Green, will visit and Pastor Fred Fairley’s eldest son will be the guest speaker.

Acknowledgments and well wishes for the family can be sent to New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Please contact New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Community Liaison, Beverly Jones Wright, for further details at (909) 887-2526 or (909) 434-6583.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— September is International Underground Railroad Month. When Harriett Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, there was no such thing as a hate crime; it was a crime to ‘not hate’!  The hate-habit is real and so is the effort to break it. This broadcast focuses on recognizing and reporting hate. To listen to and watch the broadcast, please visit out Facebook page.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that temporarily suspended some of the requirements of the California’s public meeting law, the Bagley Keene Act.

Newsom’s executive order allowed elected boards, commissions and other state “bodies” to hold remote meetings via teleconference without posting each official’s teleconference location (which in some cases were private homes); posting agendas at each location; or making those locations accessible to the public, as required by law.

A bill is currently being considered by the California legislature that would extend some of the changes to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act until Jan. 1, 2026.

Senate Bill (SB) 544, which was amended Aug. 14 and is currently being reviewed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, was introduced by Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) in February.

Supporters of the legislation argue that the bill saves taxpayer money by driving down the costs associated with in-person meetings by up to 90%, and that virtual meetings give access to vulnerable populations who may not be able to attend meetings in person.

One of those vulnerable populations is aging Californians.

“For many citizens, this was a way to stay active in the community,” says former Assemblymember Cheryl Brown, who is now the chair of the California Commission on Aging.

“Once we got them trained, they fall in love with it. They become engaged with their government,” said Brown.

“They want more communication, and they don’t want to be isolated,” Brown says referring to the changes SB 544 is proposing. She wants people to have permanent access to public meetings. During the pandemic, there was record participation in meetings because they were broadcast online, and people could access them by teleconference.

However, SB 544 has its share of opponents. Groups such as the First Amendment Coalition (FAC), the California Newspaper Publishers Association, California Common Cause, The Society of Professional Journalists, and other groups committed to holding government accountable have spoken out against the bill. They believe that if SB 544 passed, it would lead to more government secrecy and turn state government boards and commissions into “faceless bureaucracies.”

The FAC was one of several civic groups that co-signed a letter critical of SB 544.

“This rewriting would ensure that a state body would never again have to meet in person. This would fundamentally undermine one of the law’s key protections for public access and participation — the guarantee that the press and public can be physically present in the same room as those sitting on the dais and making decisions. Such physical presence has been a constant hallmark of democratic institutions,” according to the letter.

David Loy, legal director at the FAC, told California Black Media (CBM) he is concerned SB 544 would allow more online meetings and it would diminish elected officials’ face-to-face contact with their constituents.

He added that the governor’s executive orders about online meetings were established during the COVID pandemic – and that the health crisis is over.

According to Loy, elected officials decide public policy in these meetings. And he feels that needs to be done in-person.

“Public officials should be meeting face-to-face with the people they serve,” he said.

Sedalia Sanders, former mayor of El Centro who is currently active with her city’s local agency on aging and is active with the California Commission on Aging, disagrees with Loy.

Sanders told CBM since many of the Commission’s meetings are held in Sacramento, she participates through video conferencing.

“I don’t think anything is lost,” she said.

Sanders says participants can still see and interact with their representatives through video cameras.

“For an elected official to participate in a meeting online, the majority of the board members still have to meet in person to form a quorum,” she added.

Although born during World War II, Sanders has embraced modern technology. She has a cell phone and navigates the Internet. However, she said that not all senior citizens are as tech savvy as she is.

Many of them don’t know you have to pay for the Internet. And this can be a problem, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

Brown says that the bill’s opponents are conflating the issues, boards, and commissions are different than elected leaders voting on public policy matters, and seniors and disabled communities support this bill because it’s about inclusion, not exclusion.

“Seniors don’t want to sit back and just play pickleball,” she said. “They want to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives and remote access allows them to do that.”

Lights, wires, action! Young adults in California Conservation Corps (CCC) Energy Corps are training for careers in the clean energy sector through a year of hands on, paid service to California.

“I came into the CCC not knowing anything besides flipping on a light switch,” said CCC Norwalk Corpsmember Ole Jimenez. “Now, I know how to put things together to make electricity run.”

Corpsmembers receive industry level training during their year of paid training, including in energy surveys, lighting retrofits, and installing solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations.

CCC collaborates with California’s community colleges on the training that covers a range of topics, such as: OSHA-10, scissor/aerial lift operations, energy efficiency basics, data collection, wiring, and more.

“I wanted to do work where I can give back to the community, and that is rewarding,” said Corpsmember Janiyah Graham-Howze. “My favorite class in the CCC is on retrofit surveying. I’ve been getting more experience in it. I am getting hand-on training, so I can further my career in energy.”

Opportunities are available in the greater Los Angeles, Fresno, and Sacramento areas. The crews are currently completing energy surveys and retrofits at schools and government buildings. In the coming months, Corpsmembers will complete solar and EV installation training, as the CCC looks to meet the growing demand for these clean energy solutions and ready-to-work employees.

If you are looking to energize your career or know a young adult who could benefit from the CCC’s paid training opportunities, encourage them to apply at ccc.ca.gov today.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

What teachers think and experience in the public education system is explored in a new report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS).

The report, named “Listen to Your Teacher: An Analysis of Teacher Sentiment on the State of Public Education,” was authored by NAPCS’s Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Debbie Veney.

The Harris Poll, a market research and consulting firm, carried out the survey of over 1,200 public schoolteachers from both charter and district schools for the report.

“I think the results of The Harris Poll raises the important point that teacher voice is critical in determining the challenges we face in education, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic,” said Leona Matthews, Senior Director of Literacy Programs for Green Dot Public Schools California.

Green Dot Public Schools is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help transform public education so all students graduate prepared for college, leadership and life. The U.S. Department of Education has featured Green Dot as a national leader in school turnarounds.

“It makes it clear that charter schools provide the kind of small school, values driven environment that empowers teachers to meet the diverse needs of the students we serve.”

The NAPCS commissioned the survey to gain more insight into the teachers’ experiences, opinions and motivations for entering, staying in, or leaving the profession.

The research was conducted online from May 10 to May 30, 2023.

“Next to parents, teachers are the backbone of education. It is valuable to have insight into how they feel in today’s climate and find out how we can better support their heroic work in and outside the classroom. Although we certainly have a special interest in charter schoolteachers, we care deeply about the experience of all public schoolteachers,” stated Nina Rees, President and CEO of the NAPCS.

Based on the study, 10 Los Angeles-based Green Dot Public Schools helped students increase proficiency rates in both math and English during the 2022-2023 year. Four schools exceeded their pre-pandemic proficiency rates.

Charter schools are publicly funded independent schools established by teachers, parents, or community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority.

They are governed under a legislative contract – a charter – with the state, school district, or another entity, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE).

In April 2020, the NCES and Institute of Education Sciences released a 71-page report that Black educators were 11% of the teachers in the country’s charter schools during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Overall, Black educators make up 11% percent of the teachers in city schools but only 5.5% of the teachers in suburban schools and 3.6 percent in rural schools. The nation’s average of Black educators in the classroom is 6.3%, according to the report.

Veney, participated in a podcast focused on the study. She said that the importance of the survey was to get the 1,211 teachers to provide their perspectives (811 school district teachers and 400 charter school educators).

“This is the most important topic right now facing public education. We’re hearing all the headlines about teacher shortages, teacher resignations, and teacher dissatisfaction,” Veney said. “It really felt like we were not listening enough to what teachers were actually saying about this (or) if there was a lot of talk about teachers but not enough talk to teachers.”

The key data from the survey indicate the following trends:

Teachers Agree Families and Students Should Have Education Choice – About 4 out of 5 teachers agree that regardless of its politicized nature, public school choice is important for both families and teachers (79% of all public schoolteachers; 87% of charter schoolteachers and 78% of district schoolteachers).

Something Has to Change – Public school teachers cite student behavior and discipline issues (74%) as the top challenge they believe teachers currently face, followed by pay (65%.).

There’s Something Special About the Experience of Charter Schoolteachers – Eighty percent of charter schoolteachers say they are as or more motivated than when they initially entered the profession (vs. 34% among district teachers).

Aligning with Culture — Ninety-six percent of charter schoolteachers report feeling aligned with their current school’s culture in terms of values and beliefs about education. Only 75% of district schoolteachers feel this way.

Keep Politics Out of the Classroom – Teachers say they just want to teach (94%) and report feeling like they are caught in the crossfire of a culture war (91%).

“It amplifies a needed conversation about our educational system, how we can best support teachers, and ultimately our students.” Matthews said of the report.

Charter schools historically serve proportionately more students of color and more students from low-income communities than district schools. For a stretch of 16 years (2005-06 to 2020-21 school years), charter schools have consistently had a higher portion of students of color compared to district schools, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS).

During the 2005-2006 school year, a total of 196,851 students were enrolled in California charter schools, according to data provided by NAPCS. The movement continued each year as enrollment reached 692,783 pupils by the end of the 2020-2021 calendar year.

As of the beginning of the 2022–23 school year, more than 1,300 charter schools and seven all-charter districts are operating in California, according to the California Department of Education (CDE).

San Bernardino County has 52 charter schools, 275 in Los Angeles County has 275, 124 in San Diego County, 56 in Sacramento County, 80 in Alameda County, and 16 public charter schools in San Francisco County, according to CDE.

“I am really delighted to say that a lot of what we found is consistent and similar across both types of school settings,” said Veney referring to the charter schools and district schools.

By Dr. Melissa Franklin | Special to California Black Media Partners

Black mothers are more likely to die due to complications from pregnancy and childbirth than pregnant women of all other races. This is a shameful injustice plaguing the Black community, one that is over 400 years in the making.

Black women are 1.6 times more likely to experience more maternal mental health conditions, including prenatal and postpartum anxiety and depression, than women of other races, according to the American Hospital Association Institute for Diversity and Health Equity,

These injustices are killing Black women who are well-resourced and educated like Olympian Tori Bowie, as well as those enduring economic hardship. It is also harming their babies. And although this crisis has attracted national attention, it remains unaddressed.

For Black women, like me, who have experienced premature childbirth, the trauma and guilt of not being able to bring our babies full term can be long-lasting. Those psychological scars exist along with the other physical and mental threats to our health and wellbeing.

Both of my children were born three months early, despite my best efforts. I had a steady job, decent income, post-graduate education, a good bill of health and a stable relationship. Yet, my health and life were threatened in both of their births. One would think that such an experience would place me in a unique category. However, as a Black woman, it does not.

In Los Angeles County, Black women die at three to four times the rate of other races due to pregnancy-related complications, and Black babies die at two to three times the rate of any other race before their first birthday. Black babies are born premature at greater rates than any other ethnic group, which can lead to long-term health and developmental challenges. The Black community is also shouldering a disproportionate amount of the mental burden of tragedy and loss when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth.

To solve this problem, we must acknowledge three truths:

1. The problem is not with Black people.
2. It’s the system that is failing Black people.
3. This problem is solvable, and Black people deserve to have joyous and healthy births.

The data coupled with our lived experiences and history as Black people tells us something is amiss. College educated Black women experience worse birth outcomes (i.e., death, premature birth, health complications for mother and child) than White women with high school diplomas. Black women who are non-smokers have worse birth outcomes than White women who smoke. The root problem is also not “teen pregnancy.”

Black teens have better birth outcomes than older Black individuals.

The root causes of the problem are complex. In short, stress kills.

The stress of generations of racial harm compounded by ongoing, exposure to racist treatment, prejudice and oppression, can be deadly. This stress is especially deadly when it is exacerbated by systems of care that disrespect and withhold quality care from Black people. The social contexts that imperil Black individuals to a greater extent than other races, such as homelessness, criminal justice injustice, education system injustice, and child welfare system injustice create a perfect storm for these root causes to grow.

There is hope for change. There are a number of initiatives underway to address the racism and stress that are at the root of the problem. These initiatives range from legislation such as the Federal Momnibus Act, California Senate Bill (SB) 65 (California Momnibus Act) and California SB 464 (Dignity in Pregnancy Act) to Statewide Initiatives such as the Perinatal Equity Initiative. In Los Angeles County, the Department of Public Health’s African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Initiative (AAIMM) brings together public agencies, community-based organizations, and advocates to raise awareness and transform how systems treat Black people.

But what can a Black woman/person do if they are pregnant or want to become pregnant one day? We can reclaim justice and joy by activating a village to address the stress. Until racism, racial microaggressions and poor treatment by the health care system are resolved, mental health support from multiple places is a powerful tool we can access.

This means building a village to provide social and emotional support, and as well as advocacy during your childbirth journey. Available resources include:

Black Infant Health Program — prenatal groups that bring together Black pregnant folks in a group setting. They offer support, resources, and a coach to help you through your journey.

Doulas – birth partners who provide emotional and physical support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the early postpartum period.  Los Angeles County AAIMM Doula program provides doulas services by Black Doulas for Black families.

Group Prenatal – a small prenatal care group of pregnant women with similar due dates led by a clinician.

Home Visitation – assistance to expecting families on their journey through pregnancy and early parenting, delivered by a public health nurse or a parent coach.

Midwives, Maternity Homes and Birth Centers – Important sources of caring, quality support and advocacy.

While agencies and advocates are mounting efforts, we all have an important role. Even if you have no plans of becoming pregnant or parenting in the future, you can still make a difference when it comes to the mental health of childbearing moms.

If you know someone who is pregnant, connect them to a resource to assist them on their journeys. Be a friend and advocate. Take ACTION to show them they have a village –offer to cook/bring a meal, go with them to their appointments, provide a shoulder to lean on when they are exhausted.

While we work to make this world a less traumatizing place for Black people, we can also take steps to prevent the stress of that trauma from killing our mothers and our babies. We deserve to experience joy, abundance, and beautiful, healthy births. It is our birthright.

 About the Author

Dr. Melissa Franklin is the Director of maternal, Child and Adolescent Health at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Related Video

Chelsea, an expectant mom, and Danica, her doula, discuss the delicate connection between mental health and maternal care.  Watch the video.