Building Beloved Community for Reproductive Justice Sustainability
At a Glance
This project led by Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health, Maroon Calabash and UBUNTU Research and Evaluation aimed to develop Black women’s leadership in reproductive justice by establishing a statewide reproductive justice and advocacy nonprofit. The project successfully transformed Maroon Calabash into a statewide organization led by Black women, implemented a community doula program and advocated for policy changes including Medicaid reimbursement for doula services and expanded coverage for midwifery care.
The Challenge
Stark differences persist in reproductive health outcomes for Black women in Wisconsin when compared to other racial and ethnic groups. These inequities stem from a combination of structural racism, political influences and educational factors. Together, these barriers reduce Black women’s agency in reproductive decisions and contribute to Wisconsin having the highest Black infant mortality rate in the nation.
Project Goals
The goal of this project led by Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health, Maroon Calabash and UBUNTU Research and Evaluation was to develop Black women’s leadership in reproductive justice by creating a collective space where Black women can share knowledge, resources and experiences related to reproductive health and establishing a statewide reproductive justice and advocacy nonprofit. The impact of this project was measured by assessing the leadership development of Black women, building a membership base, and raising funds for advocacy programming.
Results
Through this grant, Maroon Calabash was successfully transformed into a statewide, Black woman-led organization focused on reproductive justice and advocacy. Unique strategies were implemented to address systemic barriers and promote equitable reproductive healthcare for African American individuals and families including an equal access community doula program. This program provided comprehensive and culturally rooted care and education to over 50 families free of cost. Five Black intersectional and full spectrum doulas, a program coordinator and an executive director were hired to support the program, and the Healing Justice Fund was started to maintain the staff’s resilience as they confront racism while helping clients access reproductive healthcare, housing, employment, food and transportation.
In addition to implementing its own program, Maroon Calabash informed the development of community doula programs in the Milwaukee County Health Department and City of Milwaukee. Additionally, the organization played a pivotal role in educating legislators about Medicaid reimbursement for doula services and expanded coverage for midwifery care. These efforts ensured the creation and implementation of culturally appropriate policies and programming that the city of Milwaukee uses to increase access to doulas and better birth outcomes for African American individuals and families. Maroon Calabash also collaborated with UBUNTU Research and Evaluation to offer two semesters of reproductive justice courses to third year UW–Madison medical students. These courses encouraged students to reflect on their individual biases, those of their instructors and the biases of their attendings while in clinical practice.
Looking to the Future
Moving forward, Maroon Calabash aims to provide enhanced care for marginalized individuals with conditions such as sickle cell anemia and endometriosis and advocate for research, innovative treatment plans and policy changes that prioritize the long-term health of Black individuals.