Feel Good Friday - Mamatoto Village

Today is Maternal Health Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness about the importance of safe, respectful maternal health care for all women. That makes this a perfect Friday to spotlight Mamatoto Village.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the mission of Mamatoto Village is "devoted to serving Black women through the creation of career pathways in maternal health; and providing accessible perinatal support services designed to equip women with the necessary tools to make the most informed decisions in their maternity care, parenting, and lives."

The organization addresses an urgent crisis. In Washington, D.C., Black women make up 90% of maternal deaths. Across the nation, Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Mamatoto Village was founded by co-founders Aza Nedhari and Cassietta Pringle to transform this landscape through a powerful two-pronged approach.

Their flagship program, Mothers Rising Home Visitation, provides comprehensive care teams for expectant and new parents. Working with perinatal community health workers, participants receive health education, care coordination, labor and breastfeeding support, mental health services, nutrition assistance, and parenting support during pregnancy and through the infant's first three months of life. The program serves families in D.C. and Prince George's County, Maryland.

What makes Mamatoto Village truly unique is their Mamatoto Village Academy workforce development program. Many clients who receive services through Mothers Rising return to complete the rigorous training to become perinatal community health workers, lactation consultants, and community birth workers themselves. The training takes over 160 hours and is grounded in reproductive and birth justice. Graduates either receive employment at Mamatoto Village or assistance securing employment at other community-based organizations.

Mamatoto Village has had a big impact in the community. Since they began, Mamatoto Village has served more than 3,400 individuals, trained over 250 women, and maintained a 0% maternal mortality rate! Their breastfeeding initiation rate exceeds 85%.

If you'd like to support Mamatoto Village, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation, explore their training programs if you're interested in maternal health careers, and amplify their message on social media. Follow Mamatoto Village on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their vision of healthy mamas, healthy babies, and healthy communities with your network.