Black Maternal Health Week, observed annually from April 11th to 17th, shines brightly on organizations like KEES’ nonprofit executive search client, Cradle Kalamazoo (Cradle), a collective impact initiative of YWCA Kalamazoo. Cradle Kalamazoo stands at the forefront of efforts to improve Black maternal health outcomes, recognizing the urgent need for action and advocacy in addressing disparities in maternal healthcare. Cradle consists of 24+ Community Partners that are committed to improving birth outcomes by creating zero disparities in infant mortality between Black and White babies born in Kalamazoo.

The KEES team spoke with Cradle Kalamazoo’s Executive Director Jameca Patrick-Singleton, a KEES Candidate Placement, to acknowledge and raise awareness of this special week. “Black Maternal Health Week serves as a critical moment to elevate awareness and drive action towards improving maternal health outcomes for Black mothers,” says Patrick-Singleton.

Black Maternal Health Week:

1. What is unique about Black Maternal Health compared to other Women’s Health or Public Health topics? Black Maternal Health is unique because Black mothers and Black babies are dying unnecessarily. In Kalamazoo County (alone), Black babies are 3-4 more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies, regardless of income level. Black women consistently report feeling “not listened to” by providers universally. When you couple that with the Black maternal infant health data both locally and nationwide, this becomes a public health emergency of epic proportions.
2. What problem and solution are Black Maternal Health organizations seeking to improve? Simply put – we are trying to save Black lives,” said Jameca. “We are trying to give Black moms and babies the same opportunities for survival as their white counterparts. Getting there is complex. We are addressing social determinants of health such as access to healthy food, safe housing, and everything in between. But we are also addressing systems. Healthcare has a long reputation for minimizing Black pain and Black patients, and that costs lives. That’s an issue that’s a lot less tangible, but we are fighting every day to change the system and change the minds and hearts of those who perpetuate this type of treatment in the system.
3. Where can people seek help and support on Black Maternal Health Issues? For those seeking to support the work, gather more information, or access resources, reaching out to cradlekalamazoo.com is highly recommended.

Whether it’s advocating for policy changes, supporting community-based initiatives, or amplifying the voices of Black mothers, raising awareness during Black Maternal Health Week contributes to the larger goal of preventing pregnancy-related deaths and improving maternal health outcomes. Thank you to Cradle Kalamazoo and Jameca Patrick-Singleton for shining an important light on this initiative.

To read more about our current placements, click here. KEES (formerly Alford Executive Search) is a woman-owned nonprofit executive search firm dedicated to creating diverse teams with dynamic leadership in the nonprofit and public sectors. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including executive search, leadership development, compensation analysis, interim staffing, and HR support.