"Birthing While Black" on Feb. 29 and March 7 at Douglass Branch Library from 2-4PM. This event is free and open to the public. And, our intention is to create a safe space for Black people and people of color to learn, share, and have our voices heard. We hope to attract Black birthing people in particular with hopes to create a more cohesive Black birth community here in Champaign-Urbana.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/487170252195103/
We are encouraging registration but it's not required. We would ideally like to anticipate childcare needs and provide enough refreshments. You may register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birthing-while-black-registration-87239434497
Event description: Tafi Brown and Isis Rose are hosting Champaign-Urbana's first ever "Know Your Rights" workshop for Black birthing people. Spanning two weekends, this workshop will prepare families for hospital birth by addressing racial disparities in maternal health, emphasizing consumer rights, and teaching tools for self-advocacy during pregnancy, labor, and birth. If you are a person of childbearing age, currently pregnant, or simply interested in maternal health this event is for you! This workshop will feature nurses, doulas, and midwives from Champaign-Urbana, Chicago, and Peoria who'll discuss the state of birth in Illinois where Black pregnant people are six times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. This event is free and open to the public.