A number of our MCH students attended the 2021 Black Maternal Health Conference, hosted by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), April 16-17, online. What follows is a post from one of the attendees.
By Briasha Jones, BS
Attending the Black Maternal Health Virtual Conference was a different, but inspiring, and great experience. Previous conferences I have attended included endless oral and poster presentations and had a focus on networking and making connections. The opportunity for that was still present in this conference, but it was nice to be able to tune into the sessions and take it all in without added pressures. This was my first non-traditional, non-academic conference and at first, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it, but I walked away feeling more motivated and filled with new perspectives.
My favorite part of this conference was that while it made sure to discuss the harsh realities and daunting statistics that surround maternal health, there was also a focus on the importance of joy and creativity in Black maternal health. There was a lot of talk about how important it is to tell your stories through art, journalism, music, photography, whatever it takes! One speaker said that “creativity can get in crevices of our community…. and find solutions.” This quote stuck with me and allowed me to reflect on the black mothers in my life and how their storytelling in various ways has both inspired me and helped me along my journey thus far.
“creativity can get in
crevices of our community….
and find solutions”
One of my favorite parts of this conference was when Kelis spoke. I was surprised that she was a speaker at first and impressed with her talk as she finished. The main idea that I took away from her was about creating a legacy and example for her kids as a black mother. She spoke about, while there are generational curses that we aim to break, we have to also remember to carry on those generational blessings, legacies, and traditions that were passed down to our children or future children. She also mentioned how she believes it is so important for her children to see her being a multi-faceted Black mother and not just being what society has historically labeled Black women to be. The things she discussed may not have been directly about health outcomes but I believe that the outcomes of these things are positive ones for maternal health and mental health of Black women.
In short, this conference helped me to see how different areas such as journalism, art, digital platforms, and general storytelling contribute to maternal work. I will bring what I learned with me through the remainder of my journey! I appreciate CEMCH for making my attendance at this conference possible.
Briasha Jones, BS, is a first year MPH student concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate in May 2022. Her research interests include disparities in maternal and infant mortality, women’s reproductive and sexual health and midwifery care. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, Netflix binging, cycling classes and spending time with family!
