Happy 2016
 
As we enter the New Year, you can expect increased transparency from Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association. We recognize the trust and confidence placed in us by our community of supporters. We act with integrity and dignity in all situations to preserve that trust and confidence. Therefore, you can look forward to the first publishing of an annual report - for the 2015 year. All stakeholders will gain a better understanding of our work. In the report, you can expect to see information about our financial principles, practices and activities as they relate to our growth and development. We find it necessary that our stakeholders know the accomplishments that we have made with the funds that we have received. Most importantly we want you to know how these accomplishments have made a difference in the lives of the families we serve. Please look forward to receiving the 2015 Annual Report within the first quarter of 2016.
 
Community Birth Worker Initiative
W i t h   t h e   s u p p o r t   o f   a   g r a n t   f r o m   t h e   M a r c h   o f   D i m e s
M
i c h i g a n   C h a p t e r ,   w e are i m p l e m e n t i n g   t h e   " C o m m u n i t B i r t h   W o r k e r   I n i t i a t i v e " .  We are using the HealthConnect One community-based doula curriculum to train Detroit w o m e n T h i s   p r o g r a m   w i l l   f o s t e r  
g r o w t h   i n   c o m m u n i t y   c a p a c i t y   a n d   h e a l t h   c o m p e t e n c e .  The initiative will also h e l p
D
e t r o i t   m o m s   h a v e   f u l l - t e r m   p r e g n a n c i e s   a n d   h e a l t h y   b a b i e s .
     
The Board President's Address
Greetings from BMBFA's Board of Directors! We are pleased to 
share that we have shifted our focus for Board priorities this term to
strategic planning and a continuation of fundraising. We are always
looking for ways to contribute to the success and sustainability of 
BMBFA in ways that are realistic and tangible. The shift in priorities 
shows that we are conscientious about our efforts and are centered 
on growing our skill-set that will in turn enable BMBFA to 
effectively 
meet the needs of our families and stakeholders. We are 
excited 
about our priorities and look forward to BMBFA's continued 
impact for 
those we serve. Take care and hope to see you soon!

I remember the day my mother took me into her room and told me she
was sick. 

Even though her words didn't sound daunting, I remember her tone 
concerned me. She explained in language my seven-year-old brain 
could understand that for the next few months she would be in the 
hospital a lot, but everything was going to be OK. 

My mother was a nurse so the hospital was a safe place for me. But 
the place that I knew as my mother's office would turn into a very 
scary place. 

I remember her mastectomy, the bandages, the bleeding and healing 
both physically and emotionally. Following the surgery my mother 
underwent chemotherapy.  For months she was sick after each 
treatment; even the color yellow made her nauseous. 

I hadn't thought a lot about this point in my mother's life until I 
became  a mother myself.   

I   k n e w   m y   m o t h e r   w a s   s t r o n g ,   b u t   j u s t   h o w   s t r o n g   b e c o m e s   m o r e   a n d
m o r e   r e a l   t o   m e   e v e r y   d a y .   S h e   w a s   o u r   c a r e t a k e r ,   b r e a d w i n n e r ,   a n d
t h e r a p i s t ,   a l l   w h i l e   f i g h t i n g   f o r   h e r   l i f e .

M y   m o t h e r   w a s   s i c k   b e f o r e   t h e   F a m i l y   M e d i c a l   L e a v e   A c t   b e c a m e   l a w .
I n   1 9 8 9   s h e   h a d   t o   s t i t c h   t o g e t h e r   h e r   v a c a t i o n   t i m e   a n d   t h e   f e w   s i c k  
d a y s   s h e   h a d   t o   t a k e   t i m e   t o   h e a l .   B e t w e e n   s u r g e r y ,   c h e m o   a n d  
r e c o n s t r u c t i o n ,   h e r   j o b   w a s n ' t   f a r   f r o m   h e r   m i n d .

I n   1 9 9 3     t h e   F a m i l y   M e d i c a l   L e a v e   A c t   w a s   p a s s e d ,   r e l i e v i n g   s o   m a n y
  p e o p l e   o f   t h e   b u r d e n   o f   w o n d e r i n g   i f   t h e y   w o u l d   h a v e   a   j o b   t o   r e t u r n  
t o   a f t e r   t h e   p a i n   h a d   s u b s i d e d .   I t   w a s   a   h u g e   s t e p   f o r w a r d   f o r   s o   m a n y
  p e o p l e ,   b u t   t h e   r e a l i t y   o f   l o s i n g   p a y   s t i l l   p r e v e n t s   s o   m a n y   f r o m   t a k i n g
  t h e   t i m e   t h e y   n e e d   t o   g e t   t r e a t m e n t   o r   t o   h e a l   p r o p e r l y .  

For women and families there is no bigger issue than how they 
can  make ends meet while caring for themselves and their 
families. 

A t   t h e   F a m i l y   V a l u e s   @   W o r k   1 0 t h   A n n i v e r s a r y   c e l e b r a t i o n ,   G l o r i a  
S t e i n e m   s a i d ,   " T h e   w o m e n ' s   m o v e m e n t   h a s   a l w a y s   b e e n   m o r e   a b o u t  
t h e   s t i c k y   f l o o r   o f   t h e   p i n k - c o l l a r e d   g h e t t o   t h a n   a b o u t   t h e   g l a s s   c e i l i n g . "
I n   t h i s   t w e n t y   t w o   y e a r s   a f t e r   t h e   p a s s a g e   o f   F M L A ,   l e t ' s   k e e p   f i g h t i n g  
f o r   p e o p l e   s t i l l   w o r k i n g   b e t w e e n   c h e m o   t r e a t m e n t s ,   t h e   o n e s   j u g g l i n g  
d o c t o r s '   a p p o i n t m e n t s   a n d   m i d n i g h t   s h i f t s .  

L e t ' s   o r g a n i z e   a l s o   f o r   t h o s e   w h o   c o u l d   b e   f i r e d   o r   d e n i e d   p a y   f o r  
t a k i n g   t i m e   t o   g e t   a   m a m m o g r a m   o r   a   p h y s i c a l   -   o r   f o r   t a k i n g   t h e i r  
m o m   o r   d a d   t o   t h e   d o c t o r ,   o r   s t a y i n g   h o m e   w i t h   a   k i d   w i t h   t h e   s t o m a c h
f l u .   F a m i l i e s   n e e d   a c c e s s   t o   p a i d   s i c k   d a y s   a s   w e l l   a s   t o   a f f o r d a b l e  
f a m i l y   l e a v e .

O u r   w o r k   i s   n o t   d o n e   u n t i l   e v e r y o n e   h a s   t i m e   t o   c a r e .

This article also appears on the BMBFA blog here.
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