April 2026

National Minority Health Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Rooted in Justice: 2026 California Birth Equity Policy Updates and Community Forum

SisterWalks is Back!!

The Center for Birth Justice and SisterWeb invite you to the next SisterWalks: Movement for Black Maternal Joy! It will take place along the San Francisco Embarcadero to center Black mamas and Black maternal health.

Whether you’re a new or expecting mother, a birth worker, or simply someone passionate about Black maternal wellness, we'd love for you to join us.

When: Wednesday, April 22, 11:45 am PT

Where: San Francisco, CA (RSVP for location)

Grand Rounds: How Can This Be Less Stressful? Black Mothers Navigating Supports for Mental Health

Join the UCSF departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Psychiatry for a special presentation by Amittia Parker, PhD, LMSW, MPA, from Georgetown University.

When Black mothers seek support for their mental health, the help they receive can be more stressful than the problems they are experiencing.

This presentation challenges deficit narratives that blame Black mothers for "underutilizing" services and instead centers their lived experiences and decision-making, rooted in justice and joy, as they navigate the continuum of maternal mental health care.

When: Tuesday, April 21, 8:00 am – 8:50 am PT

Where: Pritzker Auditorium

UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building

675 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Passcode: ucsfobgr

Introducing Our Latest LEAP Fellows!

We are excited to introduce the LEAP fellows working with us this semester. Please join us in welcoming Leilani, Sanjam, Aryana, and Carissa.

Leilani Nguyen Ly is a third-year pre-NP student majoring in Nutrition & Metabolic Biology and Public Health at UC Berkeley. (Pictured top left)

Sanjam Jajj is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Psychology and Public Health. (Pictured top right)

Aryana Adeline Valle-Portela is a fourth-year student majoring in Public Health at UC Berkeley. (Pictured bottom left)

Carissa Garcia is a junior at UC Berkeley, majoring in Public Health and pursuing a minor in Public Policy. (Pictured bottom right)

Black Maternal Health Week 2026 Events

SF Pregnancy Family Village

Kick off Black Maternal Health Week with a special edition of SF Pregnancy Family Village that highlights Black maternal health and birth justice in midwifery.

This free event for Black pregnant residents and families in San Francisco provides a reliable one-stop shop of offerings built around the community’s stated needs and engaging within environments that are uplifting, supportive, and dignified. Every second Saturday of the month from 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm.

A complementary lunch is served at noon with music, free maternity clothes, yoga, and more!

When: Saturday, April 11, 12:00 - 3:30 pm PT

Where: Bayview YMCA

1601 Lane St., San Francisco, CA 94124

Birth Justice Prom: Bloom Where You're Planted

Sure to be an unforgettable evening, guests will enjoy appetizers, a live DJ, dancing, and meaningful connections with Bay Area leaders and changemakers. Come together to celebrate a shared commitment to birth justice and the belief that every birthing person deserves safe, dignified care.

The Birth Justice Prom uplifts Black and Brown maternal and infant health by supporting SisterWeb’s San Francisco doula programs and expanding Birthland’s Oakland-based midwifery and advocacy work.

Together, these organizations invest in the next generation of doulas and midwives to strengthen families and advance equitable, culturally rooted care.

When: Friday, April 17, 8:00 pm - Midnight

Where: Ciel Creative Space

2611 Eighth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

Showering the Village: Free Community Baby Shower

Join the California Black Women's Health Project in partnership with the National Council of Negro Women, San Francisco Section, as they kick off Black Maternal Health Week with a vibrant Community Baby Shower.

This special event is designed to celebrate and support Black families with engaging workshops, valuable resources, exciting giveaways, food, and more.

Whether you are an expecting parent, a caregiver, or a community member, they welcome you to come connect, learn, and be in community with them.

When: Saturday, April 11, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm PT

Where: San Francisco, CA (RSVP for specific location)

Black Baby Doll Drive & Black Maternal Health Symposium

The Sacramento Valley Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) invites the community to the 5th Annual Black Baby Doll Drive and Black Maternal Health Symposium.

The event is for pregnant individuals and new parents, health care professionals, birth workers, community advocates, and those studying maternal and infant health.

In addition to the symposium, the organization is collecting 1,000 Black baby dolls for children in foster care.

These dolls serve as more than toys—they support emotional well-being and help foster positive self-image by reflecting the children who receive them. 

When: Tuesday, April 14, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm PT

Where: South Sacramento Christian Center

7710 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95823

2026 Safer Births Now Event Series

Commemorating Black Maternal Health Week, this series brings together experts, advocates, and authors to discuss critical topics including maternal safety, public health systems, holistic support, and pre- to postpartum wellness.

Featuring over 20 unique events curated specifically for Black birthing people and those who care for them. 

The seminars range from author readings to discussions on policy with elected officials to practical advice for parents to be.

When: April 1 to 11, 2026

Where: Virtual

Get Your Copy of Birthing While Black: A Hospital Guide

BLACK Wellness & Prosperity Center (BWPC) is celebrating the release of "Birthing While Black: A Hospital Guide."

This beautiful guide was designed to help Black mothers protect their voice, understand their options, and feel supported throughout their pregnancy.

The guide will be distributed to hospitals, doctors’ offices, community-based organizations, and other partners across Fresno, but you can also pick one up from April 13 to 17 at their office. To help manage demand, they are asking interested individuals to RSVP.

When: Saturday, April 13 - 17, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm PT

Where: 2201 Calaveras St, Fresno, CA 93721

Virtual Lunch and Learn: Connecting Los Angeles Birthing Families To Housing Protections

Join the Coalition and the South Bay Cities Council of Governments for a Virtual Lunch and Learn focused on connecting birthing families to critical renter protections and homelessness prevention resources. 

Eligible families can receive up to $36,000 in assistance over 24 months. As birth justice advocates, you are on the front lines with families at their most vulnerable. This is an opportunity to learn how to connect families to life-changing resources.

When: Wednesday, April 22, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm PT

Where: Virtual

California Reparations: What Birth Equity Advocates Need to Know

The fight for Black birth equity and reparatory justice is deeply connected — and it's time to understand how.

Join the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice and Lineage Equity and Advancement Project for an update on the current state of reparations, and the frameworks and tactics of the reparations movement.

Learn about the powerful connection between reparatory justice and Black birth equity and how these two movements can learn from and strengthen each other.

When: Friday, April 24, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm PT

Where: Virtual

Join Rafiki Coalition: Make an Impact in Community Health in SF

Rafiki Coalition in San Francisco is currently offering job opportunities for individuals passionate about advancing health equity and serving underresourced communities. Join a mission-driven team dedicated to culturally responsive care, community wellness, and impactful public health work.

The current roles they are looking to fill are:

Brianne Taylor

Mom, Program Manager, SOLARS Study

Before joining the Benioff Community Innovators program, Brianne never thought she would be conducting research. A study she worked on, on housing insecurity, led to changes in SF to prioritize housing for pregnant women.



Read Brianne's Story

Shatanya Nunn

Mom

Shatanya's baby, Lavon, arrived at 35 weeks old with multiple birth disorders, including rare genetic ones. Shatanya found support to get through the challenges through the Black Infant Health program, faith, family, and friends.

Read Shatanya's Story