Summary

Black Women for Wellness Launches Citywide Billboard Campaign Advocating for Black Maternal and Infant Health, Empowering Black Mothers to Stand Up Against Discrimination in Healthcare

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Black Women for Wellness Launches Citywide Billboard Campaign Advocating for Black Maternal and Infant Health, Empowering Black Mothers to Stand Up Against Discrimination in Healthcare

(Los Angeles, CA / August 20, 2024) – Black Women for Wellness (BWW) is proud to announce the launch of a citywide billboard campaign aimed at raising awareness about Black maternal and infant health, with a focus on combating discrimination in healthcare. Funded by First 5 LA, this campaign features a powerful presence of our Fierce Aunties and urges Black women to advocate for their rights and dignity during pregnancy and childbirth.

The billboards deliver two critical messages:

1. Black Women Deserve Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth
   Respect. Quality Care. Empowerment. For Every Birth.
   
   
2. Black Mamas Deserve Respect in Healthcare. Know Your Rights!
   Experiencing discrimination from a medical provider? You can file a grievance.
   
   

Healthcare facilities are required to provide information to patients on how to file a grievance, a critical step in holding providers accountable and addressing discriminatory practices. BWW is committed to equipping Black women with the knowledge and tools they need to stand up against unfair treatment, emphasizing the importance of filing grievances to combat implicit bias in healthcare. Implicit bias can have a profound impact on the quality of care, or lack thereof, received by Black women. This campaign highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing these biases to create a more equitable healthcare system, empowering Black women to advocate for themselves and ensure their voices are heard.

“Filing a grievance is a powerful tool for ensuring accountability and driving change in healthcare. Our work in Maternal and Infant Health (MIH) underscores our commitment to ensuring that Black women receive the dignity and respect they deserve throughout their perinatal journey,” says Meron Shita, Civic Engagement Manager at Black Women for Wellness. 

Gabrielle Brown, Program Manager of Black Maternal and Infant Health at Black Women for Wellness, adds, “Ensuring that pregnant patients are informed about how to file a grievance is not just a legal requirement — it’s a step toward accountability in healthcare. This requirement empowers Black mothers to stand up against disparities and demand the care they deserve, helping to bring about long-overdue change in maternal healthcare.”

Billboards can be found at the following locations:

• Santa Monica & Highland
• Broadway & Olympic
• Martin Luther King & Figueroa
• Venice & Overland
• Crenshaw & Homeland
• Slauson & La Brea
• Long Beach Fwy (I-710) & Slauson
• Hawthorne & 104th
• 7th & Los Angeles Street
• La Tijera & San Diego Fwy (I-405)
• Venice & Bagley
• Get Involved: Join the Fierce Aunties Campaign

To learn more about our Fierce Aunties campaign, including how to volunteer and join the movement, visit bwwla.org/fierceaunties/.

For information on how to file a grievance, visit bwwla.org/KnowYourRights. 

About Black Women for Wellness:

Founded in 1997, Black Women for Wellness is a California-based nonprofit organization committed to the health and well-being of Black women and girls. Through education, advocacy, and leadership development, the organization seeks to empower communities and create lasting change in reproductive health, rights, and justice.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Myeisha Essex
Communications Manager
Black Women for Wellness
[email protected]