Earlier this year, something powerful happened in Oregon: birth workers, artists, researchers, and community members came together to celebrate Black healing, joy, and resilience through a bold new initiative—The Healing Black Birth Project.
Led by the Community Doula Alliance (CDA), in partnership with the Community Doula Program (CDP) and OSHU & OSU’s Imagining Birth Equity (I-BE), this collaborative project is more than a response to the maternal health crisis. It’s a reclamation. A celebration. A necessary act of storytelling and healing in the face of systemic injustice.
Why This Work Matters
The United States has some of the worst maternal and infant health outcomes among wealthy nations, and the burden of those outcomes falls disproportionately on Black families. These disparities persist regardless of income or education. But as the Healing Black Birth Project reminds us: racism, not race, is the risk factor.
That’s why this project is so important.
At its heart, the Healing Black Birth Project seeks to:
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Support culturally-matched doulas as essential frontline care providers
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Center stories of healing, joy, and resistance in Black birthing experiences
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Shift dominant narratives that reduce Black families to trauma alone
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Create public-facing art and data exhibitions that de-stigmatize trauma and highlight pathways to healing
A Celebration of Story, Strength, and Community
To celebrate the progress of this project and honor the communities at its center, the partners recently hosted a powerful community event:
The Healing Black Birth Gathering & Exhibit Preview.
This event brought together:
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Local doulas and birth workers
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Stories of families supported by the Diverse Doula Project
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Artists contributing to the upcoming multimedia exhibit
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Advocates, researchers, and policy leaders
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Elders and wisdom-keepers from the community
The space was filled with emotion—tears, laughter, storytelling, deep affirmation, and shared vision. It was a reminder that healing doesn’t always happen in silence or solitude—it often happens in community.
What’s Next for the Healing Black Birth Project
This is only the beginning…
Storytelling Campaign: The project will launch a larger campaign to amplify the voices and experiences of Black doulas and birthing people.
Traveling Art Exhibit: The full exhibit will open in Black-centered cultural spaces and evolve into a traveling installation with pieces housed at CDA’s HQ, where it will host monthly Nourishing Greatness gatherings for its doulas.
Ongoing Research & Advocacy: In collaboration with I-BE, the project will continue collecting data that uplifts the lived experiences of community doulas and demonstrates their impact in clinical and emotional outcomes.
A Note of Gratitude
This work could not be done without the dedication of community doulas, the wisdom of our elders, the brilliance of our artists, and the deep trust of families who share their stories. We are honored to walk alongside every single one of you.
Thank you to Meyer Memorial Trust, Community Doula Project, OSHU & OSU’s Imagining Birth Equity project. A special thanks to Dr. Cheney and Micknai Arefaine for leading the event with our Executive Director, Kimberly Porter.
To our doulas, supporters, and those following the journey—thank you. The path to equity begins at birth, and your belief in this work is planting seeds of transformation.
Stay tuned for more details about upcoming events, exhibit openings, and ways you can get involved.
– Read Dr. Cheney’s and Micknai’s abstract here
– If you are a doula or need a doula in Linn, Benton, Lincoln, Lane, Marion, and Polk counties, connect with Community Doula Program
– Support events like this with a monthly donation here
Because in the words of Maya Angelou, we all rise, especially when Black birth is honored.