Thursday, March 21st, Brittany “Tru” Kellman, founder of Jamaa Birth Village, came to speak and kick off Generate Health’s first session in their Quarterly Coalition Meeting: “Do You Really Listen” Crucial Conversations: Maternal Health. She explained her personal journey to founding this organization, stating “Jamaa Birth Village was born out of the trauma and triumph of lived experience.” The organization centers on pre and post-natal care for women of color and their families through doulas, midwives, and other community health workers. For more information on the organization, check out their website.
After explaining her journey, Tru discussed Jamaa’s unique structure and services, such as utilization of an “open access model” where no client is turned away. She also stressed the importance of not only focusing on prenatal care, and how Jamaa extends post-partum care in their practice. As a collaborative partner of Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Tru shared key factors from the Black Paper/Setting a standard for holistic care of and for black women which includes:
(1) Holistic Care, (2) Affordable Access, (3) Sacred Safe Space, (4) Informed Consent, (5) Family Support, (6) Honoring Culture, (7) Spiritual Health, (8) Black Voices, (9) Wrap Around Care.
Click here to read the Black Paper
Attendees were given the opportunity to process what they heard and discuss ways to implement holistic care for black women and their families.
In closing remarks, Tru challenged the attendees to remember the need for long term change and solutions, keeping women low risk, and providing wrap around care. We hope you will join us at our next session of the Quarterly Coalition series- save the date for June 20th.
