HISTORY OF BLACK MOTHERS IN POWER
Black Mothers In Power (BMIP) was birthed in October 2019 as a grassroots issue campaign with Network Delaware and Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League in Wilmington, Delaware. We hosted our first event as an organization- a 3-part community listening session series at the Wilmington Public Library. We had more than 200 people in attendance.
Our main focus is addressing the disparities in maternal care for Black birthing people in Delaware. This organization is Black women-centered and led. We embrace intersectionality. We seek to center the most marginalized groups of Black birthing people and understand how power systems operate to oppress and violently attack Black bodies, historically and systematically. We are grounded in the human rights framework of reproductive justice.
We are addressing these health disparities through Community Awareness and Education, Community Programming, and Community Organizing. Our focus areas bring together communities, support Black families, and hold elected officials & hospitals accountable for their actions. In 2021, BMIP launched our first Community Based Doula Training program, received funding to start a Postpartum program (look out for it in 2022), and participated in many celebrations to acknowledge Black women and our experiences. 2021 was another amazing year for BMIP; we even received our 501c3 status!
BMIP has a lot of amazing things to offer: check out our state directory of Black Birth workers, get involved by becoming a member, and/or donate to support one of our programs or scholarships! You can learn more at the next Open House.
BMIP is also one of the founders of Delaware’s Black Coalition for Reproductive Health & Maternal Care. The other organizations are The Black Girl Health Collective, Concrete Rose Holistic, Black & Indigenous Birthworkers of Delaware, Moms Agency Inc, EmpowerHer Sacred Roots Inc, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. This coalition is also made of Black individuals in birth work or the reproductive fields. We seek to collaborate and work together to fight for Black women’s bodies in the state of Delaware.
To check out our upcoming programs/events click here!
OUR GRANTORS
Black Mothers in Power is deeply grateful to the grantors whose support fuels our mission to serve Black mothers and families in Delaware. Through their generosity, we’ve been able to address systemic racism, maternal health disparities, and housing insecurity while providing vital resources and education to our community.
We proudly acknowledge the following Grantors for their commitment to supporting BMIP’s mission and empowering Black mothers & families in Delaware:
Healthy Women, Healthy Baby Grant
State of Delaware: Prevention and Recovery Support Services Fund
Delaware Community Foundation's Community Equity Project
Delaware Health Social Services SOR 3.0 Tier Award Program
Health Equity Advancement Project (HEAP) Mini-Grant Funding Application
New Castle County Lead Ambassador and Referral Program
New Castle County- Councilmember Penrose Hollins