SistasCaring4Sistas Fundraiser
On Saturday, April 29, SistasCaring4Sistas hosted their 1st Annual Black Maternal Health Fundraiser at Hi-Wire Brewing.
LaVie Montgomery, SistasCaring4Sistas director of operations and the fundraising committee, helped host the successful sold out red carpet event. Medical professionals, administrators, nonprofit leaders, doulas, and community members of all backgrounds were in attendance with their red and black themed attire.
Photos by Renato Rotolo
Keynote speaker Omari Maynard, of Hulu’s documentary, “Aftershock,” shared his personal story of losing his partner thirteen days after she had an emergency c-session due to medical negligence. Left to simultaneously grieve his partner’s death and navigate fatherhood alone, Omari emphasized the need for birth doulas to be on the frontline of the birth justice movement to combat the high Black and brown infant and maternal mortality rates across the nation.
The charismatic Leslie Council, Director of Health Careers at MAHEC, emceed and kept the crowd entertained. The event opened with the “Black National Anthem” performed by local musician Terry Letman. The Hypnotic Band kept the musical vibe going while attendees enjoyed food by Cooking with Comedy Catering, and delicious, logo’ed cupcakes by the AvlCakeLady.
SistasCaring4Sistas co-founder and program manager, Nikita Smart, gave the history of how SistasCaring4Sistas began back in 2016. Since April was national poetry month, Monica McDaniel, author and CEO of Wynnie’s Child Productions, recited Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” to honor the resiliency of black and brown women. SistasCaring4Sistas doula, former “Miss Asheville,” and co-owner of Asheville Pro Lash, Kahlani Jackson, reflected on her experience as a new doula going on her 11th birth, followed by Cokema King who spoke about her healthy birth experience due to the special care given to her by SistasCaring4Sistas doula and cofounder, Wakina Robertson.
LaVie Montgomery stated, “While doula services may be a luxury service for some, it is a matter of life and death for many Black and brown babies and birthing families.” She went on to say, “When planning this event, of course, raising funds was important, but I also needed three things to happen. One: Black women’s experiences and presence to be heard and seen. Two: to bring awareness to the positive birth outcomes because of community-based doulas and the anti-racist, birth equity work happening here in Asheville and beyond. And, three, to have an audience of all backgrounds who left inspired and ready to proactively contribute to our mission to eliminate racial birth disparities. Mission accomplished!”
The Black Maternal Health Fundraiser closed by giving special thanks to Melissa Baker (rest in peace), Dr. William Gist (rest in peace), Amanda Murphy, Maggie Adams McBride, Dr. Beth Buys, the expert doula trainer, Chama Woyak, former owner of Homegrown Babies, and many other community partners for their support since the inception of SistasCaring4Sistas.
