California Black Media

First Partner Jennifer Siebel-Newsom Backs New State Effort Addressing Black Maternal Mortality

California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has joined forces with the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) in collaboration with the Office of the California Surgeon General to promote the state’s “Strong Start & Beyond” movement. Launched on Sept. 17, 2024, the effort aims to reduce maternal mortality in California by 50% by December 2026. African American women experience a maternal mortality rate three times higher than the state average, with the most common cause of death being cardiovascular disease.

Published

2 years ago

October 21, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

Launched on Sept. 17, 2024, the effort aims to reduce maternal mortality in California by 50% by December 2026. African American women experience a maternal mortality rate three times higher than the state average, with the most common cause of death being cardiovascular disease.

“California is uniquely positioned to build on proven initiatives that enhance maternal health and reduce disparities,” said Siebel-Newsom, as the state led a coordinated effort to raise awareness of the program and its push to impact Black women.

“We are setting critical goals to improve maternal health outcomes and creating a robust support network for mothers, from preconception through postpartum care, addressing the diverse needs of our population and setting an example for the nation,” added Siebel-Newsom.

The OCPSC manages the state’s priority community engagement and public awareness efforts. It works in collaboration with state agencies, departments, and other stakeholders to realize more inclusive and effective outcomes in statewide outreach initiatives.

Black mothers continue to experience higher rates of complications during pregnancy and suffer from maternal behavioral health conditions at alarming rates.

Every five days a mother dies due to pregnancy-related complications. Leading causes of maternal deaths are heart disease (23%), Bleeding (14%), Behavioral Health (mental illness/substance overdose) (12%), and Infection (excluding COVID-19 infections) (12%), according to the California Maternal Health Blueprint. About 62% of these deaths occur after the baby is delivered.

Dr. Diana E. Ramos, California Surgeon General, presented “Strong Start & Beyond,” during a media webinar last week emphasizing the movement’s focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes that disproportionately affect communities of color.

“The best investment in a newborn’s health is ensuring the health of the mother,” added Ramos. “By leveraging powerful partnerships and pioneering cutting-edge solutions, together we can help California mothers, pregnant people, and newborns have a strong start and healthy future.”

“Our vision is to put this in the laundromats, put this in the supermarket, wherever people are already before they’ re pregnant, so that they can then start to think, ‘wow, I didn’ t realize,’ and perhaps ‘my current health could maybe not be so healthy if I became pregnant’,” said Ramos. “We want to educate and empower individuals on their reproductive health. So, before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and then most importantly, afterwards.”

Additionally, the media webinar featured testimonials from mothers who experienced complications during their pregnancies and shared what they wish they knew going into their pregnancies.

Dr. Nzinga Graham is a practicing family medical physician working in Urgent Care in Los Angeles. She is also a mother of three and experienced complications with each of her pregnancies.

“Of course, the number one risk factor for any health complication is having had it before, so going into that second pregnancy, I should have known, I should have been aware that this was a real possibility,” said Graham. “I thought I did what I could to prevent it, but unfortunately, as Kairos mentioned, it really is our system that contributes to a lot of these health complications for women of color.”

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 13 – 19, 2026

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On the Frontlines of Hate: NAACP Links Victims to Critical Support

The NAACP CA/HI has a long and well-established record of supporting victims of discrimination and hate crimes — providing critical referrals and, when necessary, direct assistance through legal advocacy and other forms of support. Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 1, 2026

Oakland Post

NAACP members at a recent advocacy day in Sacramento urging lawmakers to protect voting rights. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

By Joe Kocurek
California Black Media

The California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP (CA/HI NAACP) has expanded its efforts to respond to rising hate incidents and civil rights complaints across California, supported in part by funding from California’s Stop the Hate Program

Through that grant, NAACP CA/HI has strengthened its ability to connect individuals experiencing hate or discrimination with critical resources. This includes referring those who file complaints to the CA vs Hate hotline, a statewide, non-emergency hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal created to help counter a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes in California between 2020 and 2024. The system helps ensure incidents are documented, and victims are guided toward appropriate support.

LaJuana Bivens says the work of NAACP is as urgent as ever. Photo by Regina Wilson, California Black Media.

LaJuana Bivens, who has served in a number of roles within the NAACP, said California has seen an increase in civil rights violations and hate-related incidents.

“We have 52 branches, and they are constantly receiving complaints,” she said. “So, without the Stop the Hate, we would not be able to refer those cases up to attorneys at the state level. A lot of the people would not have had an opportunity to be heard.”

Carmen-Nicole Cox helps survivors of hate with their legal options. Photo courtesy of Carmen-Nicole Cox.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, an attorney who works with NAACP CA/HI – as a part of California’s Stop the Hate Program – provides legal consultation to victims of hate incidents and discrimination through her legal practice, the Cox Firm for Law and Policy.

She said the complaints she receives span a wide range of issues.

“People are having home builders and landlords refusing to provide repairs, a student was denied promotion in an academic program, and targeted scrutiny at work,” she said. “It’s typically employment; it’s housing; it’s education.

“We’ll meet and they’ll share their experiences,” she said. “And then I make assessments about possible legal claims.”

According to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), nearly 1,200 reports of hate against minority groups were submitted in 2024 through the CA vs Hate hotline and online portal for non-emergency incidents.

While the California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP, which has tens of thousands of members, does not directly investigate hate incidents or crimes, it plays a key role in connecting victims to the state’s reporting systems and support services.

Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Bivens recently traveled to Sacramento to speak with state lawmakers about voting rights during an advocacy day event hosted by the organization.

“It’s just so hard for communities of color to be up to date because of all of the confusing information coming from the federal level,” she said. “I love our great state of California because here it is possible to vote by mail and to vote early.

“And I’m seeing that trying to be eroded. So, I’m here to urge continued support for vote by mail and early voting.”

When Texas moved to redraw congressional districts in ways critics said would dilute minority voting strength, NAACP CA/HI supported the passage of Proposition 50 in California. The organization also intervened in United States v. Shirley Weber, where federal officials sought access to unredacted California voter records, including Social Security numbers, raising concerns about misuse and voter intimidation.

Cultivating the advocacy and leaderships of young people is central to NAACP’s mission to fight racism and dismantle inequality. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

A federal district court dismissed that case in January 2026.

The organization’s current work builds on a long history of civil rights advocacy. Today, Bivens says, the organization’s mission remains as urgent as ever.

“We are the oldest, boldest, most feared Civil Rights organization,” Bivens said. “What we do every day is fight for better housing, education, economic development and political inclusion. We take it on because there are just so many people who need that support.

“You would be amazed that our phones ring every single day.”

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.

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