Activism

Protecting California’s Black Moms and Babies: Policies and Programs Struggle to Fix Deep-Rooted Maternal Health Inequities

“Access to doula services means that any time in their trimesters, they can have eight sessions with their doula, whether virtual, Telehealth or in-person. The doulas are with them through their labor and delivery, and can help clients, partners, families, be prepared with a birth plan, education, and understanding labor stages,” said Los Angeles-based Sister Marquita of A Sister By Your Side doula services.

Published

7 months ago

January 11, 2026

Oakland Post

Gnae Dismuske and her children.

By Charlene Muhammad, California Black Media

Gnae Dismuke experienced a miscarriage at 11 weeks in 2017 and later gave birth to three children, now ages six, four, and one month.

Dismuke says she’s encouraged that programs exist to advocate for safer birth outcomes for Black women like her. However, when it comes to actual practices of medical facilities and doctors, she has a conflicted perspective – a point of view shaped by her three birth experiences: one in a hospital, one at home, and another in a hospital.

Dismuke, who lives in Los Angeles, addressed her birthing challenges with the help of Black Infant Health in partnership with the Long Beach Public Health and Human Services Department. They supplied doulas and nurses who visited her home during her last birth and advocated on her behalf.

“The nurse was able to move mountains quickly that I wasn’t able to move with the medical industry, with just advocating for me, asking for things like physical therapy,” she stated.

Statistics show that Black women in California are three to four times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related complications. Some birth equity advocates argue that expanding access to midwifery care and certified birth doulas could help reduce these disparities. Others emphasize the need for education, noting barriers such as high costs for preferred birthing options and managing high-risk factors like hypertension and stress related to systemic discrimination.

“Doctors don’t want to see you until almost the end of the first trimester. That’s 11 to 12 weeks in. Many things could go wrong,” Dismuke said, recalling experiencing spontaneous bleeding in the first trimester for all three of her births.

“Groups like M.O.R.E. Mothers, a nonprofit maternal health-focused community-based organization in Long Beach, are part of programmatic solutions. They provide classes and workshops,” she added.

To assist mothers like Dismuke, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) added doula services to preventive services covered under Medi-Cal in 2023. Still, many mothers don’t know these benefits exist because Medi-Cal coverage is based on income, but those pregnant qualify at higher income levels than other adults.

“I thought [a doula] was for people who had money, who had private health insurance and stuff like that,” said a Medi-Cal beneficiary who asked not to be identified.

Under Assembly Bill (AB) 133, doula services were formally included as a “covered preventive service” under Medi-Cal in 2023. AB 133 was co-authored by former State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Sen. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego), a pediatrician. It built on the California “Momnibus” Act, passed in 2021, aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes among Medi-Cal members.

Doulas also help mothers understand their rights during labor and delivery, and Medi-Cal support extends postpartum care until the baby reaches one year of age.

The statistics are personal for Jade Ross, a member of Los Angeles County MotherBoard, an advisory collaborative of Black mothers working at the intersection of healing, advocacy, and sustainable systems change to create a more just and equitable world for Black mothers and babies.

“That’s why I do the work I do: so Black women can basically birth in joy without trauma,” stated Ross, while cuddling her 11-week-old infant, Kalea.

Organizers and participants of the 2025 California Black Birth Equity Summit close out the event with an uplifting a cappella performance.

“A lot of it has to do with education,” continued Ross, speaking at the 2025 California Black Birth Equity Summit in Sacramento. “I think a lot of people have certain ideas about what midwifery or holistic care looks like, or, on the other end, don’t trust the medical system.”

Held biannually, the Summit was founded by Mashariki Kudumu, a doula and public health advocate. This year, it was co-hosted by the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice and UCSF Center for Birth Justice. Themed “Rooted in Action,” the Summit brought over 500 clinicians, midwives, doulas, and policymakers together.

Sonya Young Aadam, CEO of the California Black Women’s Health Project, said, “I strongly believe that our advocacy in these spaces can make a difference. We go in and we demand the care that we need. But many of us are not even aware the disparities exist.”

Despite progress, disparities persist. According to the 2025 State of Black Birth Equity in California Report, the state continues to experience disproportionately poor outcomes, even with low maternal mortality and strong infant health outcomes.

Jennie Joseph, a British-trained midwife and summit panelist, said that Black women in the U.S.:

tend to have premature babies;
have low birth weight babies;
lose babies more frequently;
are less likely to breastfeed; and
often struggle to recover postpartum.

“This is all we’ve got. This is all we can expect. Is this the reason why Black women and families are suffering?’ No! The root causes are straightforward: racism, classism, gender discrimination. That’s it!” said Joseph.

She emphasized these outcomes are not physiological but result from systemic inequities.

“One solution is simply getting people into care straight away. We operate like the triage or the emergency room for pregnancy-related issues. We’ll get you in, we’ll sort you out, and then we’ll pass you on to whoever you want to go on to,” she said.

Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) noted at the Summit that California’s maternal health crisis includes the closure of more than 50 labor and delivery wards in the last decade, heavily impacting low-income, Black, Latina, and Indigenous communities.

Ongoing challenges include low Medi-Cal reimbursement, lack of investment in the birthing workforce, and federal attacks on healthcare infrastructure. Bonta’s AB 55, the Freedom to Birth Act, champions Alternative Birth Centers, which improve newborn birth rates, decrease cesarean births, promote successful breastfeeding, and reduce racial health disparities.

“Red tape should never stand in the way of proven solutions to deliver affordable and accessible healthcare for Californians. By signing AB 55, our state has taken a much-needed step to address the maternal health crisis,” Bonta said.

Doula Directory: Search a list of doulas in California enrolled as Medi-Cal providers.

California Black Doulas: Get a full list.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Why Peace on Earth Begins with Birth, a Q&A with Midwife Nikki Helms

Don't Miss

What You Need to Know About The 83rd Golden Globes

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant Plans Bay Area Farmers Market Initiative

Published

1 week ago

July 18, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant displays watermelons from her Sacramento farm at the Temescal Festival in Oakland. Photo by Carla Thomas.

In her 80s and still actively working as an agricultural engineer, Effie Gant continues to break barriers in urban farming and community leadership.

The certified USDA grower and respected urban farmer, based in South Sacramento, was recently spotted vending at the Freedom Farmers’ Market by the Temescal Street Fair on Saturday, July 11, where she proudly displayed dozens of sweet, juicy watermelons.

Festivalgoers gathered not only to purchase her produce but also to enjoy activities like the popular watermelon-eating contest. Yet beyond the festive atmosphere, Gant has a larger vision.

Gant is now setting her sights on the Bay Area, where she plans to launch a farmers’ market to increase access to fresh, locally grown food.

Known for her leadership in sustainable agriculture and food justice, she brings decades of hands-on experience and community advocacy to regions where food access remains inconsistent.

She has built a strong reputation through her work with Meadowview Urban Farm and the Yisrael Family Urban Farm, cultivating crops such as watermelons, honeydew melons, and collard greens. Her approach emphasizes sustainability, education, and empowering residents to grow their own food, even in small urban spaces.

As a USDA-certified grower, Gant blends technical expertise with grassroots engagement to combat food insecurity.

Beyond farming, Gant serves as CEO and President of Highways to Hedges, a nonprofit focused on environmental justice and community development. She is also president of the Hampton Station Neighborhood Association and board chairman for HHCORE, where she advocates for safety, equity, and economic opportunity.

Her proposed farmers market will connect small-scale farmers with urban communities while elevating Black farmers and other underrepresented growers.

“I want to teach the next generation about farming and how lucrative it can be,” Gant said. “You don’t need hundreds of acres. You can start with one acre or even your backyard.”Gant also noted her involvement in a collective of farmers who supply produce through government-supported programs.

“We operate as a team, and we all benefit,” she said.

Through workshops, speaking engagements, and hands-on training, Gant and her organization continue to educate communities about agriculture and food justice. Her market initiative will emphasize affordability, cultural relevance, and nutrition education.

Her broader work includes creating edible forests in partnership with Soil Born Farms, planting fruit trees directly in neighborhoods to expand food access. As a mentor with the Center of Expertise on Food Justice and Health Equity, Gant remains a leading voice in building sustainable and resilient food systems.

Gant says she welcomes the community to join her in creating a new farmer’s market.

“Farming is essential to life,” she said. “I want to train as many people as I can to use food and farming as a tool for empowerment, health, and long-term change.”

bpusa-syndication

Posts by bpusa-syndication

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of July 15 – 21, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 15 – 21, 2026

Published

1 week ago

July 18, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

From Disparity Study to Solutions: Oakland Coalition and Mayor Barbara Lee Renew Commitment to Reform City Contracting

She committed to ensuring the coalition has direct access to City leadership by designating Assistant Deputy City Administrator Chuck Baker the primary liaison. Working alongside Deputy City Administrator Sofia Navarro, DWES Director Emylene Aspilla, Race and Equity Director Darlene Flynn, and other City departments, the coalition will continue advancing these priorities while maintaining regular communication with City leadership.

Published

2 weeks ago

July 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Present at the recent meeting on implementing recommendations on Oakland’s Disparity Study on city work contracts were (first row, l. to r.): Chuck Baker, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and Darlene Flynn. Second row, l. to r.) Samuel Adams, Erica Astrella, Chadwick Spell, Cathy Adams, Stanley Cooper, Maria Wagner, Len Turner, Derek Barnes, Paul Cobb. Photo courtesy of Oakland Mayor’s Office.

Special to The Post

On June 30, a coalition of minority business leaders, contractors and others met with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to discuss the City’s commitment to implement recommendations outlined in Oakland’s Disparity Study and eliminate barriers that have historically prevented Black and minority-owned businesses from fully participating in public contracting opportunities.

Representatives of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC), National Association of Minority Contractors Northern California (NAMC NorCal), Construction Resource Center (CRC), and the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA) said the meeting represented an important milestone in a process that has been underway for several months.

On April 21, the Oakland City Council’s Life Enrichment Committee received a progress report from the Department of Workplace and Employment Standards (DWES), where Director Emylene Aspilla presented the coalition’s working document and outlined a collaborative implementation plan between the coalition and the City. That report established 30-, 60-, and 90-day objectives focused on five key priorities:

Reforming Local and Small Local Business Enterprise (L/SLBE) waiver practices
Strengthening prompt payment compliance
Improving procurement forecasting and transparency
Expanding contractor capacity building and business development
Increasing oversight, accountability, and public reporting

A series of working sessions was scheduled between coalition representatives, DWES, and the City Administrator’s Office to begin implementing those priorities but were temporarily delayed by the resignation of former City Administrator Jestin Johnson.

Rather than allowing that momentum to stall, OAACC President and CEO Cathy Adams requested a meeting with Lee to gain clarity on the City’s direction and reaffirm its commitment to implementing the recommendations contained within the Disparity Study.

Coalition leaders described the meeting as productive, candid, collaborative, and encouraging.

During the meeting, Lee spoke not only from her role as mayor but also from her experience as an 8(a) contractor and business owner, sharing that she understands firsthand what it takes to build and grow a successful company, employ a substantial workforce, compete for public work, and navigate the complexities of municipal contracting.

Mayor Lee also expressed her commitment to personally participate in future working meetings with the coalition.

“This meeting represents a renewed commitment to partnership,” said Adams. “Mayor Lee listened, engaged, and demonstrated that she wants to move beyond conversation and into implementation.”

CRC’s Len Turner said the roadmap is already in place. ““The City already has the evidence. What’s been missing is execution. …Now it’s time to deliver results.”

Mario Wagner, president of NAMC NorCal agreed that the next phase must focus on implementation, funding, and accountability.

“The coalition is ready to get to work. …The next step is ensuring these initiatives receive meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle. Just as important, the City must establish transparent reporting mechanisms that keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and accountability.”

Coalition leaders also acknowledged that while City leadership has indicated it is reviewing Local and Small Local Business Enterprise waiver practices, the community continues to seek a formal response regarding existing long-term waivers, including waivers extending 10 and 25 years. The coalition believes those waivers should be comprehensively reviewed and, where appropriate, rolled back as part of the City’s broader contracting reforms.

The coalition is also calling on the City to include meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle to support implementation of the Disparity Study recommendations and establish better methods and mechanisms to keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and transparent accountability.

The coalition’s immediate next step is to schedule a working meeting with Baker, Aspilla, Lee, and the appropriate City staff to review what has already been accomplished under the implementation framework.