On Valentine’s Day, EverThrive Illinois hosted a Community Chat at the Austin Branch Chicago Public Library on the West Side of the city. The purpose of the chat is for community members to better understand the maternal mortality crisis and the factors that contribute to this crisis within communities of color. In addition, we also wanted to give people an opportunity to discuss the challenges they’re experiencing and know that they are not alone; community support is available and making these connections are important for mental and physical health.
The chat was centered around a presentation from our strategic partnership Liaison, Tamela Milan-Alexander. Tamela began the presentation by establishing the chat as a safe space: encouraging breaks when observing sensitive content, being respectful in one’s thoughts and comments and of others, and letting folks know that what is discussed in the chat will not be shared anywhere else. She then went on to discuss Maternal Mortality and how it disproportionately impacts Black birthing people and their families, due to biases within the health care system, lack of education on warning signs and symptoms, lack of support, and a cultural gap between service providers and patients that prevent understanding. Tamela gave the example of how, in the Black community, it is common to refer to diabetes as ‘sugar’ or physical postpartum issues as ‘a setback’, but doctors and nurses might not be familiar with those terms. She also brought up a point about how care is seen as an individual problem, and that a lot of people feel that if the mother passed in childbirth, she did something wrong.
The discussion led to how this problem can be addressed on a community level. Tamela emphasized that for birthing people, it is okay to not be okay and reach out for help. For people close to them, it’s important to be supportive both during and after their pregnancy; pay attention to their physical and mental state and ask questions. Access to resources was another topic that came up during the chat. Many people may recognize that they need help and/or information but don’t know that it’s available. Tamela also shared some resources providing education, support, and guidance to pregnant and postpartum people, including The Gathering and Healthy Choices, Healthy Futures. In addition, we also had vendors handing out information and resources on health care and caring for a young baby or child: County Care, SIDS IL, Access Community Health Action Network, Chicago Early Learning, Play Smart Family Learning, and Action for Children.
It is so important that people have opportunities like this to come together, learn, receive resources to help them, and just connect. It is also important to talk about serious topics like maternal mortality, pregnancy, and postpartum, not only to raise awareness but to let people know that they are not the only ones experiencing certain challenges or fears.
Our next Community Chat is Friday, March 21st at the Lawndale Christian Fitness Center (3750 W Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60623). If you are interested in attending, register here!