African American Community
Promoting supportive breastfeeding for the African American community of Minnesota
“When women are healthier, we all are healthier.”
— Dr. LaVonne Moore, DNP, CNM, CNP, IBCLC, ICEA
African American Breastfeeding and Birth Services
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Chosen Vessels Midwifery Services
Chosen Vessels provides unique, female-centered and culturally relevant lactation support and wellness services for women. Services include midwife, lactation consultations, and childbirth education serving women in the Twin Cities.
Contact Founder & CEO, Dr. Lavonne Moore, (612) 850-0016
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Roots Community Birth Center
Roots Community Birth Center offers individualized and comprehensive prenatal care, water birth, natural birth, VBAC, extensive postpartum care, and a doula internship program. Located at 1901 44th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55412
Contact by calling (612) 338-2784
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Ahavah Birthworks
Ahavah provides culturally congruent birth/postpartum doula support including home visits and mental health support (ARMHS). Located at 1007 W. Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55412
Contact ED, Clara Sharp at (763) 516-6148 or ahavahbirthworks@gmail.com
African American Breastfeeding Support Groups
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Chocolate Milk Club
A breastfeeding support group that is a part of the Chosen Vessels Midwifery Services. Join this breastfeeding support group and an IBCLC on the first Monday of each month from 7pm-9pm CST.
See the Facebook group for more information or contact Dr. LaVonne Moore (612) 850-0016.
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Club Mom
Club Mom is a community health gathering for African-American women, ages 19 and up who are pregnant and/or parenting children, 0-5 years, hosted by Ramsey County Public Health. Childcare is provided during meetings. Meetings are the fourth Monday of each month from 5pm-7pm CST.
Contact LaSherion McDonald at lasherion.mcdonald@co.ramsey.mn.us
Contact Sharron Berkley at sharron.berkley@co.ramsey.mn.us
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Club Dad
Club Dad is a monthly gathering including dinner and educational sessions for African-American men who are fathers. Ramsey County Public Health in partnershjp with Ujaama Place hosts the meetings through use of the Ujamaa Place curriculum. Meetings are the fourth Monday of every month 5pm-7pm CST.
Contact Thomas “TC” Chatman at thomas.chatmanJr@co.ramsey.mn.us
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D.IV.A. Moms
D.I.V.A. (Dynamic, Involved, Valued African American) Moms is an African-American led program designed especially for pregnant and postpartum U.S. born African American moms. Located at 895 E. 7th St. Saint Paul, MN 55106
Contact Kindra at kmcgee@mncare.org
Follow @DivaMoms2018
African American Breastfeeding Community Building
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African American Babies Coalition
The African American Babies Coalition (AABC) is a group of African American community stakeholders which include educators, nonprofit and civic leaders, researchers, childcare providers, parents and grandparents and public health professionals, from across the Twin Cities who are committed to promoting the healthy development of African American babies. Our Vision: African American families and communities will claim our cultural heritage so that our babies will thrive, excel and lead us into the future. As of July 2020, the African American Babies Coalition is a program of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation.
Located at Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 451 Lexington Parkway, N. Saint Paul, MN 55104
Phone: (800) 550-7195
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Birth Equity Community Council
Despite improvements in birth outcomes, Ramsey County continues to face disparities especially among U.S.-born Black women and men. Although the American Indian population in Ramsey County is small, disparities are evident in county and statewide data. The reduction of birth and other inequities in the social determinants of health, child welfare, corrections, and other systems, has become a strong priority of Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health, and of Ramsey County as a whole. In April 2017, the Birth Equity Community Council (BECC) began intentional community engaged dialogues, with a commitment to a collaborative process where action steps address individual, community and system level interventions and promote racial healing and equity in birth outcomes. In continuation with BECC’s commitment towards birth equity the completion of 2019 and early 2020 brought about further engagement with community members and Partners, envisioning victories focusing on three main areas: training, celebrations, and policy to drive the collaborative’s work for 2020-2023
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Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association
BMBFA’s mission is to reduce racial inequities in breastfeeding support for black families. BMBFA’s objective is to provide education, valuable resources and ongoing support to black families and public/private agencies that service these families. The Association has a Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Club , breastfeeding fact sheets, Blog, resources for families, providers, training opportunities, and is active with calls to action through the Black Breastfeeding Caucus.
Find them on:
instagram @bmbfa
Facebook Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association
Twitter @BMBFA
African American Breastfeeding Resources
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Soon to be new parents: Know your rights in the worklpace!
If you are pregnant, take pregnancy leave, or need to pump breastmilk at work, you are legally protected in Minnesota to ensure your health and safety. Know your rights resource.
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Strong Black Babies
The community’s insight drove the development of two stories about African American women and their experiences with choosing to breastfeed. These stories share two different perspectives on breastfeeding, meant to uplift and empower Black women to breastfeed their babies. Download the stories!
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Integrated Care and High Risk Pregnancy Initiative Radio Show
The Integrated Care and High Risk Pregnancy Initiative hosts a monthly streaming radio show through Twin Cities Radio Network. Previous shows can be streamed on our Soundcloud station.
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African American Babies Coalition- ICHRP
Integrated Care and High Risk Pregnancy Initiative (ICHRP) addresses disparities in the African American community when it comes to pregnancy and birth outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth, infant and maternal mortality in Minnesota.
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2021 Black and Brown Birthing Summit Report
A report created by a graphic recorder from the event in September 2021, which includes notes and key takeaways from our presenters and special guests.
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Roots Birth Stories
A blog developed by Roots Community Birth Center that highlights the support birthing famlies have received from the Roots team. Stories include complications, preparing for postpartum, natural resources, high-risk myths, water birthing, and more.
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Healthy Black Pregnancies
Serving a critical community within Ramsey and Hennepin counties, we are a voice for prenatal African American maternal and child health for the Minnesota Department of Human Services Integrated Care for High Risk Pregnancies (ICHRP) Initiative. African American families and communities will claim our cultural heritage so that our babies will thrive, excel and lead us into the future. Includes many resources.
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Nubian Moms
A service associated with Healthy Black Pregnancies for African American mothers that have high risk pregnancies, premature births, or postpartum depression. Receive a personal care navigator. The personal care navigator helps provide mothers with community resources to guide them through a healthy, nurturing, and empowering experience. We host a Birth Education Bootcamp. Call (651) 290-9258 or email nubianmoms@opencitieshealth.org
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Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)
ROSE works to normalize breastfeeding by providing resources and networking opportunities for individuals and communities. As a national expert, and in partnership with communities, we build equity in maternal and child health through culturally competent training, education, advocacy, and support. ROSE has a H.E.A.L. (Health Equity Action for Lactation) program for African American Mothers and their families, a blog, several resources and trainings.