About

What is the California Black Birth Equity Summit?

The biannual California Black Birth Equity Summit (the Summit) is one of the largest gatherings in California dedicated to advancing Black birth equity and justice. First hosted in 2019 and again in 2023, the Summit is a highly anticipated convening for birth equity stakeholders in California and beyond. Each Summit brings together hundreds of birth equity leaders, policy and government officials, public health professionals, philanthropists, clinicians, midwives, birthworkers, researchers, and advocates to raise awareness, build capacity, deepen collaboration, and highlight sustainable strategies to support healthy and thriving Black families. The hybrid convening (in-person and virtual) features expert keynote speakers, multidisciplinary plenary sessions, interactive concurrent sessions, strategic planning, meaningful dialogue, and opportunities for networking and celebration.

Now more than ever, coordinated and bold action is needed to address the inequitable treatment, experiences, and outcomes of Black birthing families in California. The 2025 Summit will highlight promising policies, innovative solutions, cross-sector collaborations, community-led strategies, and rest and restoration practices to accelerate birth equity and justice. Summit participants will leave inspired and equipped with actionable tools to support Black families.

The 2025 Summit theme of Rooted in Action reaffirms calls for collaboration, accountability, and tangible strategies to transform systems and policies to prioritize healthy, thriving, and liberated Black families. Purposeful actions are needed to propel impactful change. The theme also honors the long history of activism and partnerships to advance Black birth equity and justice in California from midwife Biddy Mason to the establishment of the Black Infant Health Program and the implementation of the California Momnibus Act (SB 65). The Summit will be held in the California capital of Sacramento to engage policymakers and advance policies to improve Black maternal health.

Summit Objectives

● Amplify Black-led solutions to advance birth equity and justice in California

● Provide critical statewide updates on policies and programs impacting Black families

● Build attendee capacity to implement programs, policies, and care solutions for Black families

● Share actionable strategies to advance birth equity and justice

● Disseminate research and innovations to improve Black maternal health

● Compile program and policy recommendations that support healthy and thriving Black families

● Deepen collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders invested in Black birth equity

● Create space for community, healing, wellness, and joy

Who Attends the Summit?

The Summit’s intended audience is stakeholders invested in improving perinatal health for Black birthing families and eliminating racial inequities in birth outcomes. This includes public policy leaders, perinatal health clinicians, nurses, midwives, public health professionals, advocacy experts, health care leaders, community-based organizations, doulas, birthworkers, mental health professionals, health plans, philanthropists, professional organizations, researchers, lactation professionals, community advocates, health care students, and Black families.

About Summit Leadership

A multidisciplinary committee of birth equity leaders from across the state plan and convene the Summit with Kudumu Partnerships for Equity and Justice, the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, and the UCSF Center for Birth Justice (born from the UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative) serving as the backbone organizations.

About California Coalition for Black Birth Justice: The California Coalition for Black Birth Justice is a statewide organization that is committed to unifying and strengthening the Black birth justice movement. The Coalition is focused on serving as a statewide connector and convener, strengthening the Black birth justice workforce, and working with health care organizations to advance birth equity.

About UCSF Center for Birth Justice: The UCSF Center for Birth Justice lives at the intersection of research, community partnerships, and education to create positive change alongside Black and Brown families in order to end racial disparities in birth.

Planning Committee

Name	Title	Organization
Adjoa Jones	Birth Equity Unit Chief	Los Angeles County AAIMM Prevention Initiative
Aiyana Davison, CNM	Midwife	The Village House, Inc.
Amritha Somasekar	Policy Analyst	UCSF MILK Research Lab
Areca Smit	Executive Director	UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative / Center for Birth Justice
Asaiah Harville	Associate Director of Clinical Strategies and Engagement	California Coalition for Black Birth Justice
Candice Charles	Research & Evaluation Manager	California Coalition for Black Birth Justice
Chidera Onyeonwu	Program Intern	UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative / Center for Birth Justice
Curley Palmer	Program Coordinator II	County of Riverside RUHS-Public Health
Dana Sherrod	Executive Director	California Coalition for Black Birth Justice
Daphina Melbourne	Perinatal Equity Initiative Coordinator	Alameda County Department of Public Health
Esther Priscilla Ebuehi	PhD student	UCLA Fielding School of Public Health / California Coalition for Black Birth Justice
Gabrielle Brown	Maternal and Infant Health Program Manager	Black Women for Wellness
Jessica Wade	Founder / Program Director	Mighty Little Giants + Healthy Start SB
Julie Taylor	Operations Manager	UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative / Center for Birth Justice
Mashariki Kudumu	Summit Director	Kudumu Partnerships for Equity and Justice
Nasaura Miles	Operations and Engagement Coordinator	California Coalition for Black Birth Justice
Natalie Champion	Operations and Strategic Partnerships Manager	California Coalition for Black Birth Justice
Niambi Lewis	Perinatal Equity Section Manager	California Department of Public Health – Perinatal Equity
Dr. Pooja Mittal	Chief Health Equity Officer	Health Net
Selina Lao Mason	Associate Director	UCSF California Preterm Birth Initiative / Center for Birth Justice
Sylvie Wilson	Program Coordinator	California Black Health Network
Tamesha Turner	Co-Founder	Flourishing Families, Inc.