In Washington, DC, 90% of maternal deaths occur amongst non-Hispanic Black women. 64% of these deaths take place east of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8.

Mamatoto Village founders Aza Nedhari and Cassietta Pringle witnessed these stark racial disparities and developed Mamatoto Village as an interlocking model of community care in the heart of Ward 7. To positively impact maternal health outcomes in the greater Washington, DC, area, they have been delivering two core programs: the Mothers Rising Home Visitation and Perinatal Health Worker Training programs.

Unrestricted funding from CHAP will sustain and advance Mamatoto Village’s mission-driven programming in 2023 and 2024 as the organization increases the number of families they are serving and hosts training sessions for community birth workers, community health workers, and lactation consultants. Funding will also support Mamatoto as they invest in organizational technology—by building a perinatal care management system and a virtual professional development platform—and work to develop two additional training pathways centered on advocacy and policy, and perinatal mental health.

About Mamatoto Village

Mamatoto Village is devoted to serving Black women through the creation of career pathways in maternal health; and providing accessible perinatal support services designed to equip women with the necessary tools to make the most informed decisions in their maternity care, parenting, and lives. Understanding that community-designed and culturally resonant care are effective methods of addressing the maternal health crisis, their programming works synergistically to provide and advance just and radical maternal healthcare.