The Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute will convene leaders of all levels, leveraging leadership inherent in Black communities

(Black PR Wire) DETROIT, MI — Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) is now accepting applications for its Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute. The Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute is a virtual national leadership development program designed to advance community-level leadership for racial justice and equity in maternal child-health. Leaders across the United States can now apply for the first cohort of the Institute until the application deadline on May 31, 2022.

The Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute will convene leaders of all levels, leveraging leadership inherent in Black communities to improve birth and breastfeeding outcomes. With curriculum themes influenced by conversations from Black field leaders, the Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute features eight modules: Leadership Development, Program Development, Advocacy & Policy, Cross-functional Team Building, Organizational Leadership, Content Development, Communications/Messaging, and Fund Development. Podcasts, webinars, readings, and panel discussions foster an immersive learning experience for participants who will learn at their own pace and with live instruction.  

“With more than two years of planning, I am extremely excited about the depth of thought and ingenuity that has gone into the development of the Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute.  We very purposefully centered and amplified the experiences of Black mothers, birth workers and field leaders into the design of the curriculum and execution of the Leadership Institute. We look forward to the first cohort of leaders joining us in July,” said Kiddada Green, Founding Executive Director, Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association. 

The Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute is designed to provide a maximum of 20 leaders per cohort with 40-50 hours of learning over a six-month period. Leaders will be able to interact with their peers, sharpen leadership skills, increase knowledge of subject-matter and simultaneously expand their professional network. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive recognition at a virtual pinning ceremony and a Certificate of Advanced Leadership specializing in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. 

Victoria Reese, Co-Founder of the Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute, believes the program creates necessary opportunity for Black leaders in maternal-child-health.

“As a young Black woman, I battled systemic barriers and fought to dispel stereotypes. I had the talent and skills, but lacked representation and mentorship. This Leadership Institute is a game-changer for Black leaders in the maternal-child-health field,” stated Reese.

The Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a longtime partner of Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association. Dr. Marijata Daniel-Echols, Program Officer for the Kellogg Foundation, noted the importance of community investment to improve maternal-child-health outcomes.

“In our commitment to eliminating race-based maternal and child health disparities, we know that the hardest work is done by community level servant leaders and practitioners,” stated Dr. Daniel-Echols. “That is why at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, we support those that use their passion, experience and expertise to improve the lives of children, families and communities. We know that investments that increase their access to information, networks, strategies and resources are investments in advancing racial and health equity.”

The Birth & Breastfeeding Leadership Institute is the latest virtual community created by Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association. In February of this year, BMBFA debuted its innovative app for parent clubs and their members, the BMBFA B’Right Hub. BMBFA’s Founding Executive Director Kiddada Green hopes these new initiatives celebrate Black parenthood and the intelligence of Black people.

 Learn more about the Birth & Breastfeeding Institute at institute.bmbfa.org.

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About Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) 

The BMBFA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community-based organization and the leader of many national programs aligned with the organization’s mission to reduce racial inequities in breastfeeding support for Black families. Find out more at https://blackmothersbreastfeeding.org/.