Mothering Together | Episode 1 – Birth Stories🎙️
Welcome to “Mothering Together,” an original podcast series part of the Maternal Outreach Movement, powered by Birthing Beautiful Communities. In this episode, Ro and Bijou dive deep into unique and powerful birth stories, featuring natural births, C-sections, and home births. Joining them is Jazmin Long, CEO of Birthing Beautiful Communities.
Jeff Bezos’ Ex-wife MacKenzie Scott Is Going Viral for Using Part of Her Fortune to Help Black Maternal Health
After divorcing Jeff Bezos in 2019, MacKenzie Scott has been showing everyone that you can and should donate to important causes, especially when you have money out of the wazoo. This time, her latest donation is going viral on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
Recently, Scott donated a $2 million grant to the Birthing Beautiful Communities, which is a doula program in Ohio dedicated to Black mothers, babies, and families.
BBC’s President & CEO, Jazmin Long said, via Black Enterprise, “We’re overjoyed and deeply grateful for this transformative gift from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call. This generous support propels Birthing Beautiful Communities into an exciting new chapter, empowering us to amplify our impact and further our mission of ensuring every mother, baby, and family receives the care and support they deserve.”
Long added, “With this funding, we’re poised to continue transforming maternal health outcomes in Northeast Ohio and beyond, ushering in a future where every birth is a beautiful and healthy experience.”
BBC provides families by helping mothers through the pregnanct, labor, and helping with the first year of the baby’s life.
The CDC revealed over 80 percent of maternal mortality deaths are preventable, and after Roe v Wade was overturned, it’s only worsened. The organization found that the group most affected by maternal mortality is Black people, saying “Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women.”
The reason behind this varies, with the biggest issues with lack of quality healthcare, structural racism, and implicit bias, to name a few.
Per Kiplinger, after Scott landed a $38 billion settlement from Bezos, it made her the richest woman in the world. As of 2024, she has given away at least $650 million, gifting $1M to $2M to over 360 nonprofit groups. Along with helping maternal mortality rates decrease, she has donated money to arts, education, affordable housing, public health, and more.
SheKnows.com | Delilah Gray
The Village of Joy: A new birth for Birthing Beautiful Communities
Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC) will soon open the only Black-led freestanding birthing center in Ohio under the leadership of its CEO, Jazmin Long in May 2025. BBC offers a doula program uniquely dedicated to supporting Black mothers and infants by addressing social, economic, and structural determinants of health, such as systemic racism, that cause poor birth outcomes. It provides labor support, mental health, transportation and other supportive services to individuals and families throughout pregnancy and up to the first year following childbirth.
Birthing Beautiful Community’s new facility in Hough
The new birth center will be in the Hough community, where BBC’s work first began because it is a neighborhood that is highly impacted with an infant mortality rate that is four times the national rate. Its location will be at the intersection of East 65th Street and Chester Avenue, a site intentionally chosen because of its cultural significance to the community.
This 10,000 square foot facility will offer a more natural birthing experience in a home-like environment. Like other freestanding birth centers, one important feature is holistic care being provided by midwives with the assistance of doulas. Providers at BBC’s freestanding birth center will utilize less medical interventions in the attempt to reduce the chances of using other procedures such as inductions, epidurals, or C-sections that are not always necessary for moms and infants.
Benefits such as improving access to more affordable care and fewer medical interventions can lead to more positive birthing experiences and improved mental health and birthing outcomes for Black women and infants in the community.
Birth centers and hospital partnerships
BBC will partner with hospitals to provide support for women who may eventually need more medical interventions. Other services at the new center will also include pre-and postnatal visits and gynecological care for all women. In addition to the center, BBC has partnered with Village of Healing since the summer of 2023 to offer a 2-year doula-midwife program to explore how combining the benefits of both can reduce infant mortality.
BBC and its collaboration with Village of Healing will allow both organizations to continue the amazing, lifesaving work they do in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio for those who are at the highest risk for maternal and infant mortality. Benefits such as improving access to more affordable care and fewer medical interventions can lead to more positive birthing experiences and improved mental health and birthing outcomes for Black women and infants in the community.
The Center for Community Solutions | Taneisha Fair, Associate, Racial Equity
FY23 Annual Report
It Takes A Village -- This is our Village of Joy
On October 12th, BBC held our annual meeting to share the progress we have achieved this fiscal year. The work could not be done without the support of our community, our doulas and staff, and our donors. Our annual report highlights a few stories from our clients and their doulas; it also celebrates our team and honors our generous donors.
Psst! You can view our featured video at the end of the report by click on the text "Village of Joy"!
Support BBC this weekend at Kendra Scott - March 17 through March 19, 2023
Got plans this weekend?
If not, save the date and stop by Kendra Scott boutique in Woodmere, OH between March 17-19th for some sips, sweets, and jewels! Kendra Scott will be hosting a Kendra Gives Back fundraiser where they will dedicate 20% of their proceeds from this weekend to Birthing Beautiful Communities.
On Saturday, March 18th, BBC will be present at the boutique from 12-3pm for a shopping party where we will share more about our current work with mothers and babies. Join us for the event at: 28699 Chagrin Blvd, Woodmere, OH 44122.
Can't make it in-person but still want to support BBC? No problem! You can shop online from March 17th - 19th and be sure to use our online code: GIVEBACK-DQMMR
BBC MiraCLE Flier - FINAL
Birthing Beautiful Communities Present MiraCLE: Celebrating Those That Give Life, Love & Support
We're excited to present MiraCLE: Celebrating Those That Give Life, Love & Support on Saturday, November 12th! This celebration will honor four community leaders working to advance maternal and infant health in our region while raising funds for Birthing Beautiful Communities. To learn more about this event and sponsorship oppotunities, please visit www.birthingbeautiful.org/miracle/.