Advocate for Black Maternal Health to attend State of Union Address
Cheryl Brannan, founder of Sister to Sister International in Yonkers will attend the State of the Union for her advocacy of Black maternal health.
Seth Harrison/lohud, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
The Knoxville Black Maternal Health Conference is taking on an additional focus on paternal health and fatherhood education in its annual event.
The conference will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 13 at Pellissippi State Community College Magnolia Avenue Campus at 1610 E. Magnolia Ave. in Knoxville.
“The idea was to bring all these people together no matter what role you play in the maternal health sector to come together and talk about maternal health and the family dynamic,” conference curator Femeika Elliott told Knox News.
The conference brings together local advocates, researchers, business owners and health professionals under the theme of “Reimagining maternal health and reproductive justice: Innovation, strategy and collaboration.“
Attendees can close their knowledge gap and connect with resources, keynote speakers, wellness pods and maternal specialists providing free services, food and more.
“We want to highlight the importance of maternal health but also paternal, the father’s side, too. We really want to highlight the importance of family even if you don’t have a partner. Being able to be educated on the resources that are there for them and the whole family dynamic,” conference curator Alexis Alsup told Knox News.
Their message is that pregnancy affects not just the mother, father or close family but the entire community.
“This is our first year having a fatherhood track, so there are roughly six workshops dedicated to fathers and couples this year,” Alsup said.
James Hogue, a birth doula, will be the conference keynote speaker. Other speakers include Joel Austin, a postpartum doula, couples therapist Rex Howard Jr., Knox County Commissioner Damon Rawls and out-of-state speakers with expertise in maternal health.
Passes are $20 and are available on the Knoxville Black Maternal Health website at knoxvilleblackmaternalhealth.com.
Those who need assistance with the admission cost can email knoxvilleblackmaternalhealth@gmail.com.
