bi3 believes every mother and young child should have access to the supports they need to grow and thrive—from pregnancy through early childhood. Much of our work focuses on reducing health gaps that impact Black women and families and serve as barriers to good health outcomes.
Held annually from April 11 – 17, Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) events focus on amplifying the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black mamas and birthing people.
2026 was the third year in which bi3 has supported local organizations to hold such events, which overall engaged nearly 300 participants.
InHer Peace Healing Day Retreat – Transformational Healing Place
The InHer Peace™ Healing Day Retreat was a community-centered wellness experience held during Black Maternal Health Week, designed to support the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of Black mothers and families. Hosted by The Transformational Healing Place, Inc., in partnership with Serenity Therapy Services, All-In Cincinnati, and Most Outgrowing, the retreat created a culturally rooted, trauma-informed space where participants could rest, reflect, and receive care.
Joy in the Village – Black Child Development Institute
The event piloted and evaluated a community-centered engagement model that aligned directly with improving the quality of life for Black families by strengthening supports from pregnancy through early childhood.
Mama’s Blessing – Cradle Cincinnati
Mama’s Blessing created a safe, supportive space for Black expectant mothers to rest, connect, and feel cared for in community. Highlights included intentional self-care stations, meaningful conversation, and opportunities for attendees to build relationships with one another. The atmosphere encouraged joy, relaxation, and sisterhood, with many mothers expressing appreciation for a space designed specifically with their needs in mind. A key takeaway was the importance of creating culturally affirming spaces where Black mothers can simply be poured into.
Motherly Love Rooted in Joy – Love in Action
The cooking class, in partnership with the Cincinnati Museum Center, served as a test for how community-centered experiences can serve as an entry point into deeper services. This affirmed for organizers:
- Combining skill-building with immediate resources (meals) and a supportive environment significantly increases both participation and retention. This reinforced that effective maternal health programming must go beyond education and directly address the day-to-day challenges mothers face
- Culturally affirming, community-based environments increase comfort, trust, and openness.
- The role of flexibility and family-centered design
Pause and Let’s Celebrate – NyNi Inc
The event aimed to shift the narrative of Black maternal health and the week, focusing less on trauma and more on collective rest and celebration for Black women. Centers leaders, birth workers, pregnant and postpartum women, and villages of support. It included a violinist, sound bowls, food, community resources, self-care kits, networking and community partner updates, and a report by the Butler County General Health District on the maternal and infant mortality numbers (which decreased).
Organizers received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with participants noting a need for more space and opportunities. As a result, NyNi Inc. plans to provide more frequent, smaller opportunities for birth workers to pause and celebrate.
Rooted in Care – Health Care Access Now
The Rooted in Care: CHWs Healing Community event brought together 57 participants for a half-day of learning, connection, and recognition during Black Maternal Health Week. HCAN intentionally created a welcoming, culturally responsive space that centered both professional development and participant wellbeing.
