About The National Birth Justice Fellowship
The National Birth Justice Fellowship is a leadership program dedicated to advancing community-led efforts that promote birth equity and justice. This 18-month fellowship is designed for local changemakers who are actively engaged in initiatives aimed at eliminating health inequities and injustices experienced by birthing families. The fellowship fosters culturally affirming, community-led solutions that reshape systems of health, education, and care, centering the dignity of all birthing families.
The fellowship has two primary goals: first, for each participant to make significant progress on a key birth justice project through tailored support and by applying the skills and insights gained throughout the program; and second, for fellows to work collaboratively to co-create a resource that will advance the birth justice field as a whole.
This fellowship is suited for community changemakers who are:
- Committed to advancing community power to address birth equity.
- Engaged in strong, existing partnerships supporting birth justice initiatives.
- Experienced in birth justice work or service focused on addressing structural and social injustices affecting historically marginalized populations (BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities).
- Eager to learn new approaches and explore frameworks that foster sustainable, collective action for birth justice.
- Ready to engage deeply in an intensive fellowship to advance a key birth justice project they are leading and collaborate with peers to co-create a resource for the field.
Fellows receive a stipend, personalized support, mentorship and opportunities to expand their networks and scale their birth justice work. The fellowship journey offers advanced learning around narrative change strategies, data storytelling and visualization, community engagement, building community power, and advocacy. If you are passionate about driving systemic change for birthing families and committed to transforming leadership in birth justice, we strongly encourage you to apply.
Read the Request for Applications
How to Apply
If you are interested in the National Birth Justice Fellowship, please review the Request for Applications document and submit an online application. Applicants are asked to provide at least one letter of recommendation.
Applications and letters of recommendation will be accepted until Friday, November 22, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET.
The application narrative may be submitted in written form or via audio recording. Please contact birthingjustice@bmc.org with any questions or concerns about the application and join the informational webinar on October 29, 2024 to learn more about the application process.
Learn more about the fellowship program, requirements, eligibility criteria and application process by reviewing the Request for Applications.
Apply Here
Nominate a Fellow
If you know of an outstanding candidate for this fellowship, you are encouraged to submit their nomination by completing this brief form.
Nominations are accepted but not required for consideration.
Nominate a Fellow Here
Key Dates and Deadlines
| October 14, 2024 at 9 am ET | Applications Open |
| October 29, 2024 at 12 pm ET | Optional Informational Webinar |
| November 22, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET | Deadline for Fellowship Application |
| December 2 – 13, 2024 | Finalist Virtual Interviews |
| December 2024 | Selection of Fellows |
| January 2025 – June 2026 | Fellowship period |
Award Information
Up to 5 community leaders will be selected by December 2024 to join the inaugural fellowship cohort.
National Advisory Committee
The design of this fellowship program has been stewarded by advisors from across the nation, who bring diverse perspectives and deep expertise in birth equity, community advocacy, narrative change, participatory research, and health justice:
- Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, Tufts University Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice
- Michelle Browder, Mothers of Gynecology
- Femeika Elliott, The Lotus Program and Knoxville Black Maternal Health
- Raena Granberry, California Black Women’s Health Project
- Oluwatosin Goje, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University Women’s Health Institute
- Alisha Julien-Reid, National Council of Indigenous Midwives
- Priya Iyer, Our Roots
- Sheela Maru, Mount Sinai, NYC Health and Hospitals-Elmhurst, HoPE Doula Program
- Ayesha McAdams-Mahmoud, Salesforce
- Rose Molina, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Ariadne Labs
- April Wallace, American Heart Association-Voices for Healthy Kids
- Jessica Houseman-Whitehawk, Ttawaxt Birth Justice Center
Stay Connected
Sign-up for email communications to receive regular updates regarding the fellowship program and adjacent opportunities.
Sign-Up for Our Mailing List Here
Contact Information
Please contact us at birthingjustice@bmc.org with any questions.
This fellowship is supported by a grant from The Wagner Foundation