Reclaiming the Narrative: Black Birthing People Deserve Better and We’re Doing Something About It
By Tiffany Kelly-Gray
At Byrd Barr Place, we believe that the health and dignity of Black birthing people are non-negotiable. The stories of our community; of survival, resilience, and strength deserve to be heard, valued, and acted upon. That’s why we launched the Good Black Birth Initiative (GBBI): a powerful, community-led effort to reshape maternal health outcomes across Washington state and beyond.
GBBI is not just a research initiative. It’s a declaration.
It declares that the voices of Black women and birthing people matter.
It declares that our lives are worth protecting.
It declares that the systemic disparities in healthcare must be named, studied, anddismantled; by us and for us.
Centering Community to Build Health Equity
Led by Byrd Barr Place in partnership with the University of Washington’s ARCH Center, GBBI is Washington’s largest coordinated effort to understand the root causes of Black maternal health disparities from the perspective of Black birthing people themselves. We are building a first-of-its-kind dataset that captures both the hard numbers and the lived experiences—stories of harm, but also stories of healing.
Through community listening sessions, interviews, focus groups, and storytelling, we are learning directly from those most impacted: Black mothers, doulas, midwives, healthcare professionals, and families. This initiative is not extractive research, it is relational, affirming, and action oriented.
And what we’re learning is powerful.
We’re learning how culturally concordant care; care that reflects and respects the identity and experience of the birthing person can radically shift outcomes. We’re uncovering barriers to safe, out-of-hospital births. We’re lifting up the wraparound supports that help Black families not only survive childbirth, but thrive in the days, months, and years after.
Sharing the Work, Shifting the Systems
This work isn’t staying behind closed doors. We’re committed to sharing what we learn with everyone, because everyone has a role to play in building a more equitable future.
We’re sharing findings with Black-led healthcare organizations to guide immediate improvements in prenatal care.
We’re briefing hospital systems and policymakers to support systemic change and culturally affirming practices.
We’re publishing findings, hosting community forums, and convening statewide leaders to bring this research to the forefront of maternal health reform.
We’re supporting Black birth workers through training, scholarship pathways,=and resource investments to expand their reach.
We are not waiting for systems to change, we are changing them, together.
A Call to Action
We need your partnership.
If you believe that every Black birthing person deserves safety, respect, and joy in their pregnancy journey—stand with us.
Here’s how you can support:
Donate to fund continued research, direct support, and advocacy efforts.
Volunteer or connect your network to our events and research opportunities.
Follow and share our stories on social media to amplify this vital work.
Invite us to share this research with your organization, foundation, or healthcare institution.
The Good Black Birth Initiative is about more than just data—it’s about changing the narrative and building a future where Black birth is sacred, celebrated, and safe.
Let’s make that future real, together.
At Byrd Barr Place, we believe that the health and dignity of Black birthing people are non-negotiable. The stories of our community; of survival, resilience, and strength deserve to be heard, valued, and acted upon. That’s why we launched the Good Black Birth Initiative (GBBI): a powerful, community-led effort to reshape maternal health outcomes across Washington state and beyond.
GBBI is not just a research initiative. It’s a declaration.
It declares that the voices of Black women and birthing people matter.
It declares that our lives are worth protecting.
It declares that the systemic disparities in healthcare must be named, studied, anddismantled; by us and for us.
Centering Community to Build Health Equity
Led by Byrd Barr Place in partnership with the University of Washington’s ARCH Center, GBBI is Washington’s largest coordinated effort to understand the root causes of Black maternal health disparities from the perspective of Black birthing people themselves. We are building a first-of-its-kind dataset that captures both the hard numbers and the lived experiences—stories of harm, but also stories of healing.
Through community listening sessions, interviews, focus groups, and storytelling, we are learning directly from those most impacted: Black mothers, doulas, midwives, healthcare professionals, and families. This initiative is not extractive research, it is relational, affirming, and action oriented.
And what we’re learning is powerful.
We’re learning how culturally concordant care; care that reflects and respects the identity and experience of the birthing person can radically shift outcomes. We’re uncovering barriers to safe, out-of-hospital births. We’re lifting up the wraparound supports that help Black families not only survive childbirth, but thrive in the days, months, and years after.
Sharing the Work, Shifting the Systems
This work isn’t staying behind closed doors. We’re committed to sharing what we learn with everyone, because everyone has a role to play in building a more equitable future.
We’re sharing findings with Black-led healthcare organizations to guide immediate improvements in prenatal care.
We’re briefing hospital systems and policymakers to support systemic change and culturally affirming practices.
We’re publishing findings, hosting community forums, and convening statewide leaders to bring this research to the forefront of maternal health reform.
We’re supporting Black birth workers through training, scholarship pathways,=and resource investments to expand their reach.
We are not waiting for systems to change, we are changing them, together.
A Call to Action
We need your partnership.
If you believe that every Black birthing person deserves safety, respect, and joy in their pregnancy journey—stand with us.
Here’s how you can support:
Donate to fund continued research, direct support, and advocacy efforts.
Volunteer or connect your network to our events and research opportunities.
Follow and share our stories on social media to amplify this vital work.
Invite us to share this research with your organization, foundation, or healthcare institution.
The Good Black Birth Initiative is about more than just data—it’s about changing the narrative and building a future where Black birth is sacred, celebrated, and safe.
Let’s make that future real, together.