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This page is dedicated to show our conference over the past 3 years. Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience Conference. This conference has been pivotal in highlighting Black Maternal Health issues in the Midwest with emphasis on Southern IL (St. Louis Metropolitan Area).
The Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience Conference was created to hold space for celebration, empowerment, education, and community-building. Our mission is to confront disparities not only through policy and data—but through joy, culture, and shared experiences that uplift and support Black families.
We bring together organizations, businesses, and leaders who share a commitment to improving birthing outcomes and strengthening community connections.
Why I Founded the Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience Conference By: Charity S. Bean
I founded the Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience Conference because I recognized a critical gap in how Black birthing experiences are discussed, supported, and honored. Much of the national conversation focuses, rightfully, on disparities, outcomes, and trauma. However, I felt it was equally important to intentionally create space for joy, dignity, healing, and celebration within Black birth and parenting journeys. I wanted a gathering that not only addressed challenges, but also uplifted the strength, wisdom, and resilience that exist in our communities.
As an advocate and leader working closely with families, birth workers, and healthcare professionals, I saw the need for a space where community voices are centered, trusted experts are accessible, and authentic connections can be built across disciplines. This conference was created to bridge gaps, between providers and families, between policy and practice, and between survival and joy.
At its core, this conference is about community care. It is designed to be free and accessible because everyone deserves support and information regardless of income or status. Each year, we intentionally curate speakers, partners, and experiences that align with our mission to improve outcomes while also restoring hope, trust, and pride in Black birthing experiences.
Centering joy is not avoidance, it is resistance, healing, and vision. This conference exists to remind us that Black families deserve not only safe births, but joyful ones—and that community collaboration is essential to making that vision real.
Year One: The Beginning of a Bold Vision
Theme: Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience
Location: Barnes‑Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing, St. Louis, MO
The inaugural Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience Conference marked the beginning of a bold and necessary vision—to intentionally center joy, dignity, and cultural wisdom in Black birthing spaces. Hosted at the Barnes‑Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing, Year One created a trusted environment where families, birth workers, advocates, and healthcare professionals could come together beyond crisis‑focused narratives.
This first gathering laid the groundwork for community collaboration, honest dialogue, and healing‑centered education rooted in lived experience.
Highlights:
Trust‑building conversations on Black maternal health
Community‑led panels and shared storytelling
Formation of early partnerships that continue today
Year Two: Black Love Is the Key
Theme: Black Love Is the Key
Location: Barnes‑Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing, St. Louis, MO
Date: April 11, 2025
Attendance: 279 attendees
Year Two built on the foundation of the inaugural conference by intentionally centering *Black Love*—love of self, love within families, love of community, and love as a driving force for advocacy, healing, and systems change.
Held during Black Maternal Health Week, the second annual conference attracted 279 attendees and featured 26 speakers, 25 sessions, and 5 content tracks. Participants represented 144 organizations across healthcare, public health, advocacy, and community‑based services.
A standout session, “Black Love Is the Key,” reinforced the theme by exploring how trust, compassion, and culturally rooted care improve outcomes for Black birthing families.
Year Two Highlights:
- 25 interactive sessions across 5 tracks
- High attendee satisfaction and engagement via the Whova platform
- Strong regional and cross‑sector collaboration
- Emphasis on mental health, holistic care, and community accountability
- Powerful keynote and panel discussions focused on equity and joy
Year Three: “Ain’t I A Woman” — Elevation, Truth, and Collective Power
Theme: Ain’t I A Woman
Date: April 11, 2026
Location: SIUE Health Sciences Building, Edwardsville, IL
Attendance: 200+ community members, healthcare professionals, advocates, and leaders
The third year of the Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience Conference marked a powerful moment of reflection, truth‑telling, and forward‑movement. Inspired by Sojourner Truth’s historic 1851 speech, “Ain’t I A Woman,” this year’s theme examined the lived realities of Black women and birthing people while reimagining a future rooted in equity, dignity, and joy.
As the only conference of its kind in the region, Year Three brought together voices from across Illinois, Missouri, and beyond to learn, heal, and build lasting relationships. The conference expanded its impact with the addition of a Stakeholder Cocktail Party, creating intentional space for collaboration among providers, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders.
This year centered not only the persistent disparities impacting Black maternal and infant health, but also the resilience, collective power, and joy that continue to fuel community‑driven solutions.
Featured Speakers:
- Shafia Monroe, Global Leader in Midwifery and Black Maternal Health Advocacy
- Dr. Lucinda Canty, Nurse‑Midwife, Researcher, and Health Equity Scholar
- Keynote Speaker: Kay Matthews, Founder of Shades of Blue
Year Three Highlights:
- 200+ attendees representing healthcare systems, public health agencies, grassroots organizations, and birthing families
- Keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions grounded in history, lived experience, and solution‑focused dialogue
- Healing‑centered programming incorporating storytelling, art, and collective reflection
- Action‑oriented conversations designed to inspire collaboration and sustainable regional change
Year Three affirmed that this conference is more than an event—it is a movement. A space where Black women and birthing people are seen, heard, and celebrated, and where joy and justice exist side by side.
