Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH), 855 W Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA (2026)

04/16/2026

Join us as we continue Black Maternal Health Week 2026 with an important conversation on improving care and advancing equity in our region.

🩺 Provider Engagement Project: A Practice-Level Assessment of Equity Data & Patient Feedback Systems
📅 Friday, April 17
⏰ 2PM – 3PM
📍 Virtual (Zoom)

This session will explore how maternal care practices in Hampton Roads can strengthen equity-focused data review, patient feedback systems, and quality improvement efforts to better support Black maternal health.

Led by Janaya Belcher, MPH Candidate (Joint School of Public Health, Norfolk State University), this discussion will highlight opportunities to identify gaps, build on strengths, and create meaningful change in care delivery.

✨ If you are a provider, healthcare professional, or advocate, this is a space to learn, reflect, and be part of the solution.

🔗 Scan the QR code to join us and learn more!

04/15/2026

As we continue honoring Black Maternal Health Week 2026, we’re reflecting on a powerful evening of storytelling, recognition, and community.

Yesterday, CINCH’s Black Maternal Health Equity Action Alliance hosted Voices of Black Birth in Hampton Roads: Maternal Monologues & Awards at McCombs Auditorium on the Virginia Health Sciences Campus.

Moms courageously shared their birthing experiences—reminding us why this work matters and the urgency of advancing equity in maternal health.

We were also proud to celebrate individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact in our community:

• Dr. Janell Green Smith Birth Justice Champion Award: C. Nichole Wardlaw, DNP, CNM, FACNM

• Courageous Voice Community Award: Heather Wilson

• Maternal Health Advocacy Award: Kathryn Haines

BMHEAA Impact Awards

Vision: Benita Evans, Takemia Cornegy-Hawks

Service: Beth Parker, Torka Reed, Dr. DaShaunda Taylor

Leadership: Rachel Hunley, Teresita Hammond

Unsung Hero: Kelsey Jordan, Mary Holt

✨ Honorable Mentions
• Reclaiming Blactation Team – Courageous Voice
• Nichelle Clark – Birth Justice Champion
• Elite Women’s Care – Birth Justice Champion
• Asyia Jackson / The Branches of Birth, LLC – Birth Justice Champion
• Shervon Williams – Maternal Health Advocacy

We honor your dedication, your voices, and your unwavering commitment to improving outcomes for Black mothers and families. 💛

04/10/2026

CINCH and the Black Maternal Health Equity Action Alliance are excited to celebrate the start of Black Maternal Health Week 2026—and our 2nd Annual Conference is officially underway!
This week is all about coming together as a community—lifting up voices, sharing stories, and supporting Black moms, babies, and families. 💛🖤
Whether you’re joining us in person or cheering us on, we’re glad you’re part of this movement. Let’s keep the energy going all week long!

04/06/2026

As part of a host of activities for Black Maternal Health Week (see prior posts for full schedule), the Consortium for Infant and Child Health’s Black Maternal Health Equity Action Alliance invites you to join us for an evening of hearing the stories of Black birth and celebrating our region’s champions at our Voices of Black Birth in Hampton Roads Maternal Monologues Event. The AIM CCI Black Maternal Monologues are a storytelling and awareness initiative connected to maternal health equity work—especially efforts led by the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) and its Community Care Initiative (CCI). The Black Maternal Monologues are a collection of real-life stories shared by Black mothers, birthing people, and families about their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. CINCH and BMHEAA are programs of EVMS Pediatrics.

Purpose
These monologues are designed to:
• Center Black voices in conversations about maternal health
• Highlight inequities, bias, and systemic barriers in care
• Create emotional connection and understanding for providers and communities
• Support quality improvement efforts in hospitals and health systems

We invite the entire community, as well as providers and students, to join us to HEAR the stories of Black birth and commit to being part of continued change and support to improve Black birth equity. Medical providers and students are encouraged to wear their White Coats – to let the community know “WE ARE LISTENING”.

Please RSVP! The event is free but we do request registration! https://evms.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NRfU0GaRVmCGHQ

03/26/2026

Black Maternal Health Week is almost here—and we’ve got a powerful lineup of events you don’t want to miss! 🖤🤰🏾✨

Join CINCH’s Black Maternal Health Equity Action Alliance and our amazing community partners as we come together to uplift, educate, and advocate for Black maternal health.

From community conversations to special events, there’s something for everyone to be a part of.

🔗 Check out the full schedule + registration info here:
https://cinchcoalition.org/events/month/2026-04/

03/20/2026

Say 👋" to the BMHEAA Outreach Team!

So proud of this team for showing up, building real connections, and representing BMHEAA! 💛 They connected with about 50 families at their table!

They have been out here doing the work—joining the Healthy Start Loving Steps Baby Shower on March 10 and the Bellies & Birth Workers event on March 15. Our ladies are really getting the word out and showing up for our families in meaningful ways ✨

Thank you all for what you’re doing—not just for BMHEAA, but for the families we serve every day.

03/19/2026

Registration is officially OPEN! 🎉

Join us for the BMHEAA 2nd Annual Conference:

Our Bodies, Our Birth, Our Power: Honoring the Past, Empowering the Present, Transforming the Future of Black Maternal Health

🗓️ April 10, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Norfolk State University

This is more than a conference—it’s a space to connect, learn, and uplift Black maternal health in our community. From powerful conversations on reproductive justice and mental health to honoring the legacy of Black birth workers, this day is all about education, advocacy, and action.

✨ Plus, we’re celebrating Black Maternal Health Week 2026 with additional community events you won’t want to miss!

🎟️ Register now using https://linktr.ee/CINCHEVMS?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAQpW-BleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaf45HIi5R6xNjJGchS8iwO9FrL5i8B1yOmIhixX9ucAJN_6agkvS17jTaJuYw_aem_uUHQoc8UNWGgmB3gr640RA

or scan the QR code on our flyer.

We can’t wait to see you there! 💛

03/04/2026

Happy Women’s History Month 💜

This year’s theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” honors the women transforming our world across environmental, economic, and social sectors.

Throughout this month, we celebrate the leaders, advocates, researchers, caregivers, and community changemakers who are advancing equity and building systems that support healthier families and stronger communities.

Their leadership today is shaping a more just and sustainable tomorrow.

02/18/2026

The Black Maternal Health Action Alliance is excited to share information about Voices of Black Birth in Hampton Roads: Maternal Monologues. This storytelling initiative centers Black birthing experiences to raise awareness, inform action, and help reduce Black maternal mortality. Maternal Monologues are first-person narratives of real experiences related to Black maternal health. Participants will work with a Maternal Monologues team member to develop and/or present their story in a way that feels accurate and empowering, and to share it during Black Maternal Health Week and beyond. Participants will also have an opportunity to share their stories at multiple events, including our Maternal Monologues premier on Tuesday, April 14 from 6 – 8 pm.

We are reaching out to share information about this project and to invite you and your community to participate or help spread the word. We invite individuals to share maternal monologues that reflect real experiences related to Black maternal health.

We welcome stories from:
• Mothers/birthing persons
• Their partners and family members
• Birth workers and advocates

Monologues may reflect positive, negative, or in-between experiences related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, or loss. Every experience matters. These stories will help raise awareness and contribute to efforts to improve Black maternal health outcomes and reduce maternal mortality.

Stories can be shared during Black Maternal Health Week and beyond in any of the following formats:
• A short video recording
• A live or recorded presentation
• A one-page written monologue (submitted or read aloud by you or on your behalf)

By participating, you are helping to educate, advocate, and create meaningful change in maternal health care systems.

If you or someone you know is interested in sharing your story, please complete our brief interest survey here: https://evms.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8CF4cWrgi831fE2

02/06/2026

Happy Black History Month from the Black Maternal Health Equity Alliance Action Team!

This month, we give an extra special thanks to our black birth givers for their love and unwavering strength.
Black maternal health remains our mission as we continue the work of supporting, empowering, educating, and pushing for equitable change.

This month, BMHEAA will begin highlighting events across the 757 to encourage our mission, starting with the Portsmouth Community BABY Shower on Feb 14th from 10 am -2 pm!

Registration is required to attend. Register here: https://redcap.link/ctl9rlfe

For more details, please call 757-393-8585 Ext. 8519.

01/29/2026

Yesterday, CINCH was proud to host our Annual Partners Meeting at EVMS Waitzer Hall, bringing together around 80 partners and advocates both in person and via Zoom.

We reflected on key highlights from 2025, including the BMHEAA Conference, the Bash, convenings focused on Teen Health, and the continued success of our Bright Views Social-Emotional Learning curriculum. We also emphasized the importance of centering lived experiences in our work and were honored to debut Reclaiming Blactation's, video featuring short stories from Black breastfeeding women of all ages, amplifying voices that are too often unheard.

We presented our Champion for Children’s Health Awards, recognizing individuals and programs making a meaningful impact across our region:

Child Well-Being: Arianne Mattone, Certified Passenger Safety Technician

Health Equity: Teresita Hammond, Patient Experience & Community Outreach Coordinator, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Family Maternity Center

Teen Well-Being: The YOUth Matter Program at LGBT Life Center — Isabella Velarde, Meley Tesfamariam, and Latasha Harris

A highlight of the day was our powerful panel discussion, “Priorities for Children’s Health and the Impacts of the Political, Scientific, and Economic Landscape,” featuring:

Dr. Eric Lowe, Chair, Department of Pediatrics, CHKD/EVMS

Dr. Nancy Welch, Chesapeake Health Director, Virginia Department of Health & Pediatrician

Dr. Wendy Schofer, Pediatrician & Lifestyle Physician, Family in Focus

Allison Gilbreath, MSW, Senior Policy & Programs Director, Voices for Virginia’s Children

Together, panelists helped us explore current threats to children’s health, actions that advocates and organizations can take, and how today’s political, scientific, and economic realities are shaping outcomes for children and families. We were reminded of the power of perspective, learning how dialogue can change narratives (Allison Gilbreath) and, when challenges feel overwhelming, the importance of focusing on the one good thing ( ).

Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to show up for the advancement of children’s health across our communities.

01/29/2026

🏆 Champion for Children’s Health – Child Well-Being

Please join us in celebrating Arianne Mattone, Certified Passenger Safety Technician, as a CINCH Champion for Children’s Health.

Arianne’s work ensures families have the knowledge and support they need to keep children safe on the road. Through education, hands-on guidance, and advocacy, she helps prevent injuries and saves lives—strengthening child well-being one family at a time. We are grateful for her commitment to protecting children and supporting caregivers across our community.

Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH)

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