Last month was Toronto Maternal Health Week, and I had the pleasure of being a vendor at one of the events: The Ancestral Midwives Community Baby Shower. Even though I have yet to enter motherhood, the week and event offered an incredible opportunity to learn, educate, and connect with other Black practitioners, mothers, and women — all united in the spirit of community and support. We know the healthcare system has its flaws, and Black women, as I’ve experienced personally, often bear the brunt of them — facing discrimination, microaggressions, and the dismissal of our experiences and pain to name a few.

Tough conversations were had, but so were conversations filled with hope and a shared vision for the future of our health and wellbeing. That said, I don’t think these conversations are being had with the people who primarily deliver these services — and that’s a critical gap. Personally I think one week won’t change the system, but I hope it sparked something in those who attended, as it did in me. I left inspired to continue speaking up about the disparities Black women face in healthcare. I also debuted my new company, Younity Healing, which will serve as an online hub to provide more culturally responsive care for Black women — because our overall health is deeply affected by how we are seen and supported. Wellness is both internal and external, and that’s the foundation of my fitness mission and philosophy.

As I and events as such continue to raise awareness and build safe, affirming spaces for Black women, it’s clear that lasting change begins with community. By empowering ourselves and each other, we can reshape the narrative of Black maternal health — one conversation, one connection, and one act of care at a time.

Fact: Black women in Canada are nearly twice as likely to experience severe maternal morbidity compared to white women, highlighting systemic inequities in care (Shah, P.S., et al., Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 2022).

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