Black Midwives Day

   Jamarah Amani is a community midwife who believes in the transformative and healing power of birth and that every baby has a human right to human milk. Her mission is to do her part to build a movement for Birth Justice locally, nationally and globally. 

As a birthworker and advocate, Jamarah has been tackling the epidemics of Black maternal and infant morbidity and mortality for over fifteen years. She is currently the director of Southern Birth Justice Network, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to expand the Birth Justice movement and to make midwifery and doula care accessible to all. She is also the co-founder of National Black Midwives Alliance, the only national professional association specifically for midwives of African descent. 

Jamarah is the recipient of the 2019 Trailblazer Award from the City of Miami. She has been featured in a variety of media outlets including PBS, NPR, NBC and publications such as the Miami Times and the South Florida Times among others. She has written for several blogs including the Huffington Post and is currently a fellow of Echoing Ida, a community of Black women and non-binary writers. In addition to parenting four children and jumping in the ocean whenever possible, Jamarah offers midwifery care to families across South Florida and workshops on Birth Justice to organizations across the United States. 

Haguerenesh, or “Hagi,” is a midwife, public health professional, and energy healer. She is a global health advocate focused on reproductive health and justice, an experienced birth worker in home/birth center/ hospital settings and research professional exploring the intersection of birth outcomes and environmental exposures. She is the co-founder of National Black Midwives Alliance and a collaborator on Black Mamas Matter Alliance.  

Haguerenesh holds a bachelor’s degree in medical anthropology, a master’s degree in international health&development, and an advanced practice nursing degree in midwifery.