A Celebration of Black Kin Conference
This inaugural Black Maternal Health Week Conference, A Celebration of Black Kin, will take place April 11-17 of this year, during Black Maternal Health Week and primarily virtually, to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Creating a virtual conference has the benefit of being accessible to a wide audience of people across the state and nation who want to learn more.
Unlike any conference that’s taken place in Iowa, this event will celebrate community expertise and uplift joyful stories of reproductive health for Black people in Iowa. This event centers folks across the African diaspora, of any gender and sexuality, with a range of abilities and bodies, and welcomes anyone who is interested in reproductive justice issues to attend.
Celebration Schedule
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Sunday, April 11th
Children’s Storytime + Giveaway w/ StoryHouse Bookpub
Reproductive Justice Townhall
Monday, April 12th
Provider Panel: Angela Bolden-Mickens, RN; Ayah Bilbesi, DDS; Dr. Stephen Pedron; Sarah Bradbury, CNM; Sabbath Schrader, RN
State of VBAC in Iowa + storyteller w/ ICAN of Central Iowa
Tuesday, April 13th
Taboo Talk: w/ Whole Damn Woman
Abortion Support Circle w/ Iowa Abortion Access Fund
Securing the Baby Bag: w/ Shannon Simone Sellers
Wednesday, April 14th
LGBTQ Reproductive Health w/ Iowa Queer Communities of Color Coalition
Statewide Policy Overview w/ Iowa Department of Public Health
Drop-in Reproductive Justice Townhall
Thursday, April 15th
Ashtanga Yoga: Jamia Jordan
Free Up! Dance: Naya Thomas
Friday, April 16th
Iowa Black Doulas panel: Scout Wild Awake, Jazzmine Brooks, Ebonie Bailey, Linda Brown, Naya Thomas
Redefining the Full Spectrum Doula Workshop: Scout Wild Awake
“Happy” Hour Conference Kickoff: Linda Brown
Saturday, April 17th
THE MAIN EVENT
Pre-conference Movement: Naya Thomas
Advocacy Panel + breakout sessions: Tira Mays, Dalia Kinsey, Destinee Woodris, Jeanine Logan, Kei-Che Randle
Self-Centered: Rebirthing Sovereignty: Charlyn Magdaline Griffith-Oro
Keynote: Olivia Samples
Birthstorytelling panel + breakout sessions: Latoya Blake, Paula Mahone, Oriana Lee, D. Anya, Janiecia McCaleb
Parenting Panel + breakout sessions: Luana Nelson-Brown, Christina Springer, Dr. Rosenna Bakari, Lindsey Pruett-Hornbaker
Post-Conference Celebration: DJTMAXDAKID
#BlackKinDSM