Jamaa Birth Village

Jamaa Birth Village The Historic Jamaa Birth Village Cultural Heritage Center envisions a world where birth is sacred, communal and grounded in ancestral wisdom.

We preserve & elevate African diasporic midwifery through care, cultural preservation, education and advocacy. For more information please call 314-643-7703 or visit JamaaBirthVillage.org

04/06/2026

And just like that, the 2026 Summit is sold out!

The room is full and we’re getting ready to welcome you.

If you secured your spot, check your email and complete your summit confirmation form. You’re registration is not fully completed until the confirmation form is submitted.

We can’t wait to experience this with you 💜

04/06/2026

Throwback to Summit Year 2…

In 2025 summit guests met boldly in Jefferson City, Missouri at the HBCU Lincoln University, and at Missouri’s State Capitol.

We moved through those spaces together with purpose and the room felt it. 💜

Led by voices like:

Mama Shafia Monroe, Queen Mother Midwife and Doula Pioneer

Michelle Browder, Artist & Creator of the Mothers of Gynecology Monument

The Tricia Hersey, The Phenomenal Nap Bishop

And

Nana Sula Spirit, Pioneering New Orleans Doula and Priestess

And when we said, “We didn’t come to sit in the room…we came to SHIFT the room,” we meant it.

Now we’re back for Year 3.

Be in the room: moblackmaternalhealthsummit.com

Registrations are nearing capacity!

Black Doula Day is coming up on April 11th. 💜If you are a doula or love one, this is your reminder to show up, be seen, ...
04/03/2026

Black Doula Day is coming up on April 11th. 💜

If you are a doula or love one, this is your reminder to show up, be seen, and be celebrated.

We’re also excited to share that our new merch store will launch on Black Doula Day... created by Black doulas for Black doulas, where all funds will go to BLACK DOULAS!

And on April 11th at 11 AM CST, we’ll be gathering virtually for a special press conference, where we’ll be sharing more about what’s next, including an important new initiative to support Black doulas, funded by the merch store.

This moment is about community, care, and making sure doulas feel supported too.

Prepare to shop the merch and join us on April 11th.

Big thanks to our Founder Okunsola M. Amadou for founding Black Doula Day in 2022!

Let’s celebrate together. 🫶🏾

https://blackdouladay.com/

04/02/2026

Missouri’s first Black Maternal Health Summit started with a vision, proclamations & resolutions, and people who knew this work mattered.

Year 1 of the Missouri Black Maternal Health Summit brought together midwives, advocates, and leaders who have been doing this work before it became headlines and trending topics.

Our first Summit invited esteemed Keynotes & Speakers from across our nation:

Jennie Joseph, Midwife and Founder of Commonsense Childbirth

Jamarah Amani, Midwife and Co-Founder of the National Black Midwives Alliance & Southern Birth Justice Network

Mama UmmSalaamah Sondra Abdullah, Elder Midwife and one of the oldest practicing Black midwives in the U.S.

And

Corrinna Edwards, Midwife, Law Student, and Movement Builder

From Columbia, Missouri to the State Capitol for Missouri’s first Black Maternal Health Advocacy Day…we were laying the foundation.

This summit was envisioned by Okunsola M. Amadou and founded in 2022, launched in 2023, activated in 2024, and the work has continued to grow ever since.

What you’re seeing here is the beginning, and what you see today, is the flourishing of dedicated work of Black women leaders who are parents, and maternal health pioneers & trailblazers.

Tickets for this year’s summit are available now and almost sold out!

Join us: moblackmaternalhealthsummit.com

This year, we’re welcoming the multi-award winning, STL activist, Spoken Word Artist & St. Louis Poet Laureate-Pacia Ela...
04/01/2026

This year, we’re welcoming the multi-award winning, STL activist, Spoken Word Artist & St. Louis Poet Laureate-Pacia Elaine!!

As a lifelong teacher, artist, mother and organizer, Pacia is someone who knows how to shift the room, call in our collective power, and help to create long-lasting change.

At the 3rd Annual MO Black Maternal Health Summit, we’re opening Day 2 on April 17th with truth, culture, and intention.

If you’re coming, get ready to collectively activate and liberate for Black Maternal Health!

St. Louis, Jamaa fam & supporters, get your seat, registration closes April 9th: www.moblackmaternalhealthsummit.com

We are honored to welcome New Orleans Native & Multi-Award winning Poet-Sunni Patterson-to this year’s Summit, for an ev...
03/31/2026

We are honored to welcome New Orleans Native & Multi-Award winning Poet-Sunni Patterson-to this year’s Summit, for an evening of Dinner, Spoken Word Poetry and Live Music!💜

Meet us at Rustic Roots Sanctuary for a hand crafted local “Farm to Table” experience, with an African & Southern Roots inspired Dinner- after a joy filled day of activating Black Maternal Health Liberation.

Sunni Patterson is a global voice, a cultural worker, a Poet spanning 3+ decades, and a storyteller whose words create connection, healing, and truth in real time.

From the United Nations to Grammy-winning collaborations, she’s bringing that same energy to the 3rd Annual Missouri Black Maternal Health Summit.

Our Summit dinner is about to be something special!

Don’t miss the moment everyone will be talking about.✨

Register now: moblackmaternalhealthsummit.com

We’re so excited to share that this year’s 3rd Annual MO Black Maternal Health Summit will be hosted in Spanish Lake, Mi...
03/30/2026

We’re so excited to share that this year’s 3rd Annual MO Black Maternal Health Summit will be hosted in Spanish Lake, Missouri at Rustic Roots Sanctuary!🌿

We wanted a space that felt like us, grounded in community and healing liberation. A space that is open and connected to nature and Black liberatory work. An intentional space connecting each summit guest back to the land that sustains us and the Black Maternal Health movement.

So we chose Rustic Roots Sanctuary, and Rustic Roots chose us- a Black woman founded Farm space right here in St. Louis.

The year’s Summit is happening on land that reflects the deep collective care, healing, and communal led models that we’re building together.

Come experience it for yourself. Details about our summit site is available on our website below. The itinerary and agenda will be emailed to all summit guests this week. Registration closes April 9th!✨

Register now: missouricommunitydoulacouncil.com

Jamaa family, friends, and supporters, this Saturday we’re gathering right here in St. Louis.We’ll be sharing the first ...
03/27/2026

Jamaa family, friends, and supporters, this Saturday we’re gathering right here in St. Louis.

We’ll be sharing the first look at the Jamaa Birth Village documentary, for the Premiere Trailer Release-during The Future of Film is Femme- a night centered on women filmmakers and the stories shaping our communities.

You’ll also get to be in the room with Executive Producer Okunsola M. Amadou and Director Myrina Otey Myton as we introduce this work for the first time.

If you’re in the city, come be with us.

📍 The Drip Community Coffee House
✨ This Saturday | 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Reserve your seat https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-future-of-film-is-femme-a-celebration-of-women-filmmakers-tickets-1984939098276

At our Summit, we intentionally activate a closing ceremony with action, power and motivational transformation.🙌🏾There a...
03/26/2026

At our Summit, we intentionally activate a closing ceremony with action, power and motivational transformation.🙌🏾

There are some speakers who inform you…and then, there are some speakers whose voice and wisdom stays with you, shifting how you show up in the world.

This year, at the 3rd Annual MO Black Maternal Health Summit-George “Conscious” Lee Jr. is that dynamic speaker, full of wisdom, calling in change, and we are deeply honored to welcome him to STL all the way from Texas!

An educator, author, and thought leader who has built a platform of over 5 million people by speaking on history, justice, and the realities shaping our communities, “The Conscious Lee’s” work is known for being purposeful, honest, and the kind of truth that makes you think long after the conversation ends.

And yes…in a space centered on Black Maternal Health, that perspective matters, because this work requires advocates, allies, people willing to challenge systems and stand in the gap more than awareness. George “Conscious” Lee Jr. is a dedicated father, husband, and national treasure.

That’s why he’s closing the 3rd Annual Missouri Black Maternal Health Summit, in collective liberation, elevation and deep care.

We welcome you to come for the conversations and stay for the closing ceremony.

April 17th, meet us in St. Louis: moblackmaternalhealthsummit.com✨

Across African and Black diasporic traditions, pregnancy & motherhood meals focused on restorative strength building ing...
03/25/2026

Across African and Black diasporic traditions, pregnancy & motherhood meals focused on restorative strength building ingredients, that collectively increased steady energy through warm, nourishing meals prepared with love. Whole grains prepared as porridge were common because they are easy to digest, easy to source and deeply nourishing.

Think slow-cooked grains, oats and millets, with tree nuts and seeds, or fermented foods, prepared in small amounts to support digestion.

These meals were generally simple to make, were consistent, satisfying and grounding.

These recipes are cultural heritage wisdom passed down that reminds us nourishment is part of prenatal and motherhood care.

What foods have made you feel most supported during pregnancy?

We don’t sit we move!This years summit continues our tradition in mobilizing maternal health action and solutions across...
03/24/2026

We don’t sit we move!

This years summit continues our tradition in mobilizing maternal health action and solutions across the state through:

•Engaging communal field trips

•Live music, joyful celebrations and community connections

•A vibrant pep rally, standing strong on calling in the type of care, protection and support Black mothers, babies and families deserve

•Welcoming national keynote speakers igniting change and long-term positive impact

Registration for the Black Maternal Health Summit is now open!

Every year, this gathering feels like a reunion and a strategy session at the same time. It is where birth workers, mothers, advocates, and community leaders come together to learn, reflect, and move forward with intention.

With keynote speakers like Queen Afua, a visit to the Black Midwife Museum, and time set aside for advocacy and rest, this is a space to reconnect with why this work matters.

We would love to see you in the room.

Seats are limited, so we encourage you to register early and secure your place with us.

Join us at moblackmaternalhealthsummit.com.

Nasrah “Mama Osun” Smith was a Traditional Midwife, cultural steward, and elder whose life’s work bridged ancestral wisd...
03/23/2026

Nasrah “Mama Osun” Smith was a Traditional Midwife, cultural steward, and elder whose life’s work bridged ancestral wisdom and contemporary birth justice.

With more than 35 years of experience, she supported families through home births while fiercely educating them about informed, autonomous birth choices. Her work centered cultural memory, spiritual grounding, and the protection of Black birthing bodies.

Grounded in Native American, West Indian, and African American heritage, Mama Osun understood birth as sacred continuum. In 1983, her participation in the historic Black and Female conference at Spelman College deepened her commitment to collective liberation and Black women’s leadership.

She was an early member of Wa da da tena (Sisters Again) in Atlanta, the first chartered group of its kind, which contributed to the development of the Be Present Empowerment Model®. Throughout her life, she served on the board of Be Present and facilitated trainings that advanced leadership and healing spaces for Black women nationally.

As a respected member of the Council of Midwifery Elders and a guardian of traditional practices, Mama Osun poured her wisdom into generations of birth workers.

Since her passing, her life and contributions continue to be honored through an exhibit and permanent display at the Black Midwifery Museum, the African Indigenous Midwifery Museum, preserving her legacy within the story of Black birthwork.

We honor Mama Osun not only for the births she attended, but for the lineage she protected, the women she strengthened, and the traditions she refused to let disappear.

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St. Louis, MO

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+13146437703

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