Vision

To advance maternal and reproductive health equity and justice through multidisciplinary research, training, practice and policy efforts focused on Black birthing people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (PA) and the surrounding region. 

Overall Aims: 

• Aim 1: Advance interdisciplinary research guided by Reproductive Justice (RJ) and Public Health Critical Race Praxis (PHCRP) frameworks that will help us identify and ameliorate the causes and consequences of adverse maternal and reproductive health and well-being for Black people.  

• Aim 2: Develop, implement and evaluate multi-level (individual, community, institutional, structural) interventions designed to improve maternal, reproductive and perinatal health and well-being.  

• Aim 3: Implement training and education for EMBRACE partners (e.g., researchers, clinicians, birth workers, community leaders) involved in the collective care of the maternal and reproductive health of Black populations including direct support and capacity-building for Black partners and organizations.  

• Aim 4: Promote bi-directional collaborations with ongoing community-led, Black-led and equity-centered efforts (e.g., programs, policies, research) designed to improve maternal and reproductive health and well-being.