Moms, households, and well being advocates gathered on Saturday, August 16, 2025, for the first-ever Maternal Well being Summit, a strong occasion devoted to addressing the maternal well being disaster in america. Hosted by Venture Pit in partnership with Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza was remodeled into an area for dialogue, therapeutic, and advocacy.
The occasion acknowledged the work of GRAMMY-nominated artist and actress Halle Bailey, GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter and nonprofit founder Religion Evans, and Dr. Nomsa Khalfani, Co-CEO of Important Entry Well being, for his or her dedication to reshaping narratives round maternal and youngster wellness.
Religion Evans was offered with the Affect Award for her dedication to supporting kids and households with disabilities and particular wants. She spoke candidly about her son Ryder, who’s on the autism spectrum and has been the inspiration behind her nonprofit, Ryder’s Room, which focuses on autism and particular wants consciousness. “I’m very honored to face right here only for being a mom, not to mention being a mom to a toddler of particular wants,” Evans shared, transferring many within the viewers along with her phrases.
Halle Bailey obtained the Halo Award, named in honor of her son, for her efforts to boost consciousness about postpartum melancholy and maternal psychological well being. Reflecting on her journey into motherhood as she embraces her twenty fifth yr, Bailey highlighted the significance of group and vulnerability. “What has helped me most is understanding there are different stunning ladies and moms who’ve gone via the identical issues I’m experiencing now. As a result of I’ve a platform, I would like us to proceed to raise one another up. It’s a fantastic factor once we might be weak, converse brazenly about how we really feel, and know that there’s no disgrace in asking for assist, particularly as Black ladies. We’re wonderful, resilient, and powerful. We should always at all times know that we’re particular and that we belong. As I step into my twenty fifth yr of life with my child, I really feel so grateful, honored, and grateful for the kindness and assist I’ve obtained.”
The summit marked an necessary step in constructing consciousness and options round maternal well being, shining a lightweight on ladies utilizing their voices and experiences to carry change to their communities.
