"Centering Cultural Care & Communal Wisdom for Black Maternal Health Liberation"
Missouri's 3rd Annual Black Maternal Health Summit Returns for Two Transformative Days, Featuring national dynamic keynote speakers, field trips to the State Capitol for a Black Maternal Health Pep Rally, live music & communal dinner, complete with a powerful tour of the Black Midwifery Museum in Ferguson, Missouri.
The Missouri Community Doula Council and Jamaa Birth Village are honored to announce the 3rd Annual Missouri Black Maternal Health Summit & Black Maternal Health Rest & Healing Experience, April 16-17, 2026, in St. Louis, Mo.
This two-day summit will convene midwives, doulas, parents, healers, maternal health practitioners, community birth workers, policymakers, and advocates to forward Black maternal health justice, policy transformation, and sustainable community care. The summit includes dynamic keynote speakers, interactive workshops, all inclusive field trips and advocacy actions dedicated to providing long-term sustainable solutions to birth inequities, elevating Black maternal health workers, and reclaiming rest, power and wisdom as an act of revolutionary liberation.
"It takes all of us to transform Black Maternal Health! Join US!"
2025 Summit Recap:
The 2nd Annual Missouri Black Maternal Health Summit featured:
MC: Princess Stormm
DJ: DJ Onnie
Keynote-NYT Bestselling Author Tricia Hersey, The Nap Bishop – Founder of The Nap Ministry, ushering in a new era of rest as resistance.
Keynote-Midwife & Doula Pioneer Shafia Monroe – Black midwifery trailblazer & birth justice leader
Guest Speaker-Michelle Browder & Mothers of Gyneclogy Monument Exhibit- Creator and home of the Anarcha, Lucy, Betsey Monument
Reale Justice Network-Justice Gatson and Sandra Thornhill led a powerful policy and advocacy workshop followed by a collaborative BMH Pep Rally at the MO State Capitol in partnership with Jamaa Birth Village and MCDC.
Beyond our three key speakers, the summit featured a host of transformative speakers, dynamic workshops, and expert-led panels, all dedicated to advancing Black maternal health, birth justice, and community-led solutions.
Last years summit was a movement for birth justice, healing, and radical change, and was absolutely unforgettable!
2026 Summit Info:
The 3rd Annual MO Black Maternal Health Summit kicks off with two dynamic national award winning keynotes! Attendees will engage in 2-days of transformative panels and breakout sessions on policy advocacy, cultural birth traditions, healing modalities for birth workers and community leaders, and much more!
We'll continue with our tradition of a high-energy Black Maternal Health Pep Rally in collaboration with the Reale Justice Network, at the Missouri State Capitol.
New This Year-Day 2 commences with a guided tour of The Black Midwifery Museum and Library Research Institute in Ferguson, Missouri.
Summit Day one concludes with a Dinner & live music, celebrating the power and joy of Black birth workers, providers, community leaders and families.
Summit Day two concludes with a powerful keynote, a rest and healing experience for providers, birth workers and parents, as well as an interactive session to align with this years theme.
Summit guests will receive a Curated Black Maternal Health Rest Box-created by MCDC and The Historic Jamaa Birth Village Cultural Heritage Center.
DATE & LOCATION:
We're hosting this years summit in the birth place of the Missouri Black Midwifery & Maternal Health Movement- St. Louis!
The Summit will take place April 16-17, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri, a city rich in history and home to the Ferguson uprising and Black Maternal Health movement in the state, which both shifted policy, laws and practice to center the lives of Black women, babies and families.
Field trips: This years field trips will take place at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, MO on Day 1, and The Black Midwifery Museum in Ferguson, MO at the Historic Jamaa Birth Village Cultural Heritage Center on Day 2.
All travel associated with summit sides are provided via coach transportation services, at no additional charge.
Lodging: Accommodations are available at the the Moonrise Hotel. Stay tuned for a booking code!
Flights: Attendees may fly into St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL).
MEET OUR 2026 FEATURED SPEAKERS
Queen Afua
Queen Afua has over 50 years experience as a holistic health practitioner and wellness coach. A pioneer in the green foods movement, Queen Afua is the author of 7 best selling books, the creator of the Heal Thyself product line Founder of Sacred Woman Rites of Passage Program, CEO & Director of the Queen Afua Wellness Institute.
Queen Afua has more than forty years of experience as a holistic health practitioner and wellness coach. Her teachings are based on the principles of ancient African traditions, and she has blended this with contemporary natural health and beauty techniques to create a unique approach to holistic wellness. Her programs aim to educate people about the healing power of food, self-care, and holistic health practices, and she has helped countless individuals to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
She has devoted her life to holistically empower both women and men to heal thyself in utilizing the power of food as medicine and healthcare as self-care, is a holistic lifestyle method for health and longevity.
Queen Afua has holistically inspired over 1,000,000 women, men and children throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe with her workshops, books, products, and presentations. > Read her full bio.
Racha Tahini Lawler-Queen
Racha Tahani Lawler Queen (she/her) is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Licensed Midwife (LM) in California and Virginia. Registered & Certified Zulu Sangoma (South African Traditional Healer Herbalist), fourth generation midwife, farmer, beekeeper and textile artist.
Midwife of over 20-years of supporting over 1,600 homebirth families. Including owning and operating South Los Angeles’ The Community Birth Center from 2011 to 2016 in California and Central Virginia’s Gather Grounded Midwifery and Birth Cottage from 2022 to 2024 always prioritizing Black families and Black midwifery students.
Honored by her birth place hometown City of Los Angeles, and California Senate & Congress for her work as a midwife committed to the Black birthing community. Mama to three brilliant children, born postdates, at home in water. Married to dana washington queen.
3rd Annual Missouri Black Maternal Health Summit & Advocacy Day: Preliminary Agenda
April 16, 2026 | 9:00am-5:00pm
A Day of Action & Advocacy for Black Maternal Health
SCHEDULE COMING SOON
April 17, 2026 | 9:00am-5:00pm
The Black Maternal Health Cultural Care & Healing Restorative Experience
SCHEDULE COMING SOON
2026 BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH CHAMPION SPONSORS
OUR 2026 SUPPORTIVE SPONSORS:
