First Food Equity Webinar Series

Breastfeed Durham hosted a virtual First Food Equity Webinar Series for providers in Durham County and the surrounding areas on the second Tuesday of each month between October 2022-May 2023.

Breastfeed Durham invited providers and community members to participate in our First Food Equity Series: A Shared Responsibility. Community members who are working to build effective alliances across divisions were welcomed to participate. We work together with the goal that health equity impacts can truly benefit us all. The series provided a framework for understanding first health equity in the realm of the first food justice movement. Participants learned how imbalanced and oppressive social structures prevent the inherent right for families to provide human milk as first food. Breast/chestfeeding is a primary food justice concern and our most important first food. Participants identified inequities in breastfeeding rates and related health disparities that arise from structural failures to provide adequate support in communities of color. These concepts encourage reformation in policies and procedures which will fuel collective impact and movement building for first food racial equity. In these sessions, we discussed why first food matters for communities across the triangle area. Research shows that the first 1,000 days of nutrition can set a course for a healthy life or perpetuate a cycle of poverty, ill health, and disease. The collective solutions solicited during these sessions will empower systemic change in the structures that impact the first food field.

First Food Equity Series

October 11, 2022,12:00 PM: Writing and Creating Breastfeeding Friendly Policies
- Presented by Dr. Annie Dotson
January 10, 2023 12:00 PM: A Discussion of Birth and Community Wellness
- Presented by Amber Rodriguez and Tina Braimah
February 14, 2023 12:00 PM: Exploring Gaps in Care
- Presented by Maya Jackson
March 14, 2023 12:00 PM: Fully Integrate Appropriate Lactation Support
- Presented by Emily Hannon
April 11, 2023 12:00 PM: It’s Not Just About The Destination, but The Journey: Impact of birth experience on breastfeeding initiation and duration.
- Presented by Tonya Daniel
May 9, 2023 12:00 PM: A Discussion of First Food Equity
- Presented by Janiya Mitnaul William

A Discussion of Birth and Community Wellness
Presented by Amber Rodriguez and Tina Braimah
January 10, 2023 12:00 PM

On January 10, 2023, Breastfeed Durham hosted an illuminating discussion as part of their First Food Equity Webinar Series, titled “A Discussion of Birth and Community Wellness.” In this captivating video, join Amber Rodriguez and Tina Braimah as they introduce Aya Birth & Community Wellness, an inspiring Black-led birth and wellness center set to launch in the Southeast in the fall of 2023.

Tina Braimah, the founder and executive director of Aya, along with Amber Rodriguez, the community and partnerships manager, share their powerful vision of creating a community-centered approach to maternal and reproductive healthcare for people of color. They discuss the significance of embracing community wisdom and traditions while providing services such as a birth center, open-access maternity care, a gender-affirming clinic, and well-person care. Their conversation also delves into critical topics like reproductive justice, health equity, and the urgent need to address systemic healthcare issues, including affordable access and parental leave.

Discover how Aya Birth & Community Wellness is making a profound impact in the Durham area. This video offers invaluable insights into the remarkable work being done to support families and promote health equity.