The Story of Birth Center Week

Birth Center Week was born from the vision of China Tolliver, artist and birth justice advocate, in conversation with BCE CEO and Co-Founder Leseliey Welch.

The first Birth Center Week took place in 2023.

Click here to listen to China and Leseliey tell the Birth Center Week story!

Screenshot of a video titled, 'Birth Center Week: Midwifing Justice,' showing two women in conversation, with a background of bookshelves and framed pictures.

In 2023, Birth Center Week debuted our powerful video, Midwifing Justice. Click here to watch.

Birth Center Equity produced Midwifing Justice in collaboration with the award winning artistic team at Sharp As Knives.

Midwifing Justice offers a brief and powerful history of midwifery in the US and evokes the power and beauty of a world where Black, Indigenous, people of color birth in safety, abundance, and liberation, creating a pathway for safety, abundance, and liberation for all. 

Two women hugging and smiling at an event with a pink backdrop that has "Birth Center Equity" logos.
A woman with glasses hugging a young child with curly hair on her shoulder, embracing passionately in a cozy indoor setting.

BCW25 is guided by Birth Center Equity Members.

Birth Center Week 2025 is guided with ideas and inspiration from six of our network members who serve on the Birth Center Week 2025 Committee.

These members have generously offered their time and wisdom to shape the content of Birth Center Week 2025, and ensure that this effort reflects the perspectives, dreams, and needs of our network members.

Birth Center Week 2025 Committee

  • A smiling woman wearing a beige headwrap, earrings, and a dark purple top with a warm brown background.

    Tina Braimah

    Aya Birth and Community Wellness
    Durham, NC

  • A woman with red braided hair smiling, wearing hoop earrings and a necklace, with a background of white roses.

    Leslie Jackson

    Birth & Wellness Center of Arlington
    Arlington, TX

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with short black hair, wearing earrings and a black and orange patterned garment.

    Elon Geffrard

    Birth Detroit
    Detroit, MI

  • Close-up of a smiling African American woman with dark curly hair, wearing a beige blazer and a pearl necklace, against a gray background.

    Shané Darby

    Black Mothers in Power
    Wilmington, DE

  • Portrait of a woman with dreadlocks wearing clear round glasses, pink lipstick, colorful earrings, and a green top, smiling against a white background.

    Aza Nedhari

    Mamatoto Village
    Washington, DC

  • Close-up of a woman smiling, wearing a maroon top and earrings, with short hair and a natural makeup look.

    Nikki Helms

    San Diego Community Birth Center
    San Diego, CA

Birthing Black:
Community Birth Centers as Portals to Gentle Futures

Click here to read the article in Nonprofit Quarterly.