AGENDA

 

Day 1

 

8:45am

Welcome to Birmingham

Speakers: Michelle Browder, Chauntel Norris, Tarika Lewis (Musical Opening), Kecia Harris

 

9:05am

Carrying the Torch: Legacies of Healing in Black Medical History

Fireside Chat: Herschell Hamilton Jr. and Dr. Michael H. Forde, DrPH, MSPH
A conversational reflection between Herschell Hamilton Jr. and Dr. Michael Forde exploring the legacy of Dr. Herschell Hamilton—the renowned “dog-bite doctor”—and how his contributions to Black medical resilience continue to shape today’s fight for maternal health equity.

 

9:15am

A House of Midwives: The Ballard Legacy and the Roots of Black Birthwork

Speaker: Majella Chube Hamilton
A compelling look at the Ballard House as a historic center of Black midwifery, highlighting how traditional birthworkers shaped maternal and reproductive health in Alabama long before formal medical systems acknowledged their contributions.

 

9:40am

Reckoning With J. Marion Sims: Truth-Telling From Montgomery to Birmingham

Speakers: Sharon Holley and Elizabeth Munoz
A clear look at the medical harm caused by J. Marion Sims and how its legacy connects to today’s midwifery and maternal health work.

 

10:20am 

Birth Justice Now: Policy Pathways to End Maternal Health Inequities

Speakers: Jataune Gilchrist, Tanae Harris, and Heather Skanes, MD

An exploration of the policies shaping reproductive rights in the South, highlighting barriers to care, gaps in protection, and emerging strategies to advance maternal health in a post-Dobbs landscape.

 

11:20am 

Dollars and Dignity: Navigating The Intersection of Health Equity, Maternal Health and Funding

Speakers: Qiana Thomason, Lawana Kimbro, Esq., and Tenesha Duncan

A focused look at how funding, equity, and community priorities intersect, highlighting approaches to resource maternal health initiatives with dignity and impact.

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12:05am TBA

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12:30-1:30pm

Lunch

A.G. Gaston Hotel 

 

1:40pm

Stories of Survival: Film Screening & Dialogue on Maternal Health, Justice & Hope

Speakers: Christy Turlington, Nikia Grayson, DNP, MPH, MSN, MA, CNM, FNP-C, FACNM
A short film followed by a discussion on maternal health inequities, highlighting community birthwork, national trends, and the power of storytelling to drive healing and policy change.

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2:20pm 

Expanding the Frame: Reproductive Justice Across Gender and Sexuality 

Speakers: Ann Reynolds, Daroneshia Duncan, AIDS Birmingham colleagues
A deeply intersectional conversation on reproductive justice for LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV. Speakers discuss access to affirming care, stigma, policy barriers, and the interconnected nature of sexual, reproductive, and gender justice.

 

2:50-3:00pm

Community Voices: Sharing Knowledge, Power & Practice

Facilitator: 

An open conversation inviting participants to contribute their experiences and perspectives, strengthening connection and learning across the audience.

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3:00-4:00pm

Board Buses To Explore Key Historical Sites in Birmingham.

Sites: TBA

 

6pm 

Dinner At The Ballard House 

Health as Liberation: Lessons from the Black Panther Movement

Speaker: Tarika Lewis
A shared dinner featuring insights from Tarika Lewis, former Black Panther, on the movement’s groundbreaking health and wellness initiatives—from free clinics to community defense—and their connection to today’s maternal and reproductive justice work.

(Participants will walk to and from dinner)

 

Day 2 

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7:30am 

Board Buses to Montgomery 

Buses will pick up participants from the following hotels: 

• Fairfield Inn & Suites

1918 1st Avenue North, Birmingham, AL

• SpringHill Suites

2024 4th Avenue South Birmingham, AL

• Elyton Hotel

1928 1st Avenue North Birmingham, AL

 

9:30am 

Welcome to Montgomery 

Speakers: Michelle Browder 

9:45-10:25am 

Keynote Address and Panel Discussion 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Camille Clare 

Panelist: Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH and Nikia Grayson, DNP, MPH, MSN, MA, CNM,

FNP-C,FACNM

A keynote address by Dr. Camille Clare followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Aletha Maybank and Dr. Nikia Grayson, exploring leadership, equity, and the future of maternal and reproductive health.

 

10:25am 

A Decade of Innovation: Midwifery-Led Postpartum Care as a Justice Strategy

Speaker: Ebony Marcelle 

A look at a decade of midwifery-led postpartum care within a federally qualified health center, highlighting data-driven successes, community impact, and replicable models for birth centers nationwide.

 

10:40am 

Sacred Healing: Cultural, Nutritional & Spiritual Pathways to Reproductive Freedom

Speakers: Queen Afua, Chef Chrystal, GirlTrek 

A conversation on ancestral healing practices that support reproductive freedom, highlighting the role of spiritual grounding, time outdoors, and nourishing foods in strengthening Black maternal health and overall well-being.

 

11:25am 

From Grief to Advocacy: Building Systems of Accountability in Maternal Health

Speakers: Tatyana Ali and Charles Johnson

A session grounded in personal testimony that highlights the lived impact of maternal health system failures and the urgent need for accountability, community advocacy, and meaningful reform.

 

12:00pm 

Midwifery Rising: Restoring Black Birthwork for Generations to Come

Speakers: Shafia Monroe, Stephanie Mitchell, DNP, CNM, Nikia Grayson, DNP, MPH, MSN, MA,CNM, FNP-C, FACNM

A powerhouse trio discusses the resurgence of midwifery, culturally congruent care, and the historical erasure of Black birth workers. They detail training models, policy advocacy, and the future of midwifery-led care in the South.

 

12:30-1:30pm 

Lunch 

Walk to The More Up Campus 

Book Signing 

Authors: Queen Afua, Shafia Monroe, Paul Farber, Chef Chrystal

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1:30pm 

Explore Montgomery 

Board Buses to: 

• Freedom Park 

• Rosa Parks Museum 

• EJI Museum 

 

5:00pm 

Board Buses to Birmingham 

(Buses will depart from The More Up Campus) 

 

7:00pm 

Dinner and Live Music Concert 

Location TBD 

(Participants will walk to and from dinner)

 

Day 3

 

9:00am 

Conference Closing 

16th Street Baptist Church