PHI Spotlight: Meet Dana Sherrod, Black Birth Justice Leader & Maternal Health Advocate

Dana Sherrod spends her days making sure that Black moms and their infants thrive. Systemic inequities embedded in health care systems, care provision and other social determinants mean that Black Americans experience disparately high rates of maternal and infant deaths, and these rates have continued to climb in recent years. Black birthing people in California are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than other racial and ethnic groups. Black infants are also twice as likely as other infants to die before their first birthday. To reverse these preventable health crises, communities need long-term, sustained investments in Black-led organizations; solutions that incorporate measurability and accountability; and equity-centered actions from policymakers, philanthropists and healthcare systems. These are the kinds of solutions Dana Sherrod, a maternal health advocate and executive director at PHI’s California Coalition for Black Birth Justice, is fighting for.

“My advocacy and commitment to Black maternal health stems from my own negative experiences in the health care system. I faced a life-threatening complication during labor and delivery with my second child. Unfortunately, like many Black women, I was dismissed, not listened to, and my pain was disregarded,” said Dana. “That’s what inspired me to co-create the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice.”

In 2022, Dana collaborated with Black women leaders from birth equity initiatives in Northern and Southern California to launch the Coalition—the first organization that aims to create statewide collaboration and coordination among Black birth equity and justice efforts. Today, the Coalition works with communities and partners to unify and strengthen the Black birth justice movement in California and beyond—by serving as a connector and convener; supporting the care and capacity of the Black birth justice workforce; and scaling change improvement efforts with health care institutions.

“We are fortunate to work with so many incredible organizations, especially Black-led, community-based organizations across the state. We have partners who are on the ground, serving families by providing culturally congruent care, others who are at the capitol championing for legislation,” added Dana. “This issue is multi-faceted so having a range of partners is crucial, from government entities, philanthropy, media, health care organizations and beyond. We’re excited to continue growing our network and base of partners to create more positive impact as we move forward!”

The Coalition’s foundational resource, The California Black Birth Justice Agenda: Unifying the Vision for Systemic Change provides community advocates, policymakers, healthcare providers, insurance plans, funders and others with actionable strategies for systemic change so Black women, infants and families can thrive—focusing on ways that healthcare and public health sectors can build longer-term, upstream, sustainable solutions. Recommendations include using community-defined measures to monitor progress in reducing Black maternal and infant health disparities, and investing in Black-led birth centers, organizations and birth workers to help expand access to community-based care. The Coalition also advocates for statewide policies and practices that center Black women’s experiences, needs and solutions; and hosts convenings to bring together key stakeholders and community leaders, such as their recent event celebrating Black Birth Justice and Joy.

Learn more about Dana Sherrod, MPH →