What is the BREATH Initiative?

We are focused on creating long term changes that will ensure Black individuals are not continuously marginalized and devalued. It will aim to ensure that the Black individuals and infants in the community will have access to health care. By dismantling the various systems of oppression that lead to barriers, Black individuals can have equitable access to care, and therefore potentially reduce health disparities that continue to exist causing harm. While the BREATH initiative can be utilized for various anti-black issue, here at BREATHE Midwives we have created the BREATH Initiative for the purpose of improving Black sexual, reproductive, birthing and infant health outcomes and ending obstetrical racism.

The body, mind, heart, soul and spirit of Black individuals are affected daily from the trauma and effects of systemic racism. This leads to many of the poor health and social outcomes Black individuals, families and the community face. When looking specifically at sexual, reproductive and birthing health, obstetrical racism, bias, the determinate of health, and systems of oppression play a significant role. Many of the believes about black sexual and reproductive health and their birthing bodies stems from the cruel practice of exploration of Black people’s bodies, including forced reproduction, sterilization,and testing . The legacies from these inhuman practices helped shape the understanding and continuous beliefs of explicit and especially implicit (unconscious) bias that many health care practitioners, systems, and intuitions define their policies and actions by. Obstetrical racism affects Black individuals and their infants access to safety and quality care, which leads to poor outcomes.

Acknowledging that there is a disparity and that obstetrical racism exist is not going to change everything. There needs to be action to change the systems and remove the barriers that continue to perpetuate these issues.

Breathing has been linked to positive health outcomes, so we hope through the BREATH initiative people will reclaim their Breath and BREATHE!

BLACKRESILIENCEEMPOWERMENTADVOCACYTRUSTHEALING

| PUTTING BLACK INDIVIDUALS AT THE FOREFRONT

BLACK

Our initiative will develop programs and services that will be centred and focused on Black, African and Caribbean sexual, reproductive, birthing individuals and their infants. We aim to support Black health and wellness while addressing anti-black racism, biases and systems of oppression that continue to cause barriers.

| FIGHTING THE SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION

RESILIENCE

Many Black individuals and communities have had to build resilience to fight the system that continues to oppress them. Resilience, however, can also be a form of strength to challenge the systems of oppression as an individual and as a community. It provides an opportunity to learn and grow from challenging times. It’s a way of life for many Black people to protect themselves from repeated trauma, and build coping mechanisms.

| STRENGTH FROM WITHIN

EMPOWERMENT

We want to help individuals to be empowered and have control and autonomy of their own health. They should be empowered with the tools and knowledge to make decisions and choices that benefit them. Black communities need to be at the forefront of their health, with healthcare providers, allied health, hospital, and government officials taking their lead from them.

| USE YOUR VOICE TO PROJECT

ADVOCACY

We want Black people to be able to advocate for themselves and to be heard. We want to be advocates of Black health equity and work collaboratively with them as supports, allies, and accomplices.

| TRUST FROM WITHIN

TRUST

To build and grow, we must have trust. There is a great deal of mistrust in the black community when it comes to their health and their lives. Trust begins with oneself and extends to the people and community that supports them. It needs respect, communication and willingness to learn to continue manifesting.

| HEALING FROM WITHIN

HEALING

There are so many generational wounds and scars that have not really healed. Some in fact continue to be inflicted and re-opened. Black people are not just victims, but without healing, they can’t move forward to be victors. The hope is that the initiative can facilitate this journey. For healing to happen, those from other communities have to be willing to listen and believe the fact that Black individuals have been and continue to be subjected to anti-black racism.

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