NJ Mothers Fight Maternal Race Gap With New Center, Breastfeeding Advocacy
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A severe
It's a trend that can – and must – be reversed, advocates say.
The Perinatal Health Equity Initiative (PHEI) recently hosted its annual Breakfast for Champions gathering, which was held in concert with Black Breastfeeding Week.
During the event, the Essex County-based nonprofit spotlighted a major win for local parents: a $130,000 funding boost from the latest state budget that will support the creation of the "Lt. Tahmesha Dickey Black Maternal Health Center" – New Jersey's first center dedicated to Black women and infants.
Named for Dickey, who advocates say died from preventable pregnancy complications, the center will provide wraparound maternal health services and culturally congruent care.
New Jersey Sen. Britnee Timberlake (NJ-34) was among the dignitaries on hand at last month's event. Other attendees included New Jersey Assemblywoman Carmen Theresa Morales and Orange City Council President Adrienne Wooten.
"I know firsthand how difficult it was to find a Black doula or lactation consultant during my own birthing journey," Timberlake said. "The [new center] is a very important initiative."
PHEI executive director Nastassia Harris closed out the event with a call to action.
"Black women are designing the solutions our communities need," she urged. "If not us, then who?"
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BREASTFEEDING
Advocates honored three mothers with a "Drops of Love Award" at the Breakfast for Champions event.
Cherelle Lloyd, Lucy Edmonds, and Jennifer Tanis donated 2,300 ounces of breastmilk to sustain baby Sevyn – the daughter of Dreeah Austin – a New Jersey resident who died just two weeks after giving birth.
Their donations fulfilled Austin's dream that Sevyn would be exclusively breastfed through her first year of life, advocates said.
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Advocates also presented another honor – the Dr. Montrae Thomas Liquid Gold Award – to Kia Grundy, a pediatrician who opened her office to host PHEI's first breastfeeding groups several years ago.
"So much of breastfeeding is about patience, trust, and making sure family members don't undermine mothers when they're trying to create milk," Grundy said, reflecting on her own challenges with a pre-term baby.
PHEI policy director Asia Smith reminded event attendees that while New Jersey passed two landmark lactation equity laws in 2019 — mandating coverage for lactation support (P.L. 2019, c. 343) and for donor human milk (P.L. 2019, c. 317) — both remain stalled in implementation.
"Policy without enforcement leaves families behind," Smith said. "Protecting the right to nourish means protecting the future of New Jersey's families."
"Full enforcement is not optional – it is essential to advance birth equity and ensure all families thrive," Smith added.
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