racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
DearYWCACommunity,
AprilisSexualAssaultAwarenessMonth,atimetostandinunwaveringsolidaritywith survivors,toraiseourvoicesagainstinjustice,andtoreaffirmourcommitmenttobuilding aworldrootedindignity,safety,andrespectforall.
AtYWCAPrinceton,ourmissioncallsusnotonlytorespondtoharm,buttoactivelywork towardafuturewhereitnolongerexists Sexualviolenceisaprofoundviolationofhuman rights,disproportionatelyimpactingwomenandgirls,andoftenintersectingwithissuesof race,economicinequality,andsystemicinjustice Thismonthandeverymonthwe recognizethecourageofsurvivorsandtheimportanceofcreatingspaceswheretheyare heard,believed,andsupported.
Empowermentbeginswithawareness,butitdoesnotendthere.Itrequiresaction.It requireseducation,advocacy,andacollectivewillingnesstochallengethesystemsand behaviorsthatallowviolencetopersist Itcallsoneachofustobeallies,tolistenwithout judgment,tospeakoutwhenweseeharm,andtocontributetoaculturewhereconsent, respect,andequityarenon-negotiable
Aspartofthismonthofawarenessandaction,weinviteyoutojoinusforDenimDayon April29.Bywearingdenim,westandtogetherinapowerful,visiblestatementagainst victim-blamingandinsupportofsurvivorseverywhere Itisasimpleactbutonethat carriesaprofoundmessage:webelievesurvivors,andwestandwiththem
Thismonth,weinviteyoutoreflect,tolearn,andtotakeactionalongsideus Together,we canbreakthesilence,challengestigma,andbuildastronger,morejustcommunity-one whereeverywoman,everyfamily,andeveryindividualcanthrive.
Thetimeisnow
Withpurposeandsolidarity,
R ChiefExecutiveOfficer
Maternal Health in the United States
Until Justice Just Is Student Competition
Stand Against Racism 2026
Primary Voter Registration Deadlines
Denim Day 2026
Until Justice Just Is Pledge
Ad es
Thestateofm tconcerns, particularlyfo ,theU.S.still reportsoneof s,evenas manynationshaveimprovedoutcomes.DatashowsthatintheU.S.,Blackwomenare nearlythreetimesmorelikelytodiefrompregnancy-relatedissuesthanwhitewomen, adisparitythatcontinuestopersist.
NewJerseyreflectsbothmeaningfulprogressandongoinginequality.Thestatehas improveditsnationalstandinginrecentyearsandinvestedheavilyininitiativessuch asNurtureNJ,astatewideefforttoreducematernalandinfantmortalityandaddress racialdisparities.PoliciessuchasexpandedMedicaidcoveragethroughthe postpartumperiod,doulareimbursements,andincreasedinvestmentsinmaternal healthprogramsdemonstrateastrongcommitmenttochange.
AlthoughNewJersey’sinfantmortalityrateof3.7per1,000birthsiswellbelowthe nationalrateof5.6andranksamongthebestinthecountry,theseimprovementshave notbeenexperiencedequallyacrossallcommunities.BlackwomeninNewJerseyare stillnearlyseventimesmorelikelytodiefrompregnancy-relatedcausesthanwhite women,underscoringacriticalgapinwhobenefitsfromtheseadvancements. Nationalandstatedatacontinuetoshowthatsystemicinequities,ratherthan individualbehaviors,drivethesedisparities.
Atthefederallevel,maternalhealthremainsvulnerabletobroaderpolicyandfunding challenges.MedicaidcoversasignificantportionofbirthsintheUnitedStates,and changestocoverageoreligibilitycandirectlyimpactaccesstoprenataland postpartumcare.ResearchalsoshowsthatstateswithoutMedicaidexpansion experiencematernalmortalityratesupto49percenthigherthanthosethathave expandedcoverage,furtherhighlightingtheimportanceofsustainedinvestmentin healthcareaccess.
Theserealities 026event, The Blueprint Is Bla ertWood JohnsonFoun ent highlightedboththecriticalroleandongoingchallengesofcommunity-basedbirth justiceorganizations.Theseorganizationsprovideessentialservices,includingdoula support,maternalhealtheducation,andlactationresources,yetoftenoperatewith limitedandinconsistentfunding.
Acentralconcernraisedbypanelistswastheneedforlong-term,flexiblefundingthat allowsprogramstogrowandremainaccessible,ratherthanshort-terminvestments thatlimitlong-termsustainability.Additionalbarriersincludethehighout-of-pocket costsofhomebirths,midwiferycare,anddoulaservices,whicharenotconsistently coveredbyinsurance.Thesefinancialbarrierscanpreventwomen,particularlywomen ofcolor,fromaccessingcarethatcouldimproveoutcomes.
Speakersalsoemphasizedabroaderculturalandsystemicissue.Whileinfanthealthis oftenprioritized,thehealthandwell-beingofBlackwomenarenotgiventhesame levelofattentionorurgency.Thisdisconnectcontributestopersistentdisparitiesand placesbothmothersandbabiesatrisk.Notably,thereiscurrentlyonlyoneBlack-led birthjusticecenterinNewJersey,limitingaccesstoculturallyresponsivecareacross thestate.
Thechallengesareclear,butsoarethesolutions.Dataandcommunityexperience showthatmanyofthetoolsneededtoreducematernalmortalityalreadyexist,from expandedhealthcareaccesstocommunity-basedcaremodels.Whatremainsisthe needforsustainedfunding,equitableresourcedistribution,andacontinued commitmenttocenteringtheexperiencesofBlackwomeninmaternalhealthefforts.
Thursday May 28 | 6:30PM | YWCA Princeton (59 Paul Robeson Pl)
Join the YWCA Princeton as we come together for our annual Stand Against Racism Event. This year’s event will feature dynamic performances and inspiring speakers, including youth leaders and activists who will share their vision for a more just and inclusive future.
Stand Against Racism is open to the public, and we strongly encourage individuals, families, and local organizations to come out, show solidarity, and raise their voices in support of racial justice. Let’s come together to make a statement and take action toward a more equitable society.
Until Justice Just Is prizes will be awarded at this event.
THIS IS A FREE EVENT, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
