About Us, Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts (BEJMA)
(Formerly, the Massachusetts Covid-19 Maternal Equity Coalition)
Our Vision
A racially just and equitable world in which birthing people experience health, joy, and bodily autonomy.
Our Mission
Through the centering of Black and Brown leadership and the creation of a broad and inclusive table, Birth Equity and Justice Massachusetts (BEJMA) elevates the voices and experiences of birthing people, advances maternal health policy, and builds community power through a lens of justice and equity.
Our History
After holding the first statewide town hall on maternal health equity in June of 2020, the Massachusetts Covid-19 Maternal Equity Coalition released “Giving Birth in a Pandemic,” a report with six key policy recommendations in July 2020. The Coalition held a second town hall in June of 2021 and later that year won a grant to undergo a strategic planning process in 2022. In August 2022, we adopted a new name, “Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts (BEJMA)” and updated our mission and vision as part of our strategic planning process. Our coalition has been meeting regularly since May 2020, and we are excited to share more updates with you soon!