Chicago Beyond Announces Multi-Million Dollar Fellowship to Improve Health Outcomes for Black Mothers and Children 

Four fellows to receive $500,000 in unrestricted grants to transform maternal healthcare

Today, Chicago Beyond, a national philanthropic organization that addresses systemic inequity by backing solutions led by those closest to the issues, announced the launch of its Fellowship for Black Maternal Health. The groundbreaking multi-million dollar initiative is designed to accelerate the impact of leaders driving transformative change in maternal healthcare. The Fellowship will provide unprecedented catalytic grants and specialized support to a select cohort of four maternal health leaders across the United States. 

The Fellowship for Black Maternal Health was inspired by the urgent call from birth justice leaders. According to the CDC, Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications. Recognizing the critical need to address the alarming disparities, Chicago Beyond publicly committed to the Fellowship at the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, pledging $2M to illuminate and support the work of distinctive leaders who have firsthand experience within the field. Each Fellow will receive a $500,000 unrestricted award over three years, along with curated programming to connect Fellows and further support their leadership. This collaboration is designed to promote visibility of their work and to advance their mission. 

“We are honored to support four visionary leaders who are delivering innovative, holistic solutions to advance maternal outcomes in their communities,” said Liz Dozier, Founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond. “The Fellowship for Black Maternal Health is a response to the systemic challenges that have long undermined the health and wellbeing of Black mothers and their children. Our hope is that this Fellowship will serve as an inspiration for what funding can look like in this issue area and amplify the work of community leaders who are redefining what maternal care looks like.”

The Fellowship nomination process involved engagement with a diverse group of nominators including community leaders, policy visionaries, and birth workers who represented various geographies, identities, and relationship networks. As a result of this process, Chicago Beyond selected the following 2025 Fellows who are poised to make a profound impact in their communities:

Jamarah Amani, Executive Director, Southern Birth Justice Network – Miami, Florida

• A licensed midwife and activist, Jamarah Amani has spent over 15 years addressing Black maternal and infant mortality through a birth justice and reproductive justice lens. As Executive Director of Southern Birth Justice Network, she advocates for community-led maternal care, midwifery and doula access, and public health solutions based in human rights.

Lucia Soraya DosSantos, Founder and CEO, Sacred Birthing Village – New Bedford, Massachusetts

• Soraya is leading a transformative movement in New Bedford, MA, through Sacred Birthing Village, reclaiming birth as a sacred rite rather than a crisis to manage. Rooted in Indigenous and ancestral traditions, her work restores community power, intergenerational healing, and the liberatory wisdom of midwifery-based care.

Femeika Elliott, Founder, The Lotus Program Experience – Knoxville, Tennessee

• Drawing on her diverse experiences as an urban farmer, social worker, and chef preparing medically tailored meals, Femeika Elliott’s work sits at the intersection of food, reproductive health, maternal health, herbalism, and regenerative medicine. Femeika’s work addresses the maternal health crisis in East Knoxville and rural Tennessee.

Nikki Hunter-Greenaway, Founder, Bloom Maternal Health – Houston, Texas

• A board-certified family nurse practitioner, lactation consultant, and perinatal mental health provider, Nikki Hunter-Greenaway founded Bloom Maternal Health to provide Black parents with accessible, barrier-free maternal care. Through her innovative approach and collaboration with top institutions, she is strengthening maternal health by prioritizing community-driven solutions and proactive care.

The Fellowship builds upon Chicago Beyond’s expertise in culturally-concordant health investments and philanthropic partnerships, as well as its track record of supporting leaders who bring first-hand experience to addressing systemic issues that have been historically overlooked.