Mother Wit: Community Wisdom Meets Birth Justice

By Office of the President | Dec 2, 2025

The experience of having a baby can change dramatically from one Brooklyn neighborhood to the next. Families in Central Brooklyn face some of the highest rates of pregnancy complications in New York, shaped by chronic stress, housing instability, limited access to prenatal care, and inequities that fall sharply along racial and economic lines.

These challenges are part of daily life for the communities we serve at Downstate. Against this backdrop, Downstate hosted the 11th Annual Mother Wit Convening, led by community partners The ARIAH Foundation and Spirit of A Woman, bringing together residents, birth workers, clinicians, and young people to confront the realities of birthing in Brooklyn and envision a safer, more just future.

The day blended art, community wisdom, clinical expertise, and youth leadership. A standout moment came during an intimate “living room” dialogue co-moderated by Torian Easterling, M.D., a member of Downstate’s School of Public Health Community Advisory Board, and Shaina Museau, a participant in the Arthur Ashe Institute’s Brooklyn Health Disparities Summer Internship Program. Their exchange captured the shared responsibility and the belief that young people belong at the center of health equity conversations.

Christina Pardo, M.D., MPH, an OB/GYN who trained at Downstate and now serves Haitian and Caribbean families across Brooklyn, joined doulas, midwives, mental health providers, healthcare leaders, and community advocates in 2025 to discuss pregnancy openly. She was joined by Amal Amar-Alattaby, DM, CNM, LM, OBGYN-NP, Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator in the School of Health Professions’ Midwifery Program, who highlighted the strength of the midwifery model of care.

Participants described a system under the strain of rising maternal mortality, growing mental health needs during pregnancy and postpartum, and families who delay or avoid care because past experiences have taught them to expect bias or dismissal.

Clinical care alone is not enough. Pregnant individuals need providers who listen, communities that support them, and services that address food access, housing, stress, and emotional well-being long before labor begins.

Community-based doulas and midwives are recognized as essential partners, especially in neighborhoods facing the most significant challenges. Young people also played a key role, with students from the Health Science Academy contributing to conversations about advocacy and accountability. By day’s end, it was clear that Brooklyn’s families are driving the change they need—and we at Downstate are proud to stand with them, strengthen maternal health, and advance equity in every neighborhood we serve.

Special thanks to Aimee Afable, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health; Danvy Truong, MPH, Community Partnerships Manager and APEx Coordinator, School of Public Health; and our dedicated student volunteers. Appreciation also goes to Alishia Goodridge, MLS, MBA, Assistant Vice President for Government & Community Relations; to the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health’s Faven Araya, MPH, and Kristelle Pierre, MPH; and to Marian Searchwell from THEO.

This event reflects our ongoing collaboration with organizations such as the Caribbean Women’s Health Association, Mother Wit, Ancient Song, and many midwifery and doula partners across Brooklyn.

Tags: Community