Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/16/2025 - 11/17/2025
All Day
Location
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Categories
In observance of November’s Prematurity Awareness Month and World Prematurity Day (November 17), check out the 4th Annual Black Maternal Health and Neonatal Equity Conference: Moving Forward. The two-day event sprang from the personal healthcare fight of Jenné Johns, whose son was born premature, weighing just two pounds. Black mothers incur the highest rates of prematurity and infant mortality in the United States, notes Johns, who wrote a book for parents of premature babies. She later founded Once Upon A Preemie, Inc. a nonprofit that tackles racial equity in maternal and neonatal healthcare. She is a national leader and advocate for health equity. She has created campaigns to donate books to families in the US; developed racial equity training for healthcare professionals, and championed legislation and hospital policy changes that center Black birthing and preemie families. On November 16th, network at the Party for Preemies Fundraiser featuring food and live entertainment. Proceeds will benefit the Once Upon A Preemie’s Initiatives supporting family healthcare workforce development. The following day will be packed with engaging sessions by national leaders, healthcare professionals, and parent advocates addressing the issue of Black maternal and neonatal care equity. Participate in discussions about solutions, innovation, advocacy, and system accountability. Featured speakers will include: Dr. Ala Stanford, Founder, Black Doctors Consortium; Dr. Jessica Daigle, Founder & CEO of Mom & Me MD, NICU Hospitalist, and Joel Austin, President & CEO of Daddy University Inc. Racquel Williams, of KYW Newsradio, will be the event’s emcee. November 16th Party for Preemies Fundraiser: Free but pre-register from 2 p.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St. November 17th conference sessions: 8 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. The Study at University City, 20 S. 33rd St. Email: info@onceuponapreemie.org, www.onceuponapreemie.org