About Us
Empowering Black Births
The Black Birth Project is a nonprofit organization focused on improving reproductive health outcomes for Black people in Canada through community research, advocacy and education. Our organization keeps the principles of reproductive justice at the forefront of our initiatives. We believe in approaching our work with a dual modality of both prevention and intervention in order to have the largest impact on our community.
Our Vision
A future where every Black person in Canada can experience compassionate, inclusive, and safe reproductive healthcare, embodying our values of reproductive justice, integrity, and unwavering commitment.
Our Mission
The Black Birth Project is unwavering in its commitment to transform the narrative of reproductive healthcare in Canada. Through dedicated research, community events, and the provision of free resources and tools, our mission is to support and connect Black patients, fostering a healthcare environment rooted in compassion and justice.
We strive to revolutionize reproductive healthcare in Canada by educating and engaging healthcare providers. Through strategic training initiatives and relentless advocacy for systemic change, we aim to reduce discriminatory practices, creating more inclusive, safe, and compassionate spaces in healthcare for all.
Meet the Team
The Black Birth Project is co-founded by two Black perinatal health advocates who are passionate about making change in Canadian health care.
Co-Founder
Cheyenne Scarlett
MA, BCD, ECE, Certified Doula & Childbirth Educator
Cheyenne is a perinatal health advocate, speaker, educator and mother. Back in 2020 she completed her master's research project on the childbirth experiences of Black women in the GTA. While interviewing 30 women who took part in the study, she realized that there needed to be a space to talk about our birth and reproductive experiences. That’s when she started Black Births of Toronto, a spin on Humans of New York. This initiative is now know as the Black Birth Project, and she is excited to bring her passion for reproductive justice to this project.
Co-Founder
Kamika Sylvester
BSc, BSCN, Registered Nurse
Kamika Sylvester (she/her) is a registered nurse, health advocate and community developer. Her passion for health equity and reproductive justice stems from her lived experiences as a patient and healthcare clinician. She has witnessed the disparities in healthcare while working as a travel nurse in emergency departments across Canada. Through workshops, programs and social media, Kamika teaches people how to advocate for themselves in a complex healthcare system.
Project Associate
Kaminda N. Musumbulwa
Kaminda is a daughter, sister, friend, and aunty. She is also a health equity advocate and is enthusiastic about addressing the disparate health outcomes of Black communities by embracing technology designed through a culturally responsive lens. She believes in the value of an interdisciplinary approach to research that amplifies the lived experience of Black communities and tangibly addresses their health and wellness objectives. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Digital Innovation at Dalhousie University where she’s developing a mobile health application for HIV prevention in African, Caribbean and Black Communities in Canada.
