Chicago Beyond Unveils Commitment to Action to Catalyze $5M Investment in Black Maternal Health Fellows Program at Clinton Global Initiative 2023 Meeting

Today, Chicago Beyond, a philanthropic organization that works to ensure all young people and community members are free to live full lives, unveiled it will invest $2M into a new Black Maternal Health Fellows program. This groundbreaking initiative is poised to empower Black maternal health leaders and spearhead transformative change in maternal healthcare across America. Chicago Beyond’s fellowship was developed with support from the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and was announced at the CGI 2023 Meeting.

Chicago Beyond is actively seeking partners to join the mission to catalyze a total of $5M in funding for Black maternal health leaders over the course of four years. By working together with values-aligned philanthropic organizations and change makers, a substantial impact can be made to improve the well-being of Black mothers and their children.

In alignment with Chicago Beyond’s commitment to fostering systemic change in Black maternal health, the organization recognizes the importance of strategic partnerships to drive impactful outcomes. Chicago Beyond aims to collaborate closely with funders, birth equity organizations, and institutional health systems to identify, select, and provide substantial support to a cohort of Black maternal health leaders across the United States. This partnership will encompass significant funding, capacity-building resources, and meaningful engagement with health system leaders.

“The hard truth we cannot ignore is that Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, despite various socioeconomic factors and advances in healthcare,” said Liz Dozier, Founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond. “The launch of the Black Maternal Health Fellows program represents a pivotal moment in our mission to dismantle systemic barriers and improve birth equity. This fellowship underscores Chicago Beyond’s unwavering commitment to centering voices closest to the work, fostering innovation, and creating lasting improvements that fundamentally change birth outcomes for Black women.”

This fellowship builds upon Chicago Beyond’s expertise in culturally-concordant health investments, national movement work, and philanthropic partnerships. The Black Maternal Health Fellows will be an expansion of Chicago Beyond’s active investment in Black

maternal health solutions and engagement. Chicago Beyond’s current Leader in Residence, Jeanine Valrie Logan, has built her career in birth justice, including her ongoing work to open the Chicago South Side Birth Center. Applying lessons learned over the past several years and leveraging growing health relationships across the country, Chicago Beyond will resource and uplift the work of Black maternal health leaders in America.