Tag: Tracie Williams

You Are Invited: Motherhood Matters: Black Maternal Health Lunch and Learn

Post author By MOM
Post date August 21, 2025

PURCHASE TICKETS

JOIN US ON SEPT 21st, 2025 10:30AM-1PM with the Museum of Motherhood at FloridaRAMA

Black Maternal Health Brunch & Learn, Mini-Conference

Logos of sponsors for the Black Maternal Health Brunch & Learn event, including Orlando Health, Bayfront Hospital, St. Anthony's Hospital, and FloridaRAMA. — Black Maternal Health Sponsorships at the Museum of Motherhood

Sponsored by FloridaRAMA

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States spends more per birth than any other similarly industrialized nation in the world, yet maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the US are far worse than in any other peer nation. US maternal death rates have risen substantially among all US women in recent years, but maternal death rates are the highest for Black women living in the Southern US.

The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health reports that in 2024, Florida’s rate of maternal death was more than 3 times higher for Black women (50.5 deaths per 100,000 live births) as compared to white women (14.5 mortality rate).

Maternal death rates, and associated racial disparities, are expected to worsen in the near future amidst proposed cuts to Medicaid that will drastically impact both maternal and infant healthcare. Nearly 40% of all births in Pinellas County were paid for by Medicaid last year. Black women and their babies will undoubtedly suffer the most from Medicaid cuts with both maternal and infant mortality rates expected to rise as a result of funding cuts to these programs.

The fate of Black women and their families does not have to be predetermined; the purpose of Black Maternal Health Brunch & Learn is to collaborate with local birth workers and healthcare professionals to understand the causes and correlates of challenges to Black women’s maternal health in order to implement changes in Pinellas county.

To improve Black maternal health, health care itself must make institutional and structural changes to transform the delivery and quality of care. Decision makers at all policy levels must establish comprehensive policy change to address the social drivers impacting health, such as the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that also affect a wide range of quality-of-life outcomes.

WE ARE HARD AT WORK SEARCHING OUT VIRTUAL OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. STAY TUNED. ALSO, YOU CAN MAKE JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE TO SUPPORT THE WORK.

LET US LIFT EACH OTHER UP – TOGETHER WE RISE

Even if you can’t join us in person, you can support the cause!

PURCHASE TICKETS

Presentation Panelists

Courtney West is a proud St. Petersburg native and the owner of 3 Gems Birth Services where everyone deserves care. Courtney is a full spectrum doula, doula educator, and a licensed practical nurse with a background in pediatric home health, and mental health nursing. Courtney has led several initiatives at MoM.

Shamella “Mel” Joy is a trauma-informed therapist, her background includes working with veterans and refugee families, providing her with extensive experience in helping clients process and heal from past traumas and PTSD. Mel’s passion lies in supporting new parents grappling with the challenges of postpartum life, as well as those facing the uncertainties of fertility struggles and perinatal loss.

Presentation Panelists

Tracie Williams is the proprietor of The Natal Network and the founder of Jehovah Rapha-Jireh Transformation Health Inc. She serves on the Health, Wellness and Education Committee at MoM. She established The Natal Network, a Tampa Bay-based maternal wellness doula service, to enhance maternal-fetal outcomes.

Tracy Cook-Person is a hoodoo practitioner, doula, folk Herbalist, educator, lecturer, professional storyteller and a published poet. She has been an Assistant Professor at LIU in the School of Education and Technology as well as an Instructor of Pedagogy and Clinical Practice for the TR@TC2 program in the Office of Teacher Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Facts
Black Maternal Health Orlando Health
Black Maternal Health Sponsor St Anthony’s Hospital

DRAFT! For Immediate Release: August 20, 2025

Brandy Gottlieb, Director of Communications and Marketing

Champions for Children

Bgottlieb@cfctb.org

(813) 673-4646 ext. 1114

Champions and Museum of Motherhood announce their partnership in support of moms

(Photo c/o Regina Roig-Romero)

Tampa Bay, FL – August 20, 2025– Champions for Children (CFC) and the Museum of

Motherhood (MoM) are pleased to announce their partnership in support of mothers seeking breastfeeding support.

Champions for Children’s abcProgram, licensed by Baby Café USA, will provide free lactation consultation and breastfeeding support services, beginning September 3, at the Museum of Motherhood, 538 28th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33713. MoM will serve as the program’s new Saint Petersburg location.

The abcProgram offers International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), credentialed through the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). IBLCE is the gold standard in clinical lactation care.

Families can access English and fully Spanish support services free of cost and without any eligibility requirements. While registration is encouraged, walk-ins are also welcome. Families should register at cfctb.org/abcprogram.

“We are grateful to the Museum of Motherhood for their partnership. Together, we look forward to providing compassionate, supportive expertise to families who need help to reach their breastfeeding goals with confidence.” says Regina Roig-Romero, program manager for Champions for Children’s ABC Program.

Of the partnership, Martha Joy Rose, MoM Founder and Executive Director says, “We are thrilled about this new partnership with Champions for Children. Their abcProgram speaks to the heart of what we do — working in community to foster compassionate, inclusive environments that uplift individual stories and celebrates women’s vital role in our cultural narrative. By partnering, we are fostering a stronger support system for mothers in the region.”

MoM has been serving the community through its programing, exhibits and collaborative platforms in Pinellas County since 2019 and is Tampa Bay’s first and only women’s museum.

CFC’s ABC program offers breastfeeding support at 10 community locations in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. Hillsborough County services are made possible by the generous support of BayCare, REACHUP, Inc. and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. Pinellas County services are made possible by the generous support of BayCare.

For more information on CFC’s free breastfeeding support services, the abcProgram, Baby Café or free lactation consultation services, visit cfctb.org/abcprogram.

About Champions for Children:

CFC’s mission is to build stronger families with thriving children throughout the Tampa Bay area through child abuse prevention and family education programs.

CFC has served the Tampa Bay area since 1977 and envisions a world free from child abuse and neglect. The work follows a proactive, prevention-first model that is committed to building strong families as support for thriving children. Through nationally accredited programs, CFC provides parents and other supportive, caring adults with education, support, and resources. CFCTB is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, supported by the generosity of funding partners and private donors.

For more information about CFC, please visit cfctb.org or contact championsforchildren@cfctb.org.

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Tags Black Maternal Health, Courtney West, Education, florida, floridarama, health, maternal health, museum of motherhood, Shamella Joy, st petersburg, The Natal Network, Tracie Williams, tracy cook-person, Wellness, you are invited

Art Birth Blog breastfeeding Caregiving Classes Conferences Dads Education Escape Womb Experience Events Featured Fundraiser International MOM Conference Mother Studies motherhood Spiritual Motherhood st petersburg The Factory, St Pete

Best of Tampa Bay – MoM July/August Blog!

Post author By MOM
Post date August 6, 2025

Congratulations! After tallying all the nominations, we’re excited to let you know that MoM has officially advanced to the voting round for Best of the Bay 2025!

Last year, over 5 million impressions on the voting website alone for Best of TB. Won’t you join us in making m/otherhood more visible? See a few of our current stats: From Google 30k have viewed our photos, 25k in grant funds released to the Museum of Motherhood for work in the Health, Education and Wellness arena, 5 new Executive Board Members join MoM for a total of 9 Board Members, and four high school interns celebrate paid work with us this summer with extensive programming each month.

Remember: Voting is from July 17th through August 20th! Vote as many times as you can!

VOTE HERE LINK

Upcoming Events

MoM has a full roster of events and a new easily navigable calendar that includes art, health, wellness and education. Also, make sure to register to join us at our upcoming brunch and mini-conference in collaboration with FloridaRAMA. EVENTS PAGE IS HERE.

Lunch and Learn with MoM. The purpose of this mini-conference is to collaborate with local birth workers and healthcare professionals to understand the causes and correlates of challenges to Black women’s maternal health in order to implement changes in Pinellas county. This Museum of Motherhood event is sponsored by FloridaRAMA, organized by Jill M. Wood and the Health, Wellness, and Education Committee. This lunch and learn session will educate attendees about Black maternal health from a holistic perspective using the expertise of these presenters. REGISTER:

Jill M. Wood, PhD, Conference Chair is a Teaching Professor in the department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Penn State where she teaches courses on reproductive justice, girls and women’s health, women’s sexuality, and relationship & sexual violence prevention. As a researcher, Professor Wood has published journal articles and book chapters on the role of alcohol use in sexual behaviors with high HIV risk, menstruation and menopause, & pregnancy and childbirth. The mama of three teenagers, Jill regularly volunteers her time to talk with community students, parents, teachers and staff about relationship and sexual violence prevention, consent education, and healthy relationships. Jill was instrumental in assisting with guidance and advice for MoM’s Escape Womb Experience. She is also the academic coordinator and chair of the brunch and mini-conference Sept 21, 2025.

Courtney West a proud St. Petersburg native and the owner of 3 Gems Birth Services where everyone deserves care. Courtney is a full spectrum doula, doula educator, and a licensed practical nurse with a background in pediatric home health, and mental health nursing.

Shamella “Mel” Joy is a trauma-informed therapist, her background includes working with veterans and refugee families, providing her with extensive experience in helping clients process and heal from past traumas and PTSD. Mel integrate Mindfulness, Holistic Psychotherapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in her work with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, identity and self-esteem challenges, ADD/ADHD, and childhood trauma. Mel’s passion lies in supporting new parents grappling with the challenges of postpartum life, as well as those facing the uncertainties of fertility struggles and perinatal loss.

Tracie Williams is the proprietor of The Natal Network and the founder of Jehovah Rapha-Jireh Transformation Health Inc. She serves on the Health, Wellness and Education Committee at MOM. The Natal Network, a Tampa Bay-based maternal wellness doula service, was established to enhance maternal-fetal outcomes.

About Museum of Motherhood (MoM)

Museum of Motherhood believes a more comprehensive understanding of pregnancy, birth and the value of caregiving-work will lead to healthier and happier homes, more productive workplaces, and better social policies. Our Black Maternal Health conference will specifically uplift the expertise and insight of Black practitioners working directly with the South St. Pete community. http://www.mommuseum.org LINK to tix

Meet Our Board

Left to right: Regan Moss, Courtney Kessle, Libby Hopkins, Deanna Barcelona, Tracie Williams, Barbara Lynch, Amy Collins, Anna Leiggi, Meagan Welch

MoM is so pleased to welcome five NEW Executive Board Members to our team. See bios and read more on our team page.

New Exhibit

Four young women standing together with smiles, wearing casual attire, in a bright setting. The text 'Caring - St Pete' is prominently displayed in the background. — Caring St Pete Exhibit

Caring St. Pete: 6-Week Summer Intern Project Plan For High School Interns and Community members at the Museum of Motherhood

Project Overview: Explore and interpret the value of caregiving—both unpaid and paid (carework)—through research, storytelling, art, and community engagement. The final product will be a curated exhibit at the Museum of Motherhood. See exhibit page.

Sarah Nellis Residency Museum of Motherhood

MoM Residency August

Sarah Nellis is a multidisciplinary, British artist, working freely across 2D, 3D and time-based media. She reflects on life’s cycles: birth, grief and personal transformation, questioning ideas of permanence and exploring the in-between spaces of change. She seeks to reassert maternal narratives often marginalized in cultural and political discourse.

AMPLIFY

Invitation to the 2nd Annual Women's Empowerment Summit, featuring event details and a colorful design.

MoM Directory

Motherhood & Matrescence is a resource for mothers. Supporting mums to feel more confident. Education services as well as a masterclass is for mothers of all ages and stages. Mothers of tinies, toddlers, tweens and teens. LINK

Activism Art Birth Blog Caregiving Education Events Featured Featured Artists gender health Living Board Announcements Media Mother Studies motherhood Social Justice Sociology st petersburg The Factory, St Pete

Community Foundation Tampa Bay Awards Grant to MoM

Post author By MOM
Post date June 9, 2025

We are thrilled to share HUGE NEWS: Community Foundation Tampa Bay awards the Museum of Motherhood a 25k grant to continue work in the area of Health, Wellness and Education.

We are incredibly humbled and grateful for this recognition. Our team has been relentless in our volunteerism and hard work facilitating free and open spaces for individuals and families from all walks of life, including those at risk and in-need as well as people seeking connection to resources and inspiration.

This grant will help us move forward and keep the lights on at MoM.

We have so many people to thank including our grant writer Samantha Church (SDC Strategies) whose time with us is made possible through a grant with Hypatia Collaborative. Team-wise we owe gratitude to our fierce fundraiser Mary Havlock and our committed Board of Directors as well as our Health, Wellness and Education team championed by Sierra Clark (Community Empowerment Facilitator) and associates Amanda Bartles (Lactation Loop), Courtney West (3 Gems Doula Services), Sara Hunter (Birth Photographer), Jill M. Wood (Penn State), as well as our We Build Tampa Bay partnerships for special events. Please watch our Team page as we welcome new members for workshops including Unlimited Pediatrics, Embracing Joy Perinatal Wellness, The Natal Network, and Keesha Brundridge; This is Me – Whole Girl Summer Camp, to name a few. Press Release to come. (Special thanks to Jesse English for beautiful music during our Board Building Event!, Mother Kombucha for beverages and 15th St Farm for cake!))

Scenes From Our Board Building Event and Barbara Birthday Party

Board Building Party at MoM

Graphic featuring the Health, Wellness & Education Committee of the Museum of Motherhood, with a pink heart and butterfly design, promoting empowerment for mothers and others to access community tools. — Health Wellness and Education at the Museum of Motherhood

We Are Pleased To Announce New Programming at MoM

Health, Wellness and Education Committee — Health, Wellness, Education Committee MoM 2025

The Fourth Trimester: with Rachael Somerman, Founder of Unlimited Pediatric and a Child Development Therapist. This Monthly Group is for pregnant people and those post-natal moms looking for support during this time of vulnerability, recovery and rapid growth. Rachael will be onsite at MoM to answer your questions and to support your physical and emotional journey. Bring you bellies! Bring your babies! Adoptive moms welcome too! We will make sure you have a safe and inclusive space to share your questions, concerns, milestones and emotional & developmental needs. Free with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30.

Thursday 6/26 & 7/24 10-11:30 AM. SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)

Embracing Joy – Perinatal Wellness and Maternal Mental Health with Shamella (Mel) Joy. Mel is a licensed therapist and certified perinatal mental health specialist. Her personal and professional experiences have shown her there is a dire need for humans to come together and relearn what it means when we say “it takes a village” to bear and raise a child. Mel wants to be a part of your support system to ensure confidence in yourself, remove the guilt and actually enjoy the experience of parenting. She is excited to embark on this journey with you, and hopes the connections we forge will be helpful as they are informative, empowering, and a catalyst for positive change. Mel will meet bi-weekly alternating a week at MoM followed by a virtual meet up. Dates TBA. Free with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30. SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)

The Natal Network – Loss, Grief and Resiliency – Knowledge is Power: The Natal Network launched in 2024 by Tracie Williams who is a Licensed Practical Nurse as well as certified doula with sixteen years of healthcare experience. Tracie has rendered care to different age groups from birth to geriatrics. With a strong background in direct care and management she decided to navigate her critical thinking skills towards helping others have healthier outcomes with growing their families.

Outside of professional passions she has had her own journey with motherhood which has anchored her in compassion for families. Her first pregnancy resulted in preterm delivery at 19 weeks. Williams’ gave birth to a daughter she would never have the oppourtunity to raise. Babies are not viable outside of the womb until around 24 weeks. Thankfully motherhood became sweeter and she was able to have her rainbow baby in 2012 along with another addition in 2023. Tracie will be creating content for MoM through our social media connections that aim to elucidate the joys and pain of m/otherhood, backed by science and herstory. In-person and virtual groups begin taking place monthly in June. ree with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30. SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)

This is Me – Whole Girl Summer Camp; A Body Education Program for Learning, Growing, and Thriving From the Inside Out.

This camp balances empowerment with body-knowledge, appealing to 12–16-year-old girls by emphasizing confidence, familiarity, and control over their own health.Each day has a theme, a mix of interactive activities, reflection, and safe space discussions. It blends science, self-awareness, and practical tools with creative, age-appropriate learning. Limited to 12 per session. Led by Keesha Brundridge – Science Teacher middle school & the MoM Team. Sessions are:

July 14-18th -1 week 12-2:30

August 4-8th -1 week 12-2:30

$125 for the week

SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)

Become a Mentor at MoM — Mentorships at MoM

SUMMER CAMP FOR GIRLS

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Board Building at MoM as we Party with a Purpose and Celebrate our Team

Post author By MOM
Post date May 27, 2025

WHAT? Maybe you haven’t heard of the Museum of Motherhood (yet).

HECK YEAH! Maybe you are curious about what a Museum of Motherhood is all about? What! A women’s museum, right here in Tampa Bay!

IMPRESSIVE: With a team of over 20 volunteers, a kick-butt team of fundraisers, grant writers, and board members – MoM is ready to GROW again.

JOIN US: How better to celebrate than to honor our incredible team: It’s Barbara’s birthday. Barbara Lynch #AmbassadorBarb is our Executive Board Secretary. She is a dynamo and we wanna acknowledge her in all her glorious ambition for MoM’s growth here locally. Oh, and PS – It’s Mary Havlock’s birthday too – so it’s gonna be a special, amazing opportunity to get to know us better.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 3rd 6-7:30PM at the Museum with light fare and sparkling kombucha by Mother Kombucha. RSVP directly to Founding Director Joy’s cell phone: 207-504-3001.

MoM Is Board Building

Dear Board Candidate & Future MoM Collaborator,

We are thrilled that you are considering a volunteer leadership role with the Museum of Motherhood (MoM)! We are Florida’s first and only women’s museum. Inside this packet you will find out about our history and mission, the precedence for this project, and our current strategic priorities.

Please take time to explore our website (mommuseum.org) for additional details about our current events and programming. If you feel inspired by our mission and would like to get more involved, the next step for board membership is an interview with a current board member. Please reach out to info@mommuseum.org to request an interview, and one of our team members will connect you directly with a board member to conduct the initial interview.

If you would like to meet our team to get to know us better, we warmly invite you to join us on Tuesday, June 3rd, from 6:30-8:30pm at MoM for a “meet the board” private event. This event will celebrate our current board, and specifically honor our Board Secretary, Barbara Lynch. Barb’s birthday falls on June 3rd, and she has graciously dedicated her party to supporting the growth of our board.

On behalf of the entire team, we thank you for your time and consideration! Volunteer leadership has brought MoM into its most dynamic and successful year to-date. We are eager to continue with this momentum and achieve our vision for uplifting m/others with an international destination museum.

Welcome New Team Member: Health, Wellness and Education Committee

Tracie Williams is the proprietor of The Natal Network and the founder of Jehovah Rapha- Jireh Transformation Health Inc. Both organizations are dedicated to advancing women’s health and wellness. The Natal Network, a Tampa Bay-based doula service, was established to enhance maternal-fetal outcomes. Additionally, the company has implemented a men’s mental health initiative, supported by a partnership with Supportive Therapy Empowering People (STEP). Williams’s passion for healthcare stems from her personal experiences with birth and loss. These experiences have instilled in her a sense of relatability and compassion for the birthing community. Williams has been a licensed practical nurse for the past 15 years. Her diverse experience, including hospital settings, skilled nursing facilities, maternal-fetal medicine, and family clinics, has equipped her with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact.

Summer Camp for Girls

Coming to MoM this summer: This is Me – Whole Girl Summer Camp. The camp is designed to facilitate embodiment empowerment with information and education targeting body knowledge and awareness, periods, safe sex education, consent and procreative knowledge. For ages 12–16-year-old girls to increase confidence, knowledge, and control over their own health.

Camp Dates are July 28-Aug 1 and August 4-8th. Five day camp, 2.5 hours a day – Kids are welcome to hang out longer in the afternoon. 12-2:20PM Monday-Friday. Camp is FREE (with requested donation of $125)– Limit 12 girls per session.

Registration Opens June 1st. Use our SIGN UP FORM TO SUBMIT and WE’LL GET BACK TO YOU ASAP.

A Year’s Worth of Programming – Click the Banner to See Our Offerings

MoM has spelled out an entire year of exhibits, programming, workshops and Health, Wellness and Education events. Click the pic above to peek at all the glorious plans that are in the works with MoM!

TONIGHT AT MoM

MAY 27 6-7:30PM International Day of Families, Hosted by Sierra Clark.

Highlighting the importance of family and dynamics of support systems with Sister Nayyirah Tivica Muhammad. Sister Muhammad is a visionary leader and the founder of Repair of The Black Family . As a dynamic keynote speaker, international three-time bestselling author, spiritual advisor, and master retreat leader, she inspires and motivates those she serves to achieve total transformation through her purpose-driven life. Sister Nayyirah specializes in helping individuals release generational trauma patterns through her keen intuition and unique approach to healing. Her work focuses on guiding women to heal intentionally. Her mission is to help restore the customs and beliefs of the Black family while working towards a universal government where peace prevails regardless of class, creed, or color. (FREE) Register by calling and leaving a message: 877-711-6667

Tags Board Building, Education, Girls Camp, health, Health Camp for girsl, Tracie Williams