News and Events
Check out our past news and events below. You can also join the mailing list for the most recent updates and activities from HBC.
Star august on chicago tonight
Illinois Establishing Midwife License
“This will open up midwifery for women who don’t have the funds to pay for it. It’s a human right. It should be available to any woman who needs it and those who need it the most do not have the financial means to be able to obtain it,” August said.
NPR Interview
Midwives gain a victory in illinois, buT look for more
“’I come across women every day who want to have a home birth, but are unfortunately not going to be able to, specifically from culturally congruent providers,’ August said. ‘It’s just not an option. I feel like this bill is very much the beginning.’”
chicago tribune article
Who can be licensed as a midwife in Illinois is likely to expand soon, but critics say lack of Medicaid coverage is a problem
“’We really need to make sure that this is something that’s equitable and fair to everybody, and is not just going to continue to affect the status quo of those who can pay for it,’ said Star August, co-founder and CEO of the Holistic Birth Collective, a Chicago-based nonprofit.”
Salaam community welness center grand opening
We were honored to have the opportunity to partner with others in the community through a spirit of outreach and support at the Grand Opening of the Salaam Wellness Center in our very own South Side of Chicago. A big thanks to everyone who came out!
The Salaam Community Wellness Center (SCWC) evolved in response to the health and healthcare disparities that have long plagued Black and Latino communities in Chicago. The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on people of color only heightened this awareness. At one point, Chicago’s South Side had the highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the State of Illinois.
we recieved the 2021 birth justice award!
“Holistic Birth Collective’s most recent legislative project with the Illinois General Assembly establishes a demonstration program to launch in 2023 under which any pregnant person eligible for Medicaid may elect to receive patient-centered care in an at-home setting from a racially and culturally concordant team of doulas and midwives. The 2023 demonstration program will also pilot alternative payment models designed to establish a system of healthcare reimbursement aligned with the demonstrated value of holistic, relationship-based perinatal care.”
The Chicago Birth Justice award honors a community member or organization that exemplifies the values of birth justice. Through their work they have helped women and birthing individuals feel empowered during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and postpartum to make healthy decisions for themselves and their babies. The Chicago Birth Justice award recipient has helped to lead the movement against reproductive oppression.
Our spot on streetwise
State bills would expand doula care to give black moms more support
“August has become friends with many moms she has delivered, created a community. ‘… You can call me directly and say, ‘Hey, Star, what do you think of this?’ We have a more holistic approach, we don’t push pharmaceuticals, we teach good habits in eating, overall lifestyle habits, open up their eyes to diferent ways of approaching life as a whole. This is the kind of care we need as Black women still dealing with the effects of slavery.'”
Streetwise’s mission is to empower those facing homelessness or at risk of homelessness by providing immediate economic and employment opportunities so individuals can work toward self-sufficiency with dignity.
