It’s time to divest

It’s time to divest

by with No Comment Equity in Perinatal WellnessPlanetary Health

It’s one thing when many of our fellow citizens voted for racism and global destruction to be on center stage. It’s another when the companies we use and depend on every day show their true colors.

For years, we have built our work around digital platforms that promised connection, community, and accessibility. But as the political landscape shifts—bringing blatant attacks on racial equity, reproductive justice, and global solidarity—it’s becoming impossible to ignore who is truly benefiting from our presence, our dollars, and our data.

It was already disheartening to watch fellow citizens cast their votes for racism, environmental destruction, and authoritarianism. But now, we are seeing corporations not just passively accepting this reality but actively fueling it.

  • The subtle erasure of Black History Month and Women’s History Month in company messaging.
  • The rollback of DEI efforts, under the guise of “neutrality.”
  • The direct funding of politicians who silence the very words we center in our work—justice, equity, inclusion, liberation.
  • The abrupt halting of billions in aid around the world, while these companies continue their extractive business practices worldwide.

Recent developments have highlighted a concerning trend among major corporations scaling back their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. For instance, Target announced it is ending its Racial Equity Action and Change program and will no longer participate in external diversity surveys, aligning with other companies like Amazon and McDonald’s that have made similar moves. 

How are we supposed to do our good, equity-centered work on platforms that are so out of alignment?

It’s easy to “vote with your dollar” when you’re making a choice for a special birthday present for your best friend and you go straight to the super ethically-made, values-aligned, one-of-a-kind crafts market. But when all of our work is built around these digital platforms and tools, things get more complicated.

But we have to try.

History has shown that a boycott must last at least 180 days to be effective. A boycott of that length leads to two quarters of negative financial reports. That’s what it takes to make a real dent.

Our plan is to make changes that will eventually result in a permanent shift in how we operate! 

We are putting this plan into motion now and will not look back unless something drastic changes.

Here are a few of the divestment actions we have in motion:

Company: Meta

Plan for the next month: We will be letting our followers know that we will be stopping all  posts on Instagram and Facebook within 6 weeks, and will use the next 6 weeks to make sure we are not leaving anyone behind.

Long-Term Plan: Our accounts will stay visible just as a landing page so people who are searching for racial equity, climate justice, and women’s rights can find us in our new location: in your inbox! Our amazing Creative Coordinator, Annie, will be instead delivering beautiful, educational, advocacy-centered content straight to your inbox every month.

Company: Amazon

Immediate Plan: Canceling Amazon Prime and stopping all orders

Longer-term plan: Finding alternatives to all of the products that we source on Amazon, through Etsy and local, sustainable vendors and Black and global majority owned businesses. Planning ahead for our events and keeping inventory on hand to not need to resort to unnecessarily fast shipping.

Company: Google

Immediate Plan: No active investment/participation through paid ads or similar. Switching to alternate search engines like Duck Duck Go.

Longer-term plan: Research ethical alternatives for our digital infrastructure, including email, storage, and calendar tools.

By taking these steps, we aim to align our operations with our values, supporting companies that truly commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We know this is just scratching the surface and there is much more work to do. Divesting from harmful corporations is a process, not a single act. It requires research, trial-and-error, and collaboration with others seeking ethical alternatives.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts and collaborating with you toward a bright, equity-centered future!

Equity in Perinatal Wellness Nurturely

Equity in Perinatal Wellness: Why Nurturely’s Work is More Critical Than Ever

by Equity in Perinatal Wellness

As the political landscape continues to shift toward intolerance and policies that threaten public health, it is more urgent than ever to center equity in perinatal wellness. The U.S. remains the only industrialized nation where maternal mortality is rising, disproportionately affecting Black and global majority communities (source).

The U.S. faces a maternal health crisis marked by significant racial disparities, with systemic racism and anti-Blackness at its core. Black birthing people experience maternal mortality rates nearly three times higher than their white counterparts. In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 26.6 for non- Hispanic white women (CDC). These disparities are not due to socioeconomic status or health conditions but are deeply rooted in systemic racism within healthcare systems. A 2019 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted that Black women are three to four times more likely to experience pregnancy-related deaths than white women (KFF).

At Nurturely, our work is grounded in the belief that every birthing person deserves access to culturally relevant, equitable, inclusive care. Our programs are designed to dismantle the systemic barriers that create disparities in perinatal health, ensuring that all parents and babies thrive. This month, as we highlight one of our core themes Equity in Perinatal Wellness, we’re spotlighting our newly-launched initiative to take this work to the next level: the Perinatal Equity Advocates Program (learn more).

Addressing Systemic Racism in Perinatal Care

The impact of systemic racism extends beyond individual interactions, influencing broader social determinants of health. Black women are more likely to reside in areas with limited access to quality healthcare services, face economic instability, and encounter environmental stressors, all contributing to adverse maternal health outcomes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) emphasizes that systemic racism is a key risk factor for maternal death and illness, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies to address these entrenched inequities (NIH).

The Perinatal Equity Advocates Certification Program was created to address these injustices by training and supporting a network of leaders who will advocate for anti-racist policies in perinatal care settings. This program provides essential tools for birthworkers, community leaders, and healthcare professionals to challenge white supremacy in healthcare—a mission we proudly reflect in our advocacy and even our merchandise. Our #BabesAgainstWhiteSupremacy onesies – designed by China Tolliver – are more than just a statement; they are a call to action for systemic change starting at birth.

The Political Landscape & The Fight Ahead

The impending political administration has already signaled its intent to roll back public health protections, restrict reproductive rights, and defund DEI efforts. These actions directly impact perinatal health, making grassroots movements like ours more vital than ever. Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach that includes policy reforms, community engagement, and systemic changes within healthcare institutions. Expanding access to quality prenatal and postpartum care, implementing training for healthcare providers, and supporting community- based health initiatives are crucial steps toward achieving equity in perinatal wellness.

At Nurturely, we refuse to stand by as policies threaten the well-being of parents and infants. Through research, education, and direct action, we are building a future where equity is not optional—it’s the standard. Where wellness for infants and caregivers is not a privilege – it’s a human right.

Join the Movement

Now is the time to act. Whether by participating in the Perinatal Equity Advocates Program, supporting our community-driven initiatives, or using your voice to demand better policies, we invite you to be part of the change. Equity in perinatal wellness is not a trend—it is a movement, and it starts with all of us.

Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding

by Equity in Perinatal WellnessHuman Milk is a Human Right

According to Kimberly Seals Allers, expert breastfeeding advocate and author of “The Big Letdown”, the disparity is due to bias and racism. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that hospital maternity wards “are less likely to help black women initiate breastfeeding after giving birth or offer lactation support following delivery” (Santhanam, 2019). Hospital staff offer black babies formula more often than white babies (Santhanam, 2019), which can be one of the most important predictors of breastfeeding duration (McKinney et al., 2016).

Racism, Birth, & Supporting Black Midwives

by Equity in Perinatal Wellness

In the United States, African-American, Native American and Alaska Native women are about three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), yet sixty percent of all pregnancy-related deaths could be prevented (Rabin, 2019). These statistics hold even when controlling for other factors including income level (Watson, 2019).