Resilient Climates

Did you know that the climate crisis impacts parents and babies?

Because of environmental racism, Black and global majority parents and babies are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. Nurturely created EnviroNatal Equity Weekas an avenue for leaders like you to take action.

The Problem: The climate crisis hurts babies and parents

Rising Temperatures and Air Pollution Increase Risk for...

Preterm Birth

Risk of preterm birth increases with each grade of temperature increase or with longer duration of heat exposure

Low Birth Weight

Ozone exposure was associated with low birth weight in 86% of the studies documented by a 2020 systematic review

Stillbirth

A 2020 meta analysis documented that temperature predicted increased risk of stillbirth in 100% of the studies

Our Solutions

Nurturely promotes climate resilience to support wellness before and after birth

Research

We conduct research to understand how to increase climate resilience during pregnancy and postpartum

Education

Our courses teach care providers and health professionals how to support climate resilience when it matters most

Action

We launched EnviroNatal Equity Week to bring together leaders in health, racial equity, and climate action

Perinatal Health = Planetary Health

Introducing EnviroNatal Equity Week

EnviroNatal Equity Week - Square

EnviroNatal Equity Week

🗓️ April 18-21, Annually

🖤 Nurturely created EnviroNatal Equity Week to raise awareness of the connection between our planet, perinatal health, and racial equity 

📣 The goal is to unite communities, experts, and advocates to address the critical interplay between climate change, racial inequities, and maternal health

🔗 EnviroNatal Equity Week links the days between Black Maternal Health Week (founded by BMMA) and Earth Day

EnviroNatal Equity Week is a call to action. 

Maternal health, racial justice, and climate change cannot wait. 

Join a community of people who care deeply about the well-being of families and our planet. Get involved by:

✔️ Downloading the toolkit and sharing with your networks

✔️ Attending or speaking at the annual Symposium 

✔️ Hosting or attending a nature walk

 

Scientific Research + Cultural Wisdom

EnviroNatal Equity Symposium

Join us virtuallyFriday, April 18th

Nurturely hosts an annual symposium at the intersection of perinatal health, racial equity, and climate resilience featuring leading researchers, organizers, and advocates. See featured presentations below:

Jade Sasser, PhD: Climate impacts on maternal mental health
Join us for a compelling presentation that delves into the unique ways pregnant individuals and mothers are affected by climate-related emotional and mental health challenges. In this session, we explore the concepts of solastalgia, climate anxiety, and climate mental health through an intersectional lens. Discover findings from a national survey and personal interviews with mothers experiencing grief, guilt, and anxiety about the climate and its impact on their children's future. Learn how climate change disproportionately affects the mental and emotional health of communities of color and gain insights into the tools and resources designed to support marginalized communities.
Amina Khalique & Hailey Gibbs: Rising Extreme Heat Compounds the U.S. Maternal Health Crisis
Discover crucial insights into the impact of extreme heat on pregnant individuals, especially Black women and women of color, and their newborns in the United States. This presentation will unveil five key findings from recent research, highlighting the severe threats posed by rising temperatures. With three compelling statistics, we will illustrate the worsening maternal health crisis and delve into the racial disparities that magnify these challenges in marginalized communities. Join us to learn about actionable policy recommendations that state and federal policymakers must consider to protect these vulnerable populations, presented in a clear and engaging format that encourages questions and discussion.
Esther McCant: Empowering Doulas for Climate Resilience
Join us to explore the development and early stages of the D-CHOT program, designed to tackle climate-related health risks facing pregnant and postpartum women. Learn about the progress we've made and the ambitious goals we've set to enhance maternal health in the face of climate change. This session will inspire and mobilize support for continued advocacy and action in this critical intersection of maternal health and environmental justice.
Jacquita Johnson: A Call for Black Feminist Mixed/Multi-Methods in Environmental Justice Research and Practice
Discover a groundbreaking, community-engaged dissertation project that not only showcases the effectiveness of this methodology but underlines its essential nature. This innovative topic elevates Black women from being mere participants to central figures in the theory, design, implementation, and dissemination of research, challenging traditional methods and shifting them rightfully from the margins to the center. Join us to explore how this approach can revolutionize environmental justice work and create more inclusive, impactful outcomes.

Get Outside: Find an event near you

EnviroNatal Equity Week Pop-Up Nature Walks

Confirmed nature events. Click below for more info.
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Global Communities – Healthy Start

Nature Momz

Children of the Sun Queens Village

Trust CHW

Air Alliance Houston

Beyond Toxics + Mt Pisgah

Familias en Acción

Soultrition

Join the Community

EnviroNatal Partners & Supporters

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Vanessa Simmons

Vanessa Simmons

Vanessa A. Simmons is a first-generation Ghanaian-American portrait photographer who activates her gift of vision through speaking and writing to transform the mindset of powerhouse advocates, teaching them to ambitiously pursue their dreams while simultaneously prioritizing joy and rest as they serve their family and community.

Skye Wheeler

Skye Wheeler

Skye works in the women's rights division at Human Rights Watch, an international organization that exposes human rights violations all over the world. She has been working as part of a growing and vibrant community of people looking for deep change in how governments regulate pollution and ensure the right to a healthy environment, including for pregnant people especially at risk from toxics, climate change and other growing environmental crises.

Meghan Elizabeth Kallman

Meghan Elizabeth Kallman

Meghan Elizabeth Kallman is a professor, organizer, and a State Senator, representing Rhode Island District 15. Josephine Ferorelli is a writer, illustrator, and yoga instructor who lives in Chicago, Illinois. Together, they are co-founders and co-directors of Conceivable Future, and coauthors of a new book by the same name.

Malaika Ludman

Malaika Ludman

Malaika Ludman is a birth doula and certified lactation counselor who holds a master’s degree in public health. She is a Lactation Home Visitor and Program Coordinator for Birthmark Doula Collective’s Infant Ready program, which provides tools and information to promote perinatal emergency preparedness. 

Lisa Heelan-Fancher

Lisa Heelan-Fancher

Dr. Lisa Heelan-Fancher is a board-certified family and adult nurse practitioner whose program of research seeks to improve childbirth outcomes. In collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines, her research focuses on decreasing the high number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries, advancing birth equity, and examining the impact of climate change and environmental stressors on maternal and infant health outcomes. She is the recipient of the American Nurses Association 2020 Excellence in Nursing Research award and the 2018 Pearl Rosendahl Teaching Excellence award.

Shamell Mary Lavigne

Shamell Mary Lavigne

Shamell Lavigne, Chief Operating Officer for RISE St. James Louisiana, received her B.S. and Master’s degrees from Southern University and A&M College. She has over 20 years of experience in the HIV field, having worked as a Program Director of a local non-profit to administer several grant funded programs and later as the Executive Program Administrator for the City of Baton Rouge's Division of Human Development and Services and East Baton Rouge Parish Community Action Agency. Since 2018, Shamell has supported RISE St. James’ efforts by speaking at events, panel discussions and marching alongside her mother, Sharon Lavigne, 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize Winner, and other Rise St. James members and partners.

Desiree Shantai Smith

Desiree Shantai Smith

Desiree has dedicated her career to promoting health and racial equity, particularly in sexual and reproductive health, across various settings including universities, state health departments, global healthcare agencies, and non-profits. She currently focuses on health equity research and evaluation for domestic and global impact, while also volunteering with advocacy organizations to support reproductive health rights, PIC abolition, and liberation for Black and Indigenous communities.

Antonia Juhasz

Antonia Juhasz is the Senior Researcher on Fossil Fuels in the Environment and Human Rights Division of Human Rights Watch. She is the author of the recent Human Rights Watch investigation, ""We're Dying Here:' The Fight for Life in a Louisiana Fossil Fuel Sacrifice Zone,"" which documents the severe health toll, including on maternal, reproductive, and newborn health, of the fossil fuel and petrochemical industry in Louisiana's Cancer Alley. Juhasz is an award-winning investigative journalist and the author of three books, most recently, Black Tide: the Devastating Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill. https://www.hrw.org/about/people/antonia-juhasz

Catherine Toms

Catherine Toms

Catherine Toms is a public health physician with experience designing programs aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality. She leads a new South Florida-based program called Green Cars for Kids which provides free transportation to non-emergency healthcare for low-income expectant mothers and kids using an all-electric fleet. Catherine is especially interested in the health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations, including expectant mothers.

Chidimma Ozor Commer

Chidimma Ozor Commer, PhD, LMSW, is a social justice advocate, a mental health professional, small business owner, educator, researcher, and the former host of two podcasts. One of her research interests is on dismantling the white savior industrial complex and a second area is on the relationship between social workers who self-identitfy as advocates and/or activists and their self care practices. As a US born Nigerian and Black mother she personally understands the implications of Black maternal health disparities in the US. Dr Ozor Commer sits on several boards including serving as the Nurturely Board President. During her "off" time when she is not thinking about how to better serve humanity, she enjoys using the Peloton platform, reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

Josephine Ferorelli

Josephine Ferorelli is a writer, illustrator, and yoga instructor who lives in Chicago, Illinois.

EnviroNatal Community Action

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EnviroNatal Equity Coalition

Nurturely is the backbone organization for the March of Dimes Environmental Justice Workgroup, leading resource-creation and national policy recommendations with cross-sector partners

Wombs & Wildfires Workgroup

Nurturely led a regional workgroup to address the urgency of Oregon wildfires, coming together with partners to co-create materials supporting pregnant and postpartum people during wildfire season

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