MIAMI, Fla. – Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and city commissioners presented their Trailblazer Award to Jamarah Amani, community midwife and organizer, whose work is dedicated to the importance of accessible midwifery and doula care to help reduce health disparities.

“I’m so grateful for the support and encouragement of my family and community,” said Amani, director at Southern Birth Justice Network, a 501(c)3 non- profit organization.

“To me, this is an opportunity to raise the visibility of black mamas, black midwives, and black doulas and to compel elected officials in Miami to have conversations about the intersections of oppression that impact health outcomes. Onward!”

Amani said her mission is to do her part to build a movement for Birth Justice locally, nationally and globally. Her work has a particular lens toward those who are most marginalized for various reasons related to the oppressive forces of our society.

Amani recently spoke at Capital Hill in Tallahassee about the importance of midwifery and doula care being accessible to help reduce health disparities. She was accompanied by five teen moms and their babies.

A community organizer from the age of 16, Amani has worked with several organizations across the United States, the Caribbean and in Africa on various public health issues, including HIV prevention, infant mortality risk reduction, access to emergency contraception and access to midwifery care.

Amani studied Africana Studies, Women’s Studies and Midwifery at centers of learning such as the University of Pennsylvania, Clark Atlanta University and most recently, the International School of Midwifery.

Amani is also a certified lactation consultant. In addition to raising four lively children, who she says are also raising her, Amani offers midwifery care, breastfeeding consultations and childbirth education to families and communities across Florida.

For more information visit southernbirthjustice.org.