Staff Report

Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) honors community midwife Jamarah Amani with the Sapling Award, presented to a new midwife who has been in practice for three years or less and was nominated by the region in which the conference is held. The honoree is a person who has earned the respect and support of mothers and families, can inspire other young midwives, and shows leadership in furthering the art and practice of midwifery.

Jamarah Amani is a community midwife (licensed in the state of Florida) who said she believes in the power of birth and that every baby has a human right to be breastfed/chestfed. Her mission is to do her part to build a movement for Birth Justice locally, nationally and globally.

A community organizer from the age of sixteen, 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. She is currently the director of Southern Birth Justice Network, a non-profit organization working to end the shackling of pregnant people and make midwifery care accessible to all.

Amani studied Africana Studies, Women’s Studies and Midwifery at centers of learning such as University of Pennsylvania, Clark Atlanta University and, most recently, International School of Midwifery. A Certified Lactation Consultant, the mother of four offers midwifery care, breastfeeding consultations and childbirth education to families across the state of Florida.