Fighting for Black Parents, Children, and Midwives: The Afiya Center

A Black women-led organization, The Afiya Center is a leading advocate for full-spectrum reproductive spectrum care, challenging the inequities in healthcare for Black communities across issues like abortion access, voting rights, and birth justice.

In April 2023, the Afiya Center represented the Jackson family, whose four-day-old newborn was taken by Dallas authorities following their home birth and decision to keep their newborn under their midwife’s care. The Center launched a three-week nationwide campaign to pressure elected officials and child welfare agencies to return baby Mila to her family.

On April 20, the Dallas County district attorney’s office released Mila to her family after weeks of public rallies fighting against the criminalization and violation of rights for Black parents, children, and midwives.