These Philly Area Black Legislators Are Combating The Black Maternal Health Crisis
While there are many community and health organizations actively combatting the Black maternal health crisis here in the Philadelphia area, there is also work being done legislatively to directly address the systems and structures that allow that crisis to persist.
While there are many community and health organizations actively combatting the Black maternal health crisis here in the Philadelphia area, there is also work being done legislatively to directly address the systems and structures that allow that crisis to persist. Recently, City Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson amplified the work of those community organizations and is actively working for more funding for those organization’s work to continue.
She isn’t alone. Philly area state legislators are combatting this crisis as well. In 2023, Rep. Morgan Cephas of Philadelphia County, along with Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes of Allegheny County and Rep. Gina H. Curry of Delaware County are the co-chairs the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus.
This 52 member caucus is responsible for impactful legislation such as eliminating implicit bias within Pennsylvania’s healthcare system, ensuring new parents have access to care supplies for their babies, and increasing doula support. Here are the other Black legislators from the Philadelphia area who are fighting the Black Maternal Health crisis.
Rep. Joanna E. McClinton, Pennsylvania’s House Speaker and representative of Delaware and Philadelphia counties
Rep. Carol Kazeem, Delaware County
Rep. Roni Green, Philadelphia County
Rep. Darisha Parker, Philadelphia County
Rep. Regina Young, Delaware and Philadelphia counties
Sen. Art Haywood, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties
Rep. Napoleon Nelson, Montgomery County
Rep. Greg Scott, Montgomery County
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Whitney Roberts
Whitney Roberts is a Philadelphia writer, podcaster, and content creator featured by the NAACP, Wired, NBC, and more. She contributes to outlets like TheRoot and NPR, amplifying diverse voices and stories.
