News Release Header
For Immediate Release:
 May 15, 2023

Media Contact:
Griselle Marino
[email protected]
 305-297-3139



Racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality statistics discussed at community forum


Black Affairs Advisory Board members Black Affairs Advisory Board Director and members
From L-R: BAAB members Phyllis Simpkins, Sandy Sears, Priscilla Dames, Jihad Rashid, Chairman Pierre Rutledge, and LaChanze Thomas. At right, Priscilla Dames, Yolanda Cash Jackson, Esq., BAAB Program Director Retha Boone-Fye, and Sandy Sears during the May 13 communityfForum at Florida Memorial University

MIAMI – The Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board (BAAB) co-hosted a public forum with the Women's Fund, shedding light on the alarming racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality statistics within the Black and Brown community. The event took place on May 13 at Florida Memorial University.

"Of all women who die during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy, 60 percent are Black, 15 percent are Hispanic, and 14 percent are White,” said Black Affairs Advisory Board Chairman Pierre Rutledge. “This tragic reality not only raises the question 'why,' but also compels us to find answers and take action against such glaring disparities."

Marya Myer, Executive Director of the Women's Fund Miami-Dade, emphasized the extreme racial disparities in these statistics. She stated, "Maternal mortality rates are 10.8 percent for Black women and 3.1 percent for white women. This discrepancy cannot be attributed solely to socioeconomic status. It is crucial to be heard, understood, and culturally sensitive in addressing this issue."

The community forum featured a panel of esteemed experts focused on reproductive health, maternal and infant mortality. Dr. Alexandra Cornelius, Director of the Center for Women's and Gender Studies (CWGS) at Florida International University (FIU), led the discussion. CWGS is dedicated to advancing research, programming, and curricula in women's and gender studies.

Other panellists included Tenesha Avent, Joanne Ruggiero, and Esther McCant. Yolanda Cash-Jackson, a prominent community leader, engaged the audience in advocacy training, equipping attendees with the necessary tools to address this crisis. The forum welcomed women, men, and youth participants, fostering an inclusive dialogue.

For additional information, please contact Retha Boone-Fye, Director of the Black Affairs Advisory Board, at 305-375-4606. High-resolution photos can be obtained by emailing Griselle Marino, Director of Communications and Media at the Office of Community Advocacy, at [email protected].

The Black Affairs Advisory Board is one of the 13 advisory boards/council/program under the Office of Community Advocacy, a division of the Board of County Comissioners. Follow BAAB on, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
 

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