LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Centers for Disease Control reports that the U.S. is experiencing a Black maternal health crisis. On Saturday, the nonprofit Granny’s Birth Initiative held its 5th annual Black Maternal Health Fair to combat racial disparities for new and expecting Black mothers by connecting them to the lifesaving resources they need.
Satia Williams is expecting her first child in just a few months. She won a diaper genie at the Black Maternal Health Fair, an event that helps mothers like Williams prepare for the journey ahead.
Williams said, “[A diaper genie] is actually really expensive so I’m kind of shocked they’re giving something like this away. Just coming to things like this and getting more prepared—it’s really exciting.”
Williams is one of the 226 people who reserved a space at this year’s fair. Granny’s Birth Initiative started the event five years ago by working with local organizations to connect new or expecting mothers and families to pre and post pregnancy resources.
Alexa Scisney, the founder of Granny’s Birth Initiative, said, “We take their needs, and we use our platform to be their voice. We made sure that the vendors and their services that we are providing today are services that are being asked for by our community.”
Alexa Scisney, the founder of the nonprofit Granny’s Birth Initiative worked at the 5th annual Black Maternal Health Fair in Louisville on Oct. 25, 2025. The event works with local organizations and community members to connect new and expecting mothers to lifesaving resources. (Spectrum News 1/Destinee Flowers)
CDC data from 2024 shows that Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts because of factors such as quality health care options, underlying conditions, accessibility and more.
The data also found that over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable.
Scisney said, “We’re going through a maternal health and infant crisis. Our mothers and babies are dying more from childbirth issues. It’s real, and we need providers to understand that and services that are here to support that.”
Scisney worked as a doula before she founded the nonprofit. She said she was inspired by her experience and the legacy of the Black granny midwives.
“These were providers that took care of enslaved working people and took care of people during times of segregation and discrimination; a place to really have health care access without discrimination. We wanted to carry that legacy in today’s world as we’re seeing the prominence within the racial health disparity,” said Scisney.
Granny’s Birth Initiative also provides diapers, cribs, baby clothes and more at its Maternity Pantry in Louisville.
“We don’t just give items for one child in the family. We give items for every child in the household. We also have our transportation system called ‘Doula Dash,’ where doulas are transporting people to their prenatal and postnatal appointments.”
Scisney said they always accept donations, and diapers are the most in need.
“We usually are supported by the Saint Bernadette Diaper Bank, but they were not able to receive federal funding again. It has dropped 18 agencies, including ours, flat on the ground. We have an extreme high diaper need that we just don’t have enough funding to replace right now,” said Scisney.
She added the donations don’t need to be monetary. Scisney said, “Some people honestly were just trying to pass on things they don’t use anymore. Every mom at some point is like, ‘Okay, it’s time to declutter, but where can I give it to?’ Really, that’s how the pantry donation cycle started. We’re going to just keep that motherhood cycle of giving going.”
Williams said she is grateful to have a resource like Granny’s Birth Initiative in her community.
“They just hone-in so hard on making sure that you have what you need and no just superficial cutesy stuff,” said Williams. “But having a ride to your prenatals, having a ride to your postpartum, having someone to watch your child for a few hours. I really appreciate them for all that they do.”
