A Important call to address Black maternal mortality crisis; free community event features Kirsten Corley Bennett and leading medical experts
The First Ladies Health Initiative will convene faith leaders, medical professionals, and community partners on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Imani Village (901 E. 95th St.) for a powerful Maternal Health Panel & Resource Fair.
This event comes at a critical moment where in Chicago, Black mothers are six times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white mothers — a rate 30% higher than the national average. Most of these deaths are preventable. Conditions such as high blood pressure, postpartum depression, and hemorrhage can be detected early — but only if families know the warning signs and have access to follow-up care.
“When a mother is lost, the whole family suffers. Children grow up without their mom, grandparents step in to raise grandchildren, and the community feels the weight of that loss,” said Marquise Alston-Allison, Executive Director of the First Ladies Health Initiative. “Black maternal health is not just about mothers — it’s about protecting families, ensuring fathers have partners, children have parents, and communities have stability. This is why we are creating trusted spaces like Imani Village to educate, connect, and save lives.”
The day begins with a Health Resource Fair from 10:00 a.m. to noon, co-sponsored by the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative (ALCSI). Attendees will be able to access maternal health resources, free screenings, vaccinations, and wellness services. At 12:00 p.m., the spotlight shifts to a Maternal Health Panel, led by the First Ladies Health Initiative, featuring top experts and advocates who will discuss solutions, answer questions, and equip families with life-saving knowledge. A second Health Resource Fair from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. will close the event.
Confirmed panelists include Dr. Robin L. Jones (Illinois MMRC), Dr. Cindy Davis (Melanated Midwifery Group), Michelle Alero Adeniyi (March of Dimes), and Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, among others. The event will be hosted by Kirsten Corley Bennett, writer, mental health advocate, and former spouse of Chicago’s Chance the Rapper. With her strong social media presence and lived experience as a mother, Corley Bennett brings both authenticity and national visibility to the crisis of Black maternal health.
“This conversation is deeply personal to me as a mother, a Chicagoan, and as someone who has witnessed the impact of maternal health disparities up close,” said Kirsten Corley Bennett. “Too often, Black women’s voices go unheard in healthcare spaces. This event is about creating a platform where our experiences are valued, our questions are answered, and solutions are within reach.”
Along with vital education, families will also have access to free food, raffles, prizes, and Pampers giveaways to support mothers and babies.
This Chicago gathering marks the first in a national series of Maternal Health Panels, with additional convenings planned in Los Angeles and Atlanta over the next two years.
The Maternal Health Panel & Resource Fair is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance at FirstLadiesHealth.com.
Sponsors & Partners: First Ladies Health Initiative (Panel Lead), American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative (Resource Fair Co-Sponsor), Genentech, Pfizer, AHF, BLACC, Cook County Health, UChicago Medicine, Advocate Health, Trinity United Church of Christ/Imani Village, and additional community health pro
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