Kennedy–King College (KKC) and the Black Midwifery Collective (BMC) are proud to announce a new program, the Licensed Certified Professional Midwifery at KKC. The new associate degree program represents a collaborative effort with BMC to confront an urgent public health need.
The Licensed Certified Professional Midwifery program is open to everyone, and the midwifery core classes take approximately six semesters to complete after one semester of prerequisite classes, with the first midwifery core being offered the Spring of 2027 at KKC.
Maternal health serves as the ultimate litmus test for the overall strength and safety of our country’s entire healthcare system. When we successfully address systemic challenges causing preventable maternal crises, it builds a stronger foundation for public health, the economy, and all our communities (source: The Commonwealth Fund).
Designed to enrich the new midwifery program, KKC is transforming a classroom into a simulation lab that includes a birth center room and two exam rooms stocked with new simulation equipment.
“This groundbreaking midwifery program empowers our community to directly address the inequities in Black maternal and infant health across Illinois. By equipping birthing individuals with expanded, culturally responsive care, we are actively fulfilling Kennedy-King Colleges’ commitment to transform lives through exceptional education,” said President Katonja Webb Walker, Kennedy-King College. “We extend our deepest thanks to the Black Midwifery Collective whose invaluable partnership makes this all possible, and we look forward to welcoming our first class this fall—and making a lasting difference in every community we serve.”
“This new program in partnership with Kennedy-King College is a collective celebration of real, tangible, community-based solutions built for ourselves that benefit everyone,” said Star August, executive director of the Black Midwifery Collective. “Prioritizing Black maternal health is a critical imperative to dismantle deep-rooted systemic disparities and save lives. When we invest in the well-being of Black mothers, we ultimately strengthen the foundational health, stability, and future of entire communities. BMC stands on the shoulders of generations of Black midwives who are ready to pass that knowledge, leadership, and love to our next generations.”
According to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), more than 91 percent of maternal deaths among Black women in Illinois were found to be preventable. These statistics underscore the critical need for expanded culturally responsive care, community-based maternal health services, and a more diverse workforce of trained midwives equipped to serve birthing individuals.
Students interested in this opportunity should note that entry into the program is contingent upon the successful completion of 12 prerequisite college credits in:
- English 101
- Math 118
- Biology 121
The launch announcement will take place Tuesday, August 25 in the U-Bldg of Kennedy-King College, 740 W. 63rd Street in Chicago. Doors are open to the public beginning at 9am and the program will begin at 10am CST.
To earn your license as a midwife in Chicago and Illinois, you must first complete an accredited midwifery program and then apply for a state license through the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR). For more information about the program at KKC, please call 773-COLLEGE or email info@blackmidwiferycollective.org
