Hello Ladies (and Gents!)
 
Hope everyone is well. Our recent meeting was held at The Birth Place on Tuesday Feb 7, 2006 - Jennie, Devita, Sybil, Hope and Rakecia were present . We discussed how sad we feel about the lack of anything positive around breastfeeding for Black women in our community. One thing that was clearly identified was that studies show that women make their infant feeding decisions early in their pregnancy or before conception. Everyone agreed that this was the case for them too. But there seems to be a total void (other than the excellent WIC counseling and support system) when it
comes to having a place to turn when dealing with breast feeding for women of color. We talked about how those women who are breastfeeding feel isolated and those that aren't breastfeeding are hard pressed to identify or help those who might be needing them. It is a difficult situation and one that we all agreed our AABA group could address.
 
Firstly I would like to continue to encourage you to remember the group meetings are every first Tuesday at noon at The Birth Place. (www.thebirthplace,org for directions). This is a time when we can really encourage pregnant and nursing women to attend so that we can build the support network and have a DEFINITE, reliable, meeting time, EVERY month no matter what. I feel strongly that we can all work towards sharing that easy to remember date and time with our clients, friends, colleagues etc. Then, as we develop a core group of willing workers (you know who you are!!!) we can possibly meet at another time- maybe everyfirst Saturday morning at 10am to work on planning our events etc. My goal, as always, is not to wear us all out with meetings but rather to have us create effective and EASY ways to get things done. I have created a forum on Nubian Health Network (www.nubianhealthnetwork.org) and I encourage you to go there to keep in touch with everyone. Please check it out and give me feedback.
 
Secondly - we all agreed at the meeting that it would be helpful to hold an event to increase awareness. To that end we are beginning to look to see what upcoming events would be conducive to our message and to see about participating. A suggestion was made to look at Sisters Take Charge which is coming up in April and Hope (thank you!) is working on that for us.
 
I also feel that a group photo of past, present and upcoming Black women nursers would be a powerful image and would engage the public - imagine how wonderful it would be to see a group of beautiful sisters, pregnant (and not) with their gorgeous kids. We could use the photo to get press coverage and to make an AABA postcard/business card for distribution locally. I would be willing to see about paying for the photo and for printing the cards or we could 'pass the hat' and see what we get.

Another idea I have is to start gathering some articles/info/ statistics and brochures about breastfeeding and to create a banner for AABA representation at health fairs. Then all we need is to identify where the fairs will be held and volunteer to be at the table, say, once a year. Let's make a goal to attend 3 health fairs this year. (Anyone interested in coordinating a 'health fair committee'? Keep in mind, at most it would involve keeping a list of volunteers, finding a box to keep the literature and banner in and helping the volunteer to be at the right place at the right time. I will be happy to assist the coordinator.)

Thirdly, we need to support the national organization. Go to and www.aabaonline.com and find out more about them. I believe we are currently the ONLY Florida Chapter (Yeaahhh!) but we need a group in every city if you ask me! They also have a listserv which you can join. We also have a local star that needs our support. Nicky Banton, diansakhu@yahoo.com, is making a documentary film on infant feeding choices among AA women and needs to interview women who are pregnant and/or have a child aged three or less. Let's support this extremely important work by getting in touch or referring women to her.

So to recap.

1. Remember to promote the AABA group meetings- flyer is attached. Invite and share this newsletter and forward email addresses to be added to  our list.
2. Keep an eye open for health fairs (preferably free ones) and consider joining our volunteer bank to help at a table at one of them.
3. Give feedback to the group via the email and Nubian Health Network. Anyone interested in doing a quarterly newsletter ¡V I know someone can do a better job than I am doing :)!
4. Forward any literature/ resources/ weblinks to Jennie - address below - and/or gather together and bring to a meeting.
5. Consider helping with designing a banner or display board. Let us know if you are willing so that we not all spinning our wheels.
6. Consider being our health fair coordinator - again let us know if you are willing. 

In the meantime then - keep supporting breastfeeding, our babies need you!

PEACE.

Jennie

JENNIE JOSEPH
The Birth Place
1150 E.Plant St. Suite F
Winter Garden, FL. 34787
407 656 6938 tel./ 407 656-9161 fax

www.thebirthplace.org
info@thebirthplace.org
www.nubianhealthnetwork.org
jennie@nubianhealthnetwork.org