.jpg)
Membership and Training Coordinator at Iowa Coalition for Collective Change, Founder of Kismet Doula Services, and HealthConnect Fellow
(October 2019-June 2021)
Sparking conversation and cultivating community to uplift joyful stories of Black parenting in Iowa, using a reproductive justice framework
At the beginning of the fellowship, Olivia Samples decided to focus on improving access to and the quality of health care for at-risk pregnant and parenting families. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement led Samples to concentrate on reproductive justice, moving beyond maternal health to include a more comprehensive view of the issue that encompasses structural violence.
Samples launched the Celebration of Black Kin conference to create a space of collective learning, joy, and community conversation to holistically understand and address systemic barriers to maternal health equity. The conference took place during Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17, 2021) with at least a dozen events featuring a variety of speakers, most of whom are Black and highlighted lived experiences and community-driven solutions. Samples is now considering starting an organization that will continue to provide education, direct services, and advocacy.
“This event celebrated community wisdom for good reason,” Samples said. “The people closest to the problem are also closest to the solution. I hope to create more spaces for community conversation and education to continue cultivating a collaborative culture of care.”
The conference drew 300 participants; 28 organizations sponsored the event and EveryStep provided a scholarship for doula training. During the planning process, Samples also supported five families from pregnancy through postpartum as a doula.
Samples’ advocacy efforts around reproductive justice drew significant attention on how to address maternal health disparities. Samples elevated the importance of sharing joyful stories of parenting and having those with lived experiences drive solutions, which led to shifts in how other presenters on maternal health talk about disparities. Samples was featured in numerous media outlets and was recognized by Congresswoman Cindy Axne as the Iowan of the Week. Many fellows noted that Samples taught them about the importance of listening to those with lived experiences and supporting their ideas.
