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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

discovers for-profit and nonprofit early childhood development entrepreneurs from around the country and connects them to funders, experts, researchers and policy makers who can support their ambitions. The Show+Tell webinars provide a forum for the innovators to make their pitches and invite attendees to connect with them afterwards.

focused on solutions for the perinatal phase, which goes from pregnancy through the first year postpartum. Nine innovators presented, then a roundtable zeroed in on Colorado鈥檚 recently passed package of birth equity bills, which highlighted how social entrepreneurship can drive policy innovation.

Promise Venture鈥檚 Vance Lewis, senior program manager and Awara Mendy Adeagbo, head of strategic initiatives) moderated the virtual event. Adeagbo referred to her personal health journey on the way to giving birth to her baby son last year, saying, 鈥淗aving a positive birth outcome should not be a matter of luck. The maternal and infant health crisis鈥� is unconscionable and it鈥檚 preventable. We can turn this tide by centering the perspectives, experiences and needs of BIPOC communities in a strength-based, holistic way.鈥�

Here are our takeaways from :

1. The history is shameful. , Black moms are dying at 3 to 4 times the rate of their White counterparts. The statistic is the product of a long history, from slavery and Jim Crow through the disinvestment and policy choices of today. In recent decades, politicians and the media have, in essence, blamed the victim through a narrative that questions mothers鈥� decisions.

According to Kiley Mayfield of the , this focus on individual behavior has distracted us from systems of oppression that have been in place throughout the nation鈥檚 history. Marqi Taylor, founder of Philadelphia鈥檚 called out 鈥渃enturies of racial malpractice鈥� that have led us to the point where people of color often don鈥檛 trust the medical institutions where they live, which is why activists have formed alternative communities.

2. Birth centers and doulas listen to women and birthing people. 鈥檚 mission is to develop 鈥渁bundant community birth infrastructure.鈥� Safe, culturally relevant midwifery, explained Leseliey Welch, improves maternal health outcomes and reduces the number of caesarean deliveries. Char鈥檒y Snow of said birth centers not only save lives, they reduce insurance costs by $2,000 per birth.

The solution isn鈥檛 expensive technology but rather caring, trusting relationships. Twylla Dillion of and Tia Murray of made similar arguments for birth doulas who help women navigate the experience, advocate for them and make them feel supported.

3. Data counts鈥攂ut what kind? Echoing Lewis, who cited the human right to 鈥渕aintain personal bodily autonomy,鈥� Kimberly Seals Allers, of (that is, the word Birth minus the B for Bias) declared, 鈥淏ias-free care should be a human right.鈥� Describing the Yelp-like app for pregnancy and new motherhood, Allers asserted, 鈥淐ommunity-driven feedback loops lead to more respectful and equitable maternal and infant care.鈥� Tracy Warren of made the case for better data informing decisions in government and by institutions.

4. Let communities lead. On July 6, the State of Colorado signed a groundbreaking establishing basic human rights standards in perinatal care for all people (including those who are incarcerated), aligning perinatal care data and systems for equity and continuing the Direct-Entry Midwifery program. (According to the , a Direct-Entry Midwife is 鈥渁n independent practitioner educated in the discipline of midwifery through apprenticeship, self-study, a midwifery school, or a college/university-based program distinct from the discipline of nursing.鈥�)

Show+Tell celebrated the work of , which championed the package. Founder and director Indra Lusero stressed the importance of listening to community members and letting their priorities dictate strategy.

5. Stay tuned for further progress. Activists and advocates continue to push for local and national solutions. Joy Spencer of talked about building dignity through income supports where paid parental leave is missing. Led by Alma Adams (D-NC) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL), the U.S. House of Representative鈥檚 Black Maternal Health Caucus recently unveiled the . The legislation aims reverse the tragic history of BIPOC perinatal health through targeted public investment.

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 蜜桃影视. Learn more here.