7 events in Los Angeles County, California

Black Maternal Health Week 2026 is almost here!

April 11-17th is Black Maternal Health Week and we are hosting our 4rd annual 5K Walk to help raise awareness..

The Black infant and maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. is a national issue. Beauty for Ashes Maternal Wellness Inc .is hosting a 5K Walk to raise awareness, and to raise funds to provide support to families in need.

Black women and birthing people are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes and complications than their white counterparts. Most pregnancy related deaths are preventable. Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as structural racism, implicit bias, variation in quality healthcare, and underlying chronic conditions. Social determinants of health have historically prevented many people from racial and ethnic minority groups from having fair opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health.

Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) was founded and is led by Black Mamas Matter Alliance. BMHW takes place annually from April 11-17 and was recognized by the White House on April 13, 2021. It is a week of awareness, advocacy, activism, and collaboration​ to amplify ​the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people.

This year's theme is "Rooted in Justice & Joy".

Purpose: To raise awareness, promote activism, and amplify community-driven, Reproductive Justice-centered care.

Infant mortality is defined as death during the first year of life. The United States has a high infant mortality rate, and Black babies are in the gravest danger, with an infant mortality rate in 2018 of 10.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to a rate of 4.6 White babies per 1,000 live births.

Day of the Black Infant The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared April 16 as the Day of the Black Infant.

Doula support has been shown to help improve birth outcomes so we are working to make doula support more accessible to Black birthing families, while also supporting the doulas that have committed themselves to providing that support. Click here to learn more about the evidence on doula support

Beauty for Ashes Maternal Wellness, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of women, infants and birthing families as well as the birth workers that are called to serve them. Funds raised will be used to cover the cost of labor and postpartum doula support, lactation support, and supplemental supportive services including transportation and nutritional support. To learn more about the programs and services we provide, please click here .

The walk will be held in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Birth Equity Consortium Doula Hub located at 5838 Overhill Dr. #3 L.A. CA, 90043.

Our Virtual walk is for people that are not local to Los Angeles but would still like to support and show solidarity. We will kick off the virtual walk on Saturday April 11th and continue through Sunday April 12th. Participants can walk anytime, any where. We look forward to seeing and sharing all of your pictures and videos, so don't forget to tag www.instagram.com/beauty4ashesmaternalwellness Join us and help save Black moms and babies.

DON'T FORGET THE HASHTAGS

#BMHW2026 #BFAMW #BEAUTY4AHSESWELLNESS #BLACKMATERNALHEALTHWEEK #BIRTHJUSTICE #ENDMATERNALMORTALITY

DATES TO REMEMBER

• APRIL 1-30: NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH

• APRIL 11-17: BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK

• APRIL 11-12: VIRTUAL WALK Walk anytime, anywhere throughout the weekend in solidarity with us

• APRIL 11: INTERNATIONAL DAY for MATERNAL HEALTH RIGHTS

• APRIL 11: COMMUNITY 5K WALK IN LOS ANGELES

• APRIL 16: DAY OF THE BLACK INFANT

Race Shirt/Bib Packet Pickup

Race Shirt/Bib packet pickup will be held FRIDAY, APRIL 24th from 3pm to 5pm at Ridgecrest Intermediate School, 28915 Northbay Rd., Rancho Palos Verdes.

Late packet and t-shirt pickup will be the morning of the event starting at 6:30AM, at Promenade PV, NOT AT RIDGECREST INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.

PLEASE NOTE: If you do not receive an email confirming your registration, you may not have registered. We are asking all runners to bring a copy of their confirmation email when picking up race gear. If you did not receive one, please contact Joseph Jaramillo at [email protected] to determine if you're on the list of runners as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Race Awards

Medals will be awarded to the top Male and Female finishers in each category.

Runners are divided by grade level for students and then age group for everyone else.

Medals for both male and female participants are divided into the following grade/age brackets:

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

Ages 14-17, 18-34, 35-44, 45-59, 60-74, 75+