To support aspiring individual advocates and organizations engage in advocacy, the California Black Birth Equity Summit (CBBES) and the Center for Birth Justice (CBJ) presented a Birth Equity Advocacy 101 webinar on March 12, 2026.
“This webinar builds upon the Summit offerings to collaborate, partner, and gather our stakeholders beyond the Summit and throughout the year,” says Mashariki Kudumu, founder and director of CBBES. Designed to provide participants with the foundational knowledge and skills to advocate for birth equity in their communities and beyond, the event gathered both new and experienced individuals and organizations.
The presentation by Onyemma Obiekea outlined effective advocacy strategies, including engaging decision-makers, building collective support, and tailoring the approach to the situation. Obiekea is a strategic consultant and advocate who's dedicated her work to dismantling the oppressive systems that prevent communities from living with dignity and thriving.
Individuals looking to get involved in advocacy have many options to make a difference. Obiekea highlighted ways to show your support for bills through actions like making phone calls or visiting your legislator’s office, writing letters of support, and providing hearing testimony at a committee hearing. Even better, gather your friends and neighbors to join you because you can do this alone, but it's better with allies.
"If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together," says Obiekea.
Helping build awareness around the implementation of a law after a bill is passed is also a critical step, because, as she points out, passing a bill is only the first step. Often, if programs affiliated or funded by a law are underutilized, especially when public awareness is low, funding is often cut.
For organizations, building a comprehensive advocacy plan is important for identifying and tracking advocacy goals, assessing constituents, allies, and opponents, and deciding which tactics will be most effective for each.
Additionally, when creating a plan, taking an inventory of an organization's skills and expertise is critical, says Obiekea. These assets become even more important when working with other people or organizations to complement each other’s strengths and address the weaknesses.
While there are many different approaches and items to be effective, the goal is straightforward, says Obiekea: “It all boils down to building power to influence outcomes.”
Join the California Black Birth Equity Summit (CBBES) and the Center for Birth Justice (CBJ) during Black Maternal Health Week for another free virtual statewide convening focused on advancing and mobilizing for Black birth justice across California. The event continues CBBES’s commitment to advocacy and CBJ's dedication to connecting research and action.
When: Friday, April 17, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm PT
Where: Virtual (Zoom)