Durham Nonprofit Combats Black Maternal Death Crisis Through Doula Services
A Durham fundraiser honored Black women who died in pregnancy while raising funds for doula services aimed at preventing future maternal deaths.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA — Signs bearing the names of Black women who died from pregnancy-related causes lined the path to a Durham middle school track Saturday, serving as somber reminders of the crisis a local nonprofit is fighting to address.
The memorial display was part of a fundraiser for MAAME, a Durham organization that provides doula care to help reduce maternal mortality rates among Black women. MAAME stands for Mobilizing African American Mothers through Empowerment and is also the Twi word for woman or mother.
Walkers and runners participating in the April 26 event passed the signs as they moved along the track, each marker representing a tragedy the organization works to prevent through community support and advocacy.
Personal Impact of Doula Care
Laura Gonzalez Dutor attended the fundraiser with her partner Uriah Shaw and their one-month-old daughter Ember to collect baby supplies. Having received doula care during her recent pregnancy, Gonzalez Dutor spoke about the significant impact the support had on her experience.
“She gave me a sense of peace, in a way, because she was very knowledgeable about everything,” Gonzalez Dutor said. “I knew that there was always going to be someone, in addition to my partner, that would be able to advocate for me and just help me make informed decisions.”
Gonzalez Dutor credited her doula with helping reduce her anxiety throughout the pregnancy process. The personalized support provided her with confidence and additional advocacy beyond what her partner could offer alone.
Addressing a National Crisis
The fundraiser highlighted a broader public health emergency facing the United States. American women die from pregnancy-related causes at higher rates than women in any other wealthy nation, according to health data.
The disparity becomes even more stark when examining racial demographics. Black women in the United States die from pregnancy-related causes at three times the rate of other populations, representing a significant health equity gap that organizations like MAAME aim to address.
Among the women memorialized at Saturday’s event was former Greensboro police officer Ciji Graham, who died during pregnancy in 2023. According to ProPublica reporting, Graham was denied treatment for a heart condition and could not obtain an abortion.
Community Response and Support
The Durham fundraiser brought together community members who recognize the urgent need for maternal health support services. By providing doula care, MAAME offers expectant mothers additional resources during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery.
Doulas provide non-medical support that includes emotional assistance, physical comfort measures, and advocacy during medical appointments and childbirth. Research has shown that doula care can improve birth outcomes and reduce complications.
The organization’s work takes on particular significance given North Carolina’s position in national maternal mortality statistics. The state, like much of the South, faces ongoing challenges in providing equitable healthcare access to pregnant women, particularly those from minority communities.
Events like Saturday’s fundraiser help sustain community-based solutions while raising awareness about the scope of maternal mortality disparities. The visible memorial to women who lost their lives serves as both remembrance and motivation for continued advocacy efforts.
