Community Partner : MOMCares Intern : Ozioma Anyanwu Site Supervisor : Oluwa Oshewa
What is MOMCares ?
MOMCares serves under-supported mothers with a NICU experience in Baltimore City by providing postpartum doula care including transportation , childcare , advocacy , self care opportunities , and nutritious meals to mothers and their families .
Assisted the Administrative Coordinator in the planning and overseeing of the Young Mother ’ s Program Updated and maintained MOMCares ’ programming calendar Identified , researched , and recommended potential guest speakers and program sessions for the Young Mother ’ s Program Managed communication between program participants and MOMCares staff
The past eight weeks have opened my eyes to the fact that healthcare and compassion can coexist . This summer I interned with MOMCares , an organization that supports mothers and families in and around Baltimore City in a multitude of ways . Admittedly , before starting my internship I was mostly uninformed in subjects relating to maternal healthcare . As a black woman in Baltimore City and a pre-medical student , I had my identity and experiences to guide me in my experience this summer , but I couldn ’ t have prepared myself for the breadth of knowledge and experience I ’ d gain with MOMCares .
My primary focus over the course of the program was assisting in planning and executing the Young Mother ’ s Program : a recurring cohort that MOMCares facilitates on a regular basis . The program is targeted towards mothers in and around Baltimore , ages 16-24 , and aids them in everything from professional development to doula certification . Overall , the program itself was unique from anything I had ever been a part of before . Black women are one of the most underserved and underappreciated demographics in this country . However , MOMCares defies this trope starting with their core values including Anti-racist thought , Collaboration , and Community .
The insightful subjects we focused on this summer spanned from birth control methods to working through experiences with intimate partner violence . Yet , what I found the most incredible during my time with MOMCares was the vulnerability that each of the mothers had with one another through engaging in a space in which black women could unapologetically gather in community and learn from one another .
My supervisor , Oluwa , and the founder of MOMCares , Ana , are incredible examples of people dedicated to doing essential , yet often neglected , work with black women . It was with them and through them that I ’ ve discovered that healthcare doesn ’ t have to be prejudiced and impersonal . It ’ s possible to create communities in which people can be treated as humans first . From here on out , I ’ m not sure what my next steps will be in my professional development . Regardless , after this summer I ’ ll strive to implement the essence of MOMCares into everything I do .
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