Claudia Booker Memorial Midwife Scholarship

Thank you, donors! Your support for this project is making a difference! 

Your generosity makes it possible to increase access to midwifery education for the populations who are suffering the highest rates of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity around childbirth in America-- African American/Black and American Indian and Alaska Natives. 

We are delighted to introduce you to another recipient of the Claudia Booker Memorial Midwife Scholarship who successfully graduated from our four-year Bachelor of Science in Midwifery program this spring.  Lavondria was a committed student while she was in our program.  She has determination and focus, which propelled her to achieve her goals, as evidenced by her personal commitment to success and to midwifery. She also grew her own family while she was in school, studying and apprenticing through her own pregnancies.  Lavondria is now working at a birth center in Arlington, Texas, where she will be a huge asset to her community. 

The USA is in need of more midwives of color like Lavondria to represent the African American/Black community. She is in a unique position to provide respectful care to diverse families.  It remains a sad fact that mothers of color and babies of color are still about three times more likely to have a bad outcome in the childbearing year than other populations giving birth in America.  

This scholarship fund has the power to have a direct impact on improving outcomes, as qualified students reach their goal of becoming licensed midwives who are committed to addressing this disparity.  Thank you for your continued giving to this important cause! 

Blessings,

The Mercy In Action team

Links:

• Mercy In Action College of Midwifery Scholarship website page
• Mercy In Action website
• A Black Mercy Alumni describes the need for this scholarship