Dear Family and Friends,

As another birthday approaches, I find myself reflecting on what truly matters and this year I am turning that reflection into ACTION. Instead of gifts, I am asking for something that carries far more meaning: your support for Mamatoto Village, a perinatal family support organization right  in the heart of Ward 7, Washington, DC, dedicated to Black women and their birthing journeys. This is the inaugural year of my Birthday Fundraising Initiative for Mamatoto Village, a peer-to-peer fundraiser I am committed to making an annual tradition. Every year, I will rally the people I love most around a cause that fuels my life's work: leading and advocating for Black maternal and child health policies and programming in the District of Columbia.

The statistics are urgent. Black mothers in DC, and across this country, face alarming disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Mamatoto Village meets those families where they are, with lactation support, home visiting programs, and community birth work rooted in love, culture, and the belief that every Black family deserves to thrive.

This sprint runs from June 1, 2026 through July 10, 2026, and my goal is to raise $2,500. Here is how you can make it happen:

• DONATE - Every dollar, at any amount, makes a direct impact. No gift is too small.
• SHARE - Spread the word with your network. Send this message, share my fundraising page, and help amplify this cause.
• ENGAGE - Follow Mamatoto Village and learn more about their work serving DC's birthing community.

Your support is not just a birthday gift to me, it is a gift to every Black mother, baby, and family that Mamatoto Village wraps its arms around. Thank you for standing with me in this work. I am deeply grateful for your love and your generosity.

With gratitude and purpose, 

Memory