Kennedy-King College in Chicago has formed a new partnership with the Black Midwifery Collective, an organization dedicated to addressing disparities in maternal and infant health that have disproportionately affected the Black community. The group aims to increase the racial diversity of community midwives to combat obstetric racism and dismantle institutionalized birth practices.
Under the new partnership, Kennedy-King College and the Black Midwifery Collective will launch a licensed certified professional midwifery program at the community college. The new associate’s degree consists of approximately six semesters of midwifery core classes following one semester of prerequisite courses in English, mathematics, and biology. To support the program, Kennedy-King College is transforming a classroom into a simulation lab that includes a birth center room and two exam rooms stocked with simulation equipment. The first midwifery cohort at the college will begin in Spring 2027.
“This groundbreaking midwifery program empowers our community to directly address the inequities in Black maternal and infant health across Illinois. By equipping birthing individuals with expanded, culturally responsive care, we are actively fulfilling Kennedy-King College’s commitment to transform lives through exceptional education,” said Kennedy-King College President Katonja Webb Walker. “We extend our deepest thanks to the Black Midwifery Collective whose invaluable partnership makes this all possible, and we look forward to welcoming our first class in the Spring of 2027 — and making a lasting difference in every community we serve.”
“This new program in partnership with Kennedy-King College is a collective celebration of real, tangible, community-based solutions built for ourselves that benefit everyone,” added Star August, executive director of the Black Midwifery Collective. “Prioritizing Black maternal health is a critical imperative to dismantle deep-rooted systemic disparities and save lives. When we invest in the well-being of Black mothers, we ultimately strengthen the foundational health, stability, and future of entire communities. BMC stands on the shoulders of generations of Black midwives who are ready to pass that knowledge, leadership, and love to our next generations.”
