Our Timeline

The Beginning

Co-founders Char’ly Snow, Nicole White, Leseliey Welch, and Elon Geffrard met as volunteers to discuss the possibility of establishing a birth center in Detroit.

They surveyed the community and local stakeholders to gauge interest in a birth center for Detroit—98% of nearly 400 respondents said “YES.”

Building A Community

Birth Detroit organized a community Launch and Learn event at the North Rosedale Park Community Center in Detroit, featuring Jennie Joseph from Common Sense Childbirth as the keynote speaker. The event included shared experiences, talks from field professionals, and insights into relevant data and research.

Birth Detroit made its first social media post, announcing its mission: To improve women’s well-being and birth outcomes by making women-centered, family-friendly, holistic care accessible to all birthing people, regardless of their ability to pay.

Putting Down Roots

Birth Detroit received its 501(c)(3) designation. Birth Detroit Care opened as a community-based, easy-access midwifery clinic in collaboration with Brilliant Detroit.

The first volunteer orientation was held to support development, community engagement, marketing, advocacy, and services.

The mission and vision evolved to: "Midwife safe, quality, loving care through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. We dream of a world where birth is safe, sacred, loving, and celebrated for everyone.” and this is still our mission TODAY.

First Year of Care

A $4 million capital campaign was launched.

Birth Detroit participated in Black Maternal Health Week for the first time.

In its first year, Birth Detroit Care provided prenatal and postpartum care for more than 50 families and conducted over 100 appointments.

Securing Land, Partnerships, and Education

With proceeds from merchandise sales, Birth Detroit purchased land from the Detroit Land Bank to build the Birth Detroit Birth Center at 8575 Heritage Place in the Petosky-Otsego neighborhood of Detroit.

Spiritual leaders joined the Birth Detroit team and community in a “Land Celebration,” blessing the land with songs and prayers.

Birth Detroit hosted the first annual State of Birth Justice Event in collaboration with Elephant Circle, Mothering Justice, and SisterSong.

Birth Detroit Care became certified as an Easy Access Clinic™ Model of Care and a JJWay™ Provider Program through Jennie Joseph and Commonsense Childbirth.

Added Infant/Toddler CPR and First-Aid to its class roster.

Preparing the Foundation

Hosted the first Annual Birth-workers Retreat.

Held a groundbreaking celebration for the Birth Detroit Birth Center and celebrated with the community.

Received a formal letter of support from Henry Ford Health.

The Birth Detroit team blessed the birth center walls with loving affirmations.

Was accepted into the National Step Up Together Action Collaborative to collaborate and develop emergency preparedness policies and drills with our transfer hospital, Henry Ford Health Systems.

Opening Our Doors

Reached the capital campaign fundraising goal of $4 million.

Hosted the third Annual State of Birth Justice Event in Detroit, welcoming over 150 guests.

The Michigan Momnibus and a Birth Center Licensure Bill, both championed and pushed forward by Birth Detroit Co-founder and former Policy Director Nicole White, Senator Erika Geiss, and Senator Laurie Pohutsky, were introduced in the Michigan House.

Birth Detroit Birth Center staff, community, clients, and supporters will look on as we cut the ribbon and open Detroit’s first freestanding birth center on October 13, 2024.

Celebrating New Beginnings

We officially opened for births, clinical care, community events, classes and trainings on January 6th.

The Birth Center Licensure Bill was successfully signed into Law by Governor Whitmer in January of this year. With this milestone, Michigan becomes the 43rd state to license birth centers, paving the way for increased access to safe and equitable birth options across the state.

Our first baby was born, weighing in at 8lb 9oz, at 8:36 am in a room full of love!