My experience working for the Birthing Project this summer has been one for the books! I have always heard about the about project and their mission and what they do for others, but seeing it first hand has been incredible. I have only been working with them for the summer but I had a great time meeting the mothers, conversing with them, and helping them out whenever I could. I also love seeing the community come together to help one another. Raising a baby takes a village so to be able to give some of these women their village and be a part of it is very fulfilling.
The Birthing Project is a program whose goal is to help and aid new black mothers through parenthood by giving them a community, providing them supplies, and by educating them on motherhood. The mothers that join this program are assigned a big sister that they can reach out to personally to help them with anything they need. The big sisters are to check in on their little sisters frequently and guide them along the way. There are also workshops to help the big sisters properly guide their little sisters along the right path. There are also workshops to help the little and big sisters all bond together as black women to help them navigate them through this world together.
My role as a summer intern involved me being a task rabbit. I would run the errands for the event we hosted, go grab car seats and playpens for the women and I would go and organize the headquarters that we operate in, and so on. I was also able to connect with the mothers personally and that has been a great experience. I would call them and check up on them every week, and I really enjoy talking to them and they really appreciate someone checking on them as well. They get a sense of community, a village , and a home. To be someone who actively is a part of that and getting to help them through the rough patches and the good parts of parenthood is truly indescribable.
I was only able to attend one event this summer. It was called the Baby-Q. During this event we throw a barbeque for the community around us and invite them in, informing them about our project and our goals, all while having some fun with food, music, and a bounce house for the kids. Although it was a lot of work to set it up, it was more than worth it to enjoy it with the community, seeing people having a good time and enjoying themselves. Of course I got up and danced as well and I had a great time too! 10 out of 10 event I’d recommend for anyone to come and join in on the next one!
All together, the Arkansas Birthing Project has been an amazing experience for me to be a part of. Anyone who wants to, not only help people, also but to build community should consider joining this program as an intern. Any expectant mothers out there or women who want to be a big sister mentor should reach out and join - you can find a village here!
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