Introducing: The Family Innovation Program

Introducing: The Family Innovation Program

The World Is Yours: Imagine, Innovate & Liberate! This is this year’s theme for Black Breastfeeding Week. Several organizations are partnering up to hold space for this kind of visioning and designing the future of birth and breastfeeding in Detroit. Led by Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association and Harambee Care, the upcoming hackathon will support teams boldly sharing new ideas and expanding upon community-based solutions. The project is supported by the team that created the “Make the Breast Pump Not Suck” hackathon at the MIT Media Lab. Leading up to the hackathon, is a leadership development program led by Anjanette Davenport Hatter for several teams to incubate their ideas. This Family Innovation Program features introduces design-thinking frameworks, connects teams to mentors, and encourages community-building. The teams are working on “hacking” medical devices and apps for prenatal care, improving the ease and use of breastfeeding spaces around Detroit, and creating customizable and easy to order prenatal services. Read more about the organizations that the teams come from below and follow #BBW2019 and #BFInnovation on social media to get updates.

Family Innovation Program participants at their kick-off meeting

About Brilliant Detroit

Brilliant Detroit is dedicated to building kid success families and neighborhoods where families with children 0-8 have what they need to be school ready, healthy and stable. We do this by providing proven programming and support year round out of Brilliant Detroit homes in high-need neighborhoods.

About Focus HOPE 

The mission of Focus Hope is about: “Recognizing the dignity and beauty of every person, we pledge intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice. And to build a metropolitan community where all people may live in freedom, harmony, trust and affection. Black and white, yellow, brown and red from Detroit and its suburbs of every economic status, national origin and religious persuasion we join in this covenant. — Adopted March 8, 1968”

About Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association

(BMBFA) BMBFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2007. BMBFA’s mission is to reduce racial inequities in breastfeeding support for black families. The mission is carried out byway of direct service, trainings, advocacy and social movement. Nationally, BMBFA is a recognized leader in the field. Amongst other distinguished work and awards, BMBFA served as a contributing expert for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention by providing recommendations for the U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding. BMBFA is nationally accredited by HealthConnect One for its community-based doula program. Its signature work, Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Club (BMBFC) is nationally replicated and has run without interruption for over 10 years. Furthermore, BMBFA is the anchor organization for the Black Breastfeeding Caucus, co-leader/creator of Black Breastfeeding Week and the Black Infant Remembrance Memorial. 

Questions? Want to help mentor a Family Innovation team or offer sponsorship? Please email: DetroitHacks@gmail.com 

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