Nonprofit providing housing for expecting Black mothers receives backing from the city.

Cleopatra Herrera is a force of nature. After losing her best friend, Lashana Gilmore, during childbirth, Herrera was driven to establish the nonprofit A Home From Shana Foundation. This organization works to combat the housing crisis and places expecting Black mothers at the forefront.

Herrera is well-versed in the issues that contribute to the health equity plight of Black mothers. With a professional background in corrections and housing nonprofits, she likely knows that unstable housing is a primary issue amongst the community.

"Her death could have been prevented," she lamented to WHYY about the birthing experiences. "Time and time again, we hear these stories of Black women being dismissed, ignored, or talked down upon."

Herrera is determined to honor her late friend and countless other Black mothers by addressing the systemic issues that contribute to stressful pregnancies. As a practicing doula, she learned firsthand how the threat of homelessness can play a role in the "health risks" for many mothers as they anticipate giving birth.

Her work with the foundation and her quest to raise $50K for the center’s establishment has garnered city-wide support. Even Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson is lending her support. She hopes to acquire even more funding for the charitable endeavor and is urging the city of Philadelphia to allocate $250K from their budget to A Home From Shana.

Since the Philadelphia Maternal Mortality Review Committee has revealed that a disproportionate amount of Black women are dying from birth complications, financial support for organizations that specifically address this crisis is of high priority.

The 'Labor Live Love Center' is set to provide prenatal and postpartum care, which is vital to the health of both mother and newborn. According to Herrera, "Every childbirth is different. Six weeks after giving birth, we don’t know what our healing process is going to be like."

A Home From Shana Foundation hopes to be a holistic space for Black moms navigating pregnancy. By empowering them to have healthy births and reducing the struggles that negatively impact Black maternal health, Herrera is making a remarkable difference.

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