"Nurture in Color" gallery celebrates and supports Black maternal health
- tadsooter
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
Kitsap Public Health District's Black Infant Thrive program hosted its second annual art gallery on Aug. 26 to celebrate Black Breastfeeding Month.
The interactive experience, held at the Roxy Theatre in Bremerton, shed light on the realities of Black maternal health, honoring the resilience, strength, and stories of Black birthing families and included an art show featuring local and national artists, an engaging panelist conversation, a variety of shared resources, and concluded with a dance party in Quincy Square. The event was attended by about 30 community members and service organizations.
The art show featured original works by seven artists, including two local Bremerton artists, OnayTonie Johnson, and Moshanique Stanley. Other showcasing artists displaying works varying from Tacoma and Seattle included Jonarra Swanson, Kay Burnett, Lauryn Bell, Atkin Monique Thomas, and Diamond Sudds. Paintings featured different perspectives on breastfeeding including the intimacy of feeding a child, the role of community in learning how to breastfeed, and the many forms it can take such as feeding twins.
The panelist conversation featured four speakers who brought diverse perspectives and lived experiences. Topics included a discussion of encouraging parents to breastfeed in public versus offering more private spaces for feeding.
Panelist Atkin Monique Thomas shared about her advocacy efforts with the military to ensure lactating members were allowed breastfeeding and/or pumping breaks. Panelists agreed that "fed is best" and offered many encouraging and empowering messages to those who are currently breastfeeding or are considering it in the future.
Black Infant Thrive coordinator Gabreiel Outlaw-Spencer looks forward to continuing the conversation by encouraging local businesses to set aside spaces for breastfeeding. She will continue working to ensure birthing families can find high quality resources.
Community Survey Results
Kitsap Public Health District conducted a community survey in 2024 to guide the work of the Black Infant Thrive program.
The goal of the survey was to understand the needs and challenges that Black families experience during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and infancy in Kitsap County.
Read the full survey report here.
More Resources
For more information, visit our Black Infant Thrive program page.
If you have questions about pregnancy and/or parenting, you can reach Black Infant Thrive and our Parent-Child Health team at 360-728-BABY (360-728-2229).
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