Room to Grow Talks: Black Maternal Health
Friday, April 11, 2025
9:30am: Coffee & Networking
10:00am - 11:00am: Panel Discussion
More than Words, Boston, and Virtual Livestream
Limited Seating | Suggested donation of $20 in honor of our 20th anniversary
Room to Grow is committed to achieving health equity in support of under-resourced communities. Room to Grow’s goal is to be part of creating a more equitable world, in which all families will have the resources they need to raise their children to achieve their dreams. However, countless Black families and mothers in Boston and across the nation find their dreams of raising healthy and successful children at serious and disproportionate risk.
In line with the goals of Black Maternal Health Week and following a well-received inaugural event in 2023, we are excited to facilitate our third annual Room to Grow Talks, featuring the stories and experiences of community members working to improve Black maternal health outcomes in Boston and beyond.
For those who cannot attend in person, we will be livestreaming this panel. Upon reserving tickets, you will have the option to RSVP to the livestream and receive the link to join virtually.
For more information on attending, speaking at, or sponsoring the event, please contact Lauren Rogers Nowlan at lauren.nowlan@roomtogrow.org.
Opening Remarks
Panelists
Adwapa Asenso
Executive Director, Accompany Doula Care
Adwapa Asenso is a seasoned professional with 15 years of diverse experience spanning the nonprofit sector, public service, and healthcare. Renowned for her expertise in nonprofit leadership, finance, project management, strategic planning, and operations, Adwapa is recognized for her transformative leadership and commitment to mission-driven work, with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Transitioning into perinatal health after the birth of her child in 2020, Adwapa's journey took a profound turn towards advocating for maternal health and education. As the founder of DoudouKare, a boutique perinatal service company in Central Massachusetts, she passionately supports families, ensuring safe, enjoyable, and memorable birthing experiences. Her dedication extends to empowering families with education and informed decision-making throughout the pregnancy to postpartum continuum.
Currently serving as the head of DoudouKare, Adwapa leads a team of birth doulas, providing comprehensive support to families across central Massachusetts. Additionally, she serves as the Executive Director of Accompany Doula Care, further amplifying her impact in the maternal health space.
Adwapa's academic journey includes a B.A. in Economics with a minor in Management and Organization from Spelman College, Atlanta, and a Masters in Public Policy from American University, School of Public Affairs, Washington D.C. Her academic prowess complements her practical experience, enriching her ability to drive positive change in maternal healthcare.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Adwapa finds joy in music, dancing, family travels, indulging in spider solitaire, and engaging in thought-provoking philosophical discussions with friends. Her multifaceted interests reflect her vibrant spirit and unwavering dedication to making a difference in the lives of families and communities.
Becky Cruz Crosson
Division Director, Healthy Start Systems, Boston Public Health Commission
Becky Cruz Crosson is a highly skilled and compassionate Master’s-level trained mental health counselor with approximately fifteen years of professional experience in the mental health and social services sectors. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving children and families from diverse backgrounds by providing comprehensive social, clinical, and managerial support.
Currently, Becky serves as the Director of the Healthy Start Systems Division at the Boston Public Health Commission, where she plays a pivotal role in addressing health disparities in maternal and child health within the City of Boston. In this capacity, she leads efforts to improve health outcomes for families, particularly those facing systemic challenges, through the provision of a wide range of resources, including health education, social services, and community-based interventions.
As Division Director, oversees a dedicated team of approximately forty staff members, including Public Health Nurses, Social Workers, Public Health Advocates, and supportive and administrative personnel. Together, the division works to ensure that families have access to essential services designed to foster healthier pregnancies, better infant and child health, and overall family well-being. Under her leadership, the division has made significant strides in enhancing community health programs and ensuring that vulnerable populations are provided with the tools, support, and knowledge they need to thrive.
One of the key initiatives of the division is the operation of a local food pantry, which addresses the critical issue of food insecurity and ensures that families have access to nutritious food, reducing barriers to health and wellness. Becky has been instrumental in ensuring that these programs are not only operationally effective but also sensitive to the unique needs of the populations they serve.
A key component of Becky’s work involves the strong partnerships she maintains with various local organizations and institutions. She collaborates closely with local community health centers, birthing hospitals, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to ensure a coordinated, community-based approach to maternal and child health. These partnerships have been integral in strengthening public health initiatives and improving service delivery to the most at-risk populations.
Becky’s career reflects a deep commitment to equity and the belief that every family deserves access to comprehensive, quality health care and support. She continues to be an advocate for systemic change, working tirelessly to reduce health disparities and empower families across the Boston area.
Stephanie Johnson
Owner + CEO + Midwife, Roots Midwifery
Stephanie Johnson is a homebirth midwife, maternal health advocate, and founder of Roots Midwifery, a Boston-based midwifery practice offering comprehensive homebirth care. She also leads a doula agency within her practice which extends her care model to include labor support, lactation consulting, childbirth education, and postpartum wellness—all rooted in culturally responsive, client-centered care for all women, especially BIPOC families.
Stephanie’s journey into birth work began three decades ago after her own disappointing birth experiences left her feeling unseen and unsupported. Listening to her intuition, she knew that with better education, options, and support, birthing people, especially Black women, could experience safer and more empowered outcomes. She began her career as a doula, eventually certifying as a lactation consultant and childbirth educator, and for eight years served families with the wraparound care they deeply needed.
Inspired by her own birth experiences and the legacy of her grandmother, a Grand Midwife during 1950s - 1970s in the South, Stephanie is deeply committed to reclaiming Black midwifery traditions and improving maternal health outcomes for BIPOC women. To expand her impact, Stephanie pursued midwifery and completed her training at Birthwise Midwifery School, while also earning a degree in Community Health from Curry College. Today, she proudly supports families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, creating spaces where safety, trust, cultural connection, and informed choice are the foundation.
Born and raised in Dorchester, MA where she still lives, Stephanie is passionate about reducing trauma in birth, and reclaiming birth and the postpartum period as a space of joy and power for all women. Through her work at Roots Midwifery and her doula agency, she is building a model of care that centers community, education, and equity.
Stephanie is also the proud mom to adult daughters, Jazzmyne and Bri’Ann, and they recently welcomed a furbaby named Chance into the family. When she’s not catching babies or speaking truth to power, Stephanie is likely tending to her growing collection of plants, diving into the next book on her reading list, or in the summer enjoying days at the beach because to her, these aren’t luxuries, they’re essential acts of self-care.
Moderated By
Amber Payne
Publisher & General Manager, The Emancipator
Amber Payne is an award-winning journalist, executive producer, editor and storyteller with a track record for creating bold content that drives conversation.
Before assuming the role of Publisher/General Manager, Amber was the founding co-editor in chief of The Emancipator, a multimedia digital publication reimagining the first abolitionist newspaper for a new day. Amber was a 2021 Nieman Foundation fellow at Harvard University. She served as managing editor of BET.com and executive producer of Teen Vogue and Them. In 2015 she created and launched NBCBLK, a section of NBCNews.com dedicated to elevating the conversation around black identity, social issues, and culture. She spent a decade at NBC Nightly News, where she worked her way up from being a production assistant to producing breaking news and feature stories. Amber and her husband run Tilt Shift Media, a small production house specializing in documentaries and narrative-driven branded content.
For more information, please contact Lauren Rogers Nowlan at lauren.nowlan@roomtogrow.org.
