Seasons of Support: Blooming & Belonging

Smiles from the BBHI team at our Season of Support: Blooming & Belonging event! From left to right: Tiffany Thomas (Therapist), Ramiyah Valentine (Therapist), Elicia Dangerfield (Client Navigator), Iesha Brooks (Program Manager), Briana Grogan (Community Referral & Engagement Specialist), Jyn Rose Mata Aguas (Program Assistant), Kaiayo Shatteen (Midwife & Birthing Expert) and Maya Rodgers (Director).

Community, on behalf of the Black Birthing Health Initiative, thank you for your presence at Blooming & Belonging! You made our second annual Season of Support brighter and meaningful by showing up. We hope you walked away feeling nourished and supported by your community.

In reflection of the success of our 2nd Annual Season of Support: Blooming & Belonging, my heart is full of gratitude for the incredible community that came together to make this event so meaningful. First off, giving kuddos to the HCN BBHI team who came together over the last few months, brainstorming, collaborating and working hard to curate an event that the community would not only enjoy, but also recieve valuable takeaways. This gathering was more than an event; it was a beautiful demonstration of what is possible when we intentionally create spaces for connection, care, healing, and belonging.

We are deeply grateful to our amazing community partners Felton, Family Support Services, Frisco’s Finest Fathers, Kesh Cares, Edgewood, Anthem Blue, Nourishing Pregnancy, SisterWeb, Jelani House, CARE Initiative, Re’Optima, Black Infant Health, Rafiki, & UCSF Embrace + Black Mamas Meet Up who showed up with positive energy, valuable resources, and a shared commitment to supporting families and community well-being. Your presence helped create an atmosphere of warmth, support, and empowerment for all who attended.

A special thank you goes to our activation vendors who thoughtfully facilitated engaging self-care experiences for participants. Thank you to Hella Artsy for inspiring creativity through art, The Mood Co. for introducing the calming benefits of aromatherapy, Peep The View for capturing joy through photography and the selfie booth experience, Bloom Events for bringing beauty and delight through the flower cart activation, and Mina AI for supporting us with our Community Closet. Each experience was an opportunity for our participants to pause, connect, and care for themselves.

To our amazing volunteers, Artify for creating a fun-filled experience for the kids, Dr. Jei Watkins from Kindezi and all the wonderful community volunteers who helped out with serving food, your presence and support contributed to positive responses from all who attended!

We also extend a major shout-out to Tracy Dixson of Dixson De-Lites whose amazing menu nourished our guests in every sense of the word. The food was not only delicious; it was clearly prepared with love, and that care was felt throughout the event.

A heartfelt thank you to D-10 Community Market for providing an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that were distributed to participants. Your generosity was appreciated and provided healthy resources for our guests. We are equally grateful to DJ T.C. who kept the energy high and the good vibes flowing all day long. The music created a joyful atmosphere that brought people together and added to the spirit of celebration and community.

Lastly, we offer our sincere appreciation to Black Mamas Meet-Up for their sponsorship & collaboration in bringing bloom and beauty to this gathering. Your support, including providing transportation assistance for guests, helped ensure that more community members could access and enjoy this special experience.

Season of Support: Blooming & Belonging was a true example of community care, intentional intersection, and village building. It reminded us that when we come together with purpose and compassion, we create spaces where people can feel seen, supported, and connected.

As we enter the final month of our fiscal year, we do so with immense pride, deep gratitude, and excitement for what lies ahead. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us continue to cultivate communities where everyone can bloom and belong.