SAVE THE DATE! EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

We are thrilled to announce the RISE UP Advancing Black Maternal Health Equity in New Jersey conference, hosted by Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC).

Keynote Speaker: Shawnee Benton Gibson, LMSW / FLDC

We are honored to welcome Shawnee Benton Gibson as our keynote speaker. Shawnee is the CEO of the Spirit of A Woman (S.O.W.) Leadership Development Institute and Co-Founder of the ARIAH Foundation. She has over 33 years of administrative, clinical and executive coaching experience and expertise in women’s leadership, reproductive justice, racial equity, individual, couples, family and group counseling, trauma and bereavement. Shawnee is the subject of the Peabody Award winning and Emmy nominated documentary “Aftershock”, streaming on Hulu. The film chronicles the journey of Shawnee and her family as they fight for reproductive justice in the wake of the tragic and preventable death of Shawnee’s eldest daughter, Shamony Makeba Gibson, due to maternal mortality. According to Shawnee, “activism is a labor of love and liberation".

Panel Moderator: Lisa Asare

The conference will also feature Lisa Asare, President and CEO of the NJ Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, as our panel moderator. A trailblazer in maternal and child health, Lisa’s decades-long career includes spearheading the Nurture NJ Maternal Health Initiative and leading transformative efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Her expertise and leadership will guide an engaging panel discussion on advancing equity and addressing disparities in maternal healthcare. Ms. Asare previously worked as the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Family Health Services at the New Jersey Department of Health, for more than 20 years. She retooled the Division’s approach to addressing black infant mortality and maternal mortality, contributed to the NurtureNJ strategic plan, and addressed the social determinants of health by collaborating with sister state agencies and non-traditional partners.

Panelist: Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty

Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty, President and CEO of the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey since early 2021, has been dedicated to transforming maternal health. She has redefined the organization’s vision, focusing on eliminating healthcare disparities and innovating new programs. Under her leadership, the Partnership is becoming an anti-racist organization, expanding community partnerships, and ensuring diverse voices are heard. She secured legislative funding for a diverse doula workforce training program and established the Center for Clinical Impact to enhance clinical expertise and patient outcomes.

Mariekarl has received numerous awards, including the Nurses with Global Impact Award and the March of Dimes’ Nurse Leader of the Year. In 2024, Mariekarl was honored at the Executive Women of New Jersey’s Salute to Policymakers Gala. She actively participates in various task forces and committees, such as the COVID-19 Advisory Taskforce and the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Her extensive nursing career, including her Senior Director of Nursing and Patient Experience role at Jersey City Medical Center, shapes her perspective on patient-centered care.

Mariekarl holds an MA in Nurse Executive from Columbia University and a BS in Nursing from Adelphi University. She is a member of several professional organizations and serves as Chairwoman of Mission Granbois, a non-profit focused on improving health outcomes in Haiti.

Now in its third year, this impactful event continues to educate, empower, inspire, and motivate participants toward meaningful advocacy and transformative change in the realms of Black maternal health equity and reproductive justice.

Join us as we bring together community leaders, health professionals advocates, and individuals passionate about advancing equitable outcomes for Black birthing people in New Jersey.

Stay tuned for more details and lineup of esteemed speakers and panelists.

We look forward to your participation in this vital conversation and collective effort for change. Together, we can RISE UP! for Black maternal health equity.