ESSENCE Exclusive: Maya Harris To Lead Roundtable On Black Maternal Health In Michigan, Bringing Focus To A National Crisis

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Maya Harris, the younger sister of Vice President Kamala Harris, is stepping into the spotlight to address a pressing issue that resonates deeply with many Black women across the nation—maternal health. On Monday, September 23, she will moderate a vital discussion in Flint, Michigan, a topic that has taken center stage in this election season, as highlighted by the Harris-Walz campaign. Amid growing threats to reproductive rights in America, the campaign says it’s committed to safeguarding a woman’s right to choose while also tackling the broader health disparities faced by Black women, particularly in the realm of maternal healthcare. At this pivotal roundtable, Maya Harris, an experienced lawyer and senior policy advisor, will be joined by a group of national and local Black leaders, including Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL), U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Paula Thornton Greear of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Danielle Atkinson, founder of the advocacy organization, Mothering Justice, according to the Harris-Walz Campaign. Together, these leaders will delve into the critical stakes for Black maternal health, shining a light on the potential challenges posed by the Project 2025 agenda. This discussion is part of the...