Oshun Family Center envisions health equity across the reproductive and mental health spectrum. Families in underrepresented communities require providers who embody
aspects of their life as it relates to race, culture, and ethnicity therefore it is our goal and vision to assist with overcoming the barrier and include race, culture, or ethnicity-based concordance for care.

Oshun Family Center provides racially concordant care to
members of the Black community who are seeking to achieve
optimal wellness through psychotherapy and holistic healing in addition to birthing support such as doula and lactation services. Our goal is to center Black people’s experiences and create a welcoming space for healing and refuge. We welcome those looking to break generational cycles and
have agency over their mind & bodies.

It is important for us to purchase a space that we can grow with and permanently set our roots in Philadelphia. As a nonprofit organization that plans to service the community for the foreseeable future, we want to mark that journey with a location to call our own. This gives us the opportunity to give as much as we can back to the community and not to developers, lenders, or landlords for 30 years. This is a true testament to our commitment and intended longevity in providing salient services that will reduce and eventually eliminate Black maternal mortality.

We will connect and collaborate with other community-based providers and serve as a home base and hub for Black birth workers (doulas, lactation counselors, pelvic floor therapists, and other healing practitioners) to assist with serving the population of people grossly impacted by the Black maternal mortality rate throughout Philadelphia. The Maternal Wellness Village is a collective of Black birth workers who are committed to being in servitude to families impacted by the intersection of systemic racism and maternal health. As members of the MWV, we plan to connect and collaborate to strengthen the workforce and progression of Black birth workers as it directly pertains to the advancement of Black birthing families in Philadelphia.

A community-driven trauma-informed center that incorporates psychotherapy rooms that are sound-protected, dimly lit, and calming/tranquil.

A lactation space that is equipped with informational material, anatomy models, and supplies to support getting babies weight before and after a feeding. An evaluation area for the clinician to take notes and technology to support throughout the visit. This includes a small play space for families with toddlers and young children.

Doula room for family education that includes birthing balls, anatomy models, evaluation, and movement space. This room will be big enough for the family that include additional caregivers and other children to participate in the birth preparation.Community training space and a versatile office for other practitioners.

The design and outfit are supported through the Community Design Collaborative and FIFTEEN Architect + Design.

As we approach the end of another impactful year, I am filled with immense gratitude and a profound sense of appreciation for each and every one of you who has played a vital role in our journey thus far. Your unwavering support, dedication, and passion for our mission have been the driving force behind our successes, and I am honored to share my heartfelt thanks with you.

In the face of challenges and uncertainties, your commitment to Oshun Family Center has been nothing short of inspiring. Whether you’ve contributed your time, expertise, resources, or boundless energy, your collective efforts have created a positive ripple effect that extends far beyond our initial aspirations.

Together, we are here, venturing into our biggest journey and this is a testament to the strength of our community. The movement continues, we are Building on the Village and opening Philadelphia’s First Black and women-led Maternal Wellness Center. With your help, it is a reminder that when individuals with a shared vision come together, remarkable things happen!

As we reflect on our achievements, let’s also look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. Our journey is ongoing, and with your
continued support, I am confident that we will reach even greater heights in the coming year.

Thank you for being the heartbeat of Oshun Family Center. Your belief in our mission and your dedication to making a difference are
the driving forces that propel us forward. Whether you’re a volunteer, donor, staff member, or supporter, know that your contribution,
big or small, has a lasting impact.

Let’s continue to build collectively,

~Saleemah McNeil, MS, MFT