The Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition Inc. has launched its Milk & Miracles fundraising campaign to address what the group calls a continuing crisis in Black maternal and infant health across the state.
The campaign began on Giving Tuesday and will run through Dec. 31.
Black parents in Indiana experience pregnancy-related deaths at roughly twice the rate of White women, according to the Indiana Maternal Mortality Review Committee and analyses from the Indiana University Public Policy Institute. Those reports cite preventable factors such as delayed access to care, inadequate follow-up and systemic bias in medical settings.
Infant mortality disparities mirror those trends. Data from the Indiana Department of Health and the March of Dimes 2025 Indiana Report Card show Black infants die before their first birthday at about twice the rate of infants overall. Research cited in the release notes breastfeeding is associated with an estimated 33% lower risk of infant death in the first year. Yet many Black families lack culturally grounded lactation support and providers.
“Black families in our state are living at the intersection of preventable loss and reliable solutions,” said Joi Crenshaw, CPM CDEM, PMH C, president of the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition. “When Black parents have access to respectful, culturally informed breastfeeding and birth support, we see healthier pregnancies, safer births and more babies reaching their first birthday. Milk & Miracles is about making that level of support the norm, not the exception.”
Funds from the campaign will support statewide expansion of IBBC programming, including perinatal education, distribution of breastfeeding supplies and mentorship for emerging lactation and birth workers of color.
“Every class we offer, every mentor we train and every family we equip with breastfeeding supplies moves us closer to a future where Black parents and babies survive and thrive,” Crenshaw said.
Community members can donate, share the campaign or partner with IBBC on awareness efforts. More information is available at zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/support-ibbc-indiana-black-breastfeeding-coalition.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
This article was written by Indianapolis Recorder reporter Hanna Rauworth.