Ashlei Spivey Opens A Birthing Center In A Historic Black Business District Located In Nebraska

A birthing center has opened in North Omaha, NE’s historic Black business district.

A ribbon-cutting celebration will kick off around 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 2306 N. 24th St. I Be Black Girl, a collective for Black women, femmes, and girls focused on Black-led investments, policy and power building, economic, and birth justice, will host the celebration, according to its website.

The celebration will continue throughout the weekend with a Juneteenth Parade on Saturday, June 14, and the I Be Black Girl’s Heart, Soul, & Roll Community Stroll held the following day at 1 p.m.

“We want it to be a celebration because it’s such a big milestone for addressing and creating solutions around our experiences as Black women, femmes, and girls,” Ashlei Spivey, the organization’s founder and executive director, said per Omaha World-Herald. Spivey is also running to represent District 13 in the Nebraska Legislature.

The facility is called the Anarcha Center in honor of Anarcha Westcott, who was previously enslaved and subjected to experimental operations that paved the way for contemporary gynecological practices. It will feature spaces for doulas and community health workers to connect with their clients, a dedicated wellness room, and an area where clients can immerse themselves in nature. The center also will educate pregnant individuals on how to monitor their blood pressure and enable them to meet with a doula to discuss a birth plan.

“This building allows for us to have a home where we can create a community hub,” Spivey told the outlet.

In preparation for the Anarcha Center’s opening, I Be Black Girl has trained around 50 doulas through its Doula Passage Program, which provides education, peer support, and mentorship for Black doulas.

“The hands-on experiences, role plays, and simulations during the training were invaluable in building my confidence and honing my skills,” Antionette, a program participant, expressed, per the company website. “Your constructive feedback, patience, and willingness to address our questions and concerns ensured that we had a comprehensive understanding of the doula role and responsibilities… serving as a solid foundation for my future practice as a doula.”

Some doulas will receive additional training as community healthcare workers. Beginning this fall, the organization plans to train more individuals through the program.