Keynote Speaker

Krya L. Betts

Kyra L. Betts is a nationally recognized maternal-child health strategist, public health scholar, and the creator of the Dads to Doulas program, which equips fathers to become powerful advocates during pregnancy and birth. A “policy doula” at heart, she translates legislation, systems, and research into tools communities can actually use to save lives and shift outcomes. Kyra is a Public Health PhD student at  Washington University in St. Louis, where her research centers on chronic stress, paternal engagement, and maternal mortality.

Known for blending data with soul, rigor with joy, and scholarship with lived experience, she has led conferences, advised lawmakers, and trained families across the Midwest and beyond. Her work challenges deficit narratives and reframes Black fatherhood as a vital public-health intervention. Today, Kyra invites audiences to imagine—and build—a future where birth equity is non-negotiable and families are fully resourced to thrive.

Story Telling with Dr. Nneka Gig-Patton, PhD

Dr. Nneka Gigi-Patton (aka Mama Kano) is a PhD-trained educator, African hair griot, and maternal health advocate. Through her Word-to-Womb framework, she elevates hairstyling, oral storytelling, and embodied literacy as sites of healing, resistance, and relational care for Black birthing people and families. 

Grounding with Nicole Sublette, MA, LCMHC, CMHIMP, CH

Nicole Sublette, MA, LCMHC, CMHIMP, CH, is a Black, queer mental health professional and the founder of the award-winning Therapists of Color New England, the first BIPoC group mental health practice in New Hampshire. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University (2013) and is licensed in VT, NH, and MA. Nicole has been recognized for her leadership in cultural responsiveness and advocacy for marginalized communities. She facilitates Racial Healing Circles in collaboration with the NAACP, serves on the boards of NAMI NH and the Business Alliance for People of Color, and trains organizations in DEI and cultural responsiveness. A sought-after speaker, Nicole has appeared in various media outlets, sharing her expertise on mental health, systemic inequities, and intersectionality in care. She is committed to promoting equitable access to mental health services and empowering BIPoC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Bio

Janelle Mills, MSW, is a Research Associate at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Brandeis University. Her research focuses on the intersectional nature of inequality and how the lived experiences of marginalized women, including women with disabilities, differ based on their nationality, culture, race, and income.
Session Summary

This session will provide an overview of findings from a qualitative research study at Brandeis University. The researchers examined the lived experiences, unmet needs, and barriers to perinatal care and other supports of Black women and Latinas/xs with physical disabilities. Twenty-one women were interviewed. Researchers used content analysis to analyze the transcripts. Overarching themes included challenges in accessing care; physical inaccessibility of facilities and medical equipment; information needs; the importance of self-advocacy; positive care experiences; and recommendations to improve care. The researchers concluded that pregnancy care providers need training to enhance cultural competence in care for pregnant, physically disabled women. There is also a need for more tailored prenatal resources that cater to the unique needs and experiences of Black women and Latinas/xs with physical disabilities.

‘All we’re looking for is to be properly cared for’: Pregnancy healthcare experiences of Black and Latina/x mothers with physical disabilities  (Facilitator: J. Mills)

Culturally Responsive Reproductive Healthcare: Policy vs. Practical Access to Black Immigrant Populations in Southern NH (Facilitator: N. Apollo)