(WASHINGTON, DC) – Mayor Bowser today announced Urban One, formerly known as Radio One, as the official media partner for the District’s first Maternal and Infant Health Summit on September 12. Urban One, led by Founder and Chairperson Cathy Hughes, is the largest African-American owned and operated broadcast company in the country.
“As we turn our country’s attention to this important issue, it is critical that we include a diverse set of voices and experiences,” said Mayor Bowser. “By working together, we can build healthier communities, improve outcomes for women and babies, and save lives.”
Mayor Bowser also announced the agenda for the Maternal and Infant Health Summit. The scheduled events include a luncheon and several panels with elected officials, health experts, and medical professionals. During the luncheon, Mayor Bowser will participate in a conversation about maternal and infant health with Valerie Jarrett, former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, and Cathy Hughes.
“We are proud to partner with Mayor Bowser on this historic summit and share her vision to improve maternal and infant health in DC and across the country,” said Cathy Hughes. “Radio One is an important source of information for many across the District and the country, and it is our commitment to engage our community on all issues that affect us.”
Panel 1: “Mayoral Panel: Best Practices and Lessons Learned”
During the first panel, mayors from across the country will discuss successes and challenges in their communities. The panel includes Mayors Freeman-Wilson (Gary, IN), Toni Harp (New Haven, CT), Vi Lyles (Charlotte, NC), Catherine Pugh (Baltimore, MD), Lovely Warren (Rochester, NY), and Karen Weaver (Flint, MI).
Panel 2: “A Healthy Start for All: Why Maternal and Infant Health Matters”
The second panel will feature experts in the fields of maternal and infant health, including: Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr., District of Columbia Chief Medical Examiner; Dr. Michael Lu, Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic, Student and Faculty Affairs and Former Director of Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA; Stacey D. Stewart, President at March of Dimes; Maria Gomez, President and CEO at Mary’s Center; and Kelly Sweeney McShane, President and CEO at Community of Hope.
Panel 3: “Community Driven Solutions: The Key to Sustainable Progress”
The third panel will highlight community-driven solutions to building healthier communities and will include: Dr. Tanya Royster, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health; Brenda Rhodes Miller, Executive Director of DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; Sarah Barclay Hoffman, Assistant Director at the Early Childhood Innovation Network; and Cherie Craft, CEO and Founding Executive Director at Smart From the Start.
Panel 4: “Place Matters…and So Does Quality: Clinical Innovations in Perinatal Health”
This panel will highlight how place-based initiatives, which infuse a broad-range of customized resources into a community, are being used to improve health outcomes. This panel includes: Dr. Pamela Riley, MD, MPH, Medical Director at the DC Department of Health Care Finance; Dr. Hugh E. Mighty, Dean of College of Medicine and Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Howard University; Dr. Dana Smith, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist at Kaiser Permanente; Dr. Audra Meadows, Chair of Massachusetts Perinatal Quality Collaborative; and Dr. Melissa Fries, Reproductive Geneticist and High Risk Obstetrician at MedStar Health.
Throughout the summit, community-based nonprofits and organizations will provide information about their programs and services in the exhibition hall. The summit, is free and open to the public. To learn more and to RSVP for Mayor Bowser’s Maternal and Infant Health Summit, visit dcmaternalhealth.com.