The Annual National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) convention will be held in Philadelphia beginning July 11. This year’s theme “Pursing Liberty in the Face of Injustice” aims to address dichotomy of the words and worlds where liberty is celebrated, but injustices in areas of economics, education and health still plague African-Americans across Philadelphia and the country.
Nearly one-third of African-American families in Philadelphia live in poverty and African-American women are at an increased risk for maternal mortality and morbidity. In Philadelphia African-American babies face an infant mortality rate of 14.9 per 1,000 births compared to 5.2 per 1,000 for white babies and 6.17 per 1,000 births nationally.
Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) strongly believes that addressing the problems of health, economic and education inequality are at the foundation to ensuring sustainability and strength in families and communities at the greatest risk. Our public policy efforts focus on ensuring that every woman, baby, child and family has the resources and access to the information they need to improve their overall health and wellbeing and be ready for school and lifelong learning.
At MCC we recognize that it takes everyone-providers, communities, individuals, policymakers and Advocates- working together to ensure low-income, minority families are able to move beyond their current circumstances to one of health, wellbeing and strength. Organizations such as the NAACP show the power of advocacy in protecting and promoting justice for all.
MCC hopes that this convention in Philadelphia will provide a much needed dialogue and create strong plans of actions that will address the needs of thousands of Philadelphia and US residents and create a place where economic sustainability, quality education, equal access to health care and elimination of discrimination becomes the true meaning of liberty in the United States.
