FLOURISH recently awarded $10,000 of Community Mobilization and Innovation funds to A Red Circle, an organization that addresses racial injustice and inequality in North St. Louis through community engagement. They plan to support the health of Black moms and babies by providing community dinners and nutrition information to pregnant and new moms. In addition to improving health outcomes through nutritious eating, the dinners will provide a safe place for women to gather to discuss challenges they have faced and learn from each other.
Racial disparities, such as access to healthy foods, have a significant impact on Black moms and babies. “At A Red Circle, our mission is to reverse the effects of racism one person and cause at a time through a holistic living approach,” said Founder Erica Williams. “Our meal program will provide healthy food, nutrition information for moms and their children, and resources needed to enjoy being a mom – packaged in a fun, dignified and culturally-appropriate manner.”
“A Red Circle’s focus on nutrition and community engagement directly aligns with our mission of improving the lives of Black mothers in zip codes where infant vitality is at a high risk,” says Brian Washington, manager of planning and partnerships at Generate Health. “We are excited to see more organizations continue to come forward with community initiatives to improve the lives of Black moms and babies.”
Jamaa Birth Village and Influence Church have also received Community Mobilization and Innovation grants from FLOURISH. We encourage other community groups to apply for the Community Mobilization and Innovation Fund. Grant opportunities run on quarterly cycles. The next deadline to submit an application is Friday, May 15.
