Greetings CSSBC Friends,
As a midwife, social entrepreneur and proud South Sider, I have spent the last four years doing all I can to learn and grow as a healthcare innovator. Although, truth be told, there is nothing new about midwifery and community birth. It is a long held practice in the Black community that for too long, has lacked the reverence and respect it deserves in our existing healthcare system. As one of only two Black midwives practicing out of hospital in all of Chicago, I am proud to be a part of a regional, and national, community seeking to bring back the choice of midwifery and community birth to families and communities.
As we move through this season following the election outcome, we have no fear. Our commitment to bring midwifery care back to our communities and improve health outcomes has not and will never waiver. We will continue to build and stand in our guiding principles of birth justice, autonomy, liberation, self-determination, wellness, joy, and abundance. We deserve better.
We will open in 2026 and we will serve. No Matter What.
As we prepare to open what will be Chicago’s (and Illinois’) first Black-led, community-based birth center, we have a generous donor and proud partner in George and Cindy Rusu - who have pledged to give us $500,000 - if we can raise $1,000,000 in new funding by April of 2025.
To kick start this effort, and begin to renovate our building in the Spring, we are hoping to bring in $100,000 towards this $1,000,000 goal by December 31st.
Would you stretch to give $250 or more to Chicago South Side Birth Center this year? Can you and a team of friends and family give $250 or more together?
Every gift helps but stretch gifts at this time mobilize even more funding for us.
I will conclude by saying that this is a sacred, beautiful project to us all. It means more than anything to be in community with you and being in community together, we will always win.
On behalf of our entire team and with the belief that how we are born into this world matters more than anything, I await your response and appreciate your generosity.
With gratitude,
Jeanine
Founder and Lead Steward, Chicago South Side Birth Center
On September 19th, we presented our Certificate of Need to the State of Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, and it was approved by a unanimous vote by all committee members.
This has been an extensive process that our founder and lead steward, Jeanine Valrie Logan, has been working on tirelessly for the last two years.
It is with such joy and gratitude that we celebrate this milestone in our journey to opening our doors in 2026!
With the approval of our Certificate of Need, we can officially begin raising capital for renovations and to fund our first two years of operations.
Thank you for your continued support, and for being on this journey with us.
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1st Seth Hemming $6,778.58 raised 24 donations
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2nd Tiffany Gorman $3,995.33 raised 38 donations
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3rd Skyler Larrimore $1,300.15 raised 20 donations
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4th Robert Higgins $1,065.85 raised 1 donation
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5th Jeanine Valrie Logan $950.96 raised 16 donations
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6th Carly Ann Braun $913.44 raised 14 donations
You can also help us to achieve our goals!
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