BFF+Baby Yams

BFF+Baby Yams=
funding Black and Indigenous midwives and birthworkers

Actress and singer Tatyana Ali has turned her traumatic first birth into activism for reproductive justice. She has spoken publicly about her experiences and shared her appreciation for midwifery and the birth justice movement. (You may remember seeing her at our very first BFF virtual event in 2020!) For Black Maternal Health Week in April 2024, Tatyana launched Baby Yams, which sells unique handmade quilts to raise money to improve maternal care, with 100% of the proceeds going to Black and Indigenous midwives and doulas. Birth Future Foundation is proud to partner with Baby Yams, a collaboration which aligns perfectly with our mission and approach to grantmaking.

Dreaming and visioning the birth future we deserve takes vision, tenacity, perseverance, and most of all patience.

Dreaming and visioning:
Baby Yams founder Tatyana Ali (right) and
BFF executive director Tanya Smith-Johnson (left)

Proceeds from the sale of Baby Yams quilts will enable
Birth Future Foundation to expand our grantmaking,
funding the future we believe in.

Since founding BFF in 2020, we have been intentional about who we are , what we stand for and how we want to approach philanthropy. We are proud of the work we have done over the last 4 years. BFF has granted over $100,000 to birthworkers and the maternal health and reproductive justice movement at large. We have planted seeds, tilled the soil, and now we are continuing to water what we have planted.

BFF+Baby Yams!

With that, we are so happy to launch our partnership and collaboration with Baby Yams, a brand created by actress and activist Tatyana Ali. Baby Yams supports Black and Indigenous birthworkers uniquely positioned to serve our communities, so it is only natural that Baby Yams and BFF have joined forces! 

BFF and Baby Yams share a common goal to empower midwives and birthworkers with the resources to do what they do best, providing culturally concordant and liberating reproductive care. This collaboration strengthens our capacity and brings us closer to realizing our vision of liberation and abundance. Together, we’re better!

  1. Purchase a limited edition quilt from Baby Yams 

  2. Donate to BFF

  3. Share and spread the word about our grants and work

3 ways to support:

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