Introduction
Black women in Cuyahoga County die from complications due to childbirth, deliver premature babies, and suffer infant mortality at higher rates than women in third world countries. To help shed light on this issue, the American Association of Clergy and Employers (AACE) and Literary Cleveland partnered in early 2020 to offer a free eight-week writing workshop led by Charlotte Morgan to provide Black women the space to tell their stories on their own terms.
The writing below was created by workshop participants are part of the Beauty for Ashes: Stories of Maternal Hope program.
Program Information
Beauty for Ashes: Stories of Maternal Hope is a collaborative journalism project initiated by the American Association of Clergy and Employers (AACE) in partnership with Literary Cleveland, FreshWater Cleveland, Cleveland Clergy Coalition, Radio One WERE AM 1490, Karin McKenna Photography, and the Ward 7 Observer. First Year Cleveland and Ohio Representative Stephanie Howse provided additional support.
This project is made possible through the generous support of The Cleveland Foundation, Akron Community Foundation, George Gund Foundation, Center for Community Solutions, the Knight Foundation, and the Solutions Journalism Network.
Cover photo courtesy of Karin McKenna Photography.