Driving Impactful Change: The BLACK Collaborative Inc's FY26–28 Strategic Plan
- Dr. Natashia L. Conner, PhD, MPhil, MS, IBCLC
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Growth in community organizations often risks becoming a goal in itself. At The BLACK Collaborative Inc., growth means something different. It means creating clear, coordinated efforts that produce lasting, measurable benefits for Black families. As the organization steps into Fiscal Years 2026–2028, it introduces a refined approach through the BLACK MOTHER Collective™ Impact Model. This new structure aims to deepen impact by aligning programs, partnerships, research, and community mobilization around shared goals.
Why The BLACK Collaborative Inc. Changed Its Approach
Over recent years, The BLACK Collaborative Inc. has made significant progress in addressing health disparities and supporting Black families. Some key achievements include:
Bringing mobile health fairs to communities with high health disparities
Distributing thousands of diapers and essential infant supplies
Providing education on cardiovascular and maternal health
Expanding support for perinatal mental health
Amplifying Black voices through arts and participatory research
Strengthening referral pathways between families and healthcare systems
As these efforts grew, the need for a more structured and connected system became clear. The organization recognized that to sustain and increase its impact, it needed a framework that:
Centers community voices in decision-making
Connects research findings directly to services
Aligns funding with clear outcomes
Prevents isolated programs that don’t communicate
Focuses on equity in maternal and infant health
The FY26–28 Strategic Plan formalizes this framework, creating a foundation for coordinated, effective work.
Introducing the BLACK MOTHER Collective Impact™
The BLACK MOTHER Collective™ is the heart of the new organizational structure. It acts as a coordinating hub, bringing together a braided system of care that supports families from pregnancy through postpartum and beyond. This model addresses the root causes of health inequities and ensures families receive comprehensive, connected support.
Families can engage with the Collective through various entry points, such as The Center of Eden, mobile health fairs, referral partners, or community events. Regardless of how they enter, services are organized into three integrated pillars that work together seamlessly.
The Three Pillars of the BLACK MOTHER Collective Impact™
1. Black ROOTs™ Health Initiatives
This pillar serves as the foundational engine of the Collective. It is community-led and evidence-based, ensuring that programs are grounded in the lived experiences and needs of Black families. Black ROOTs™ focuses on:
Building trust and engagement within communities
Delivering culturally relevant health education
Supporting maternal and infant health through accessible services
Using data and research to guide program development
By centering community leadership, Black ROOTs™ creates a strong base for sustainable health improvements.
2. Black Rhythm & Blues™ Health Initiatives
Black Rhythm & Blues™ addresses cardiovascular health — The Heartbeat of Black Motherhood— the leading cause of pregnancy-related death among Black women. Through blood pressure screenings, maternal warning sign education, and postpartum follow-up, R&B shifts the focus from crisis response to prevention and early detection. Protecting the heartbeat of Black motherhood is lifesaving work.
3. Black BERRY & JUICE™ Health Initiatives
Black BERRY & JUICE™ — The Nervous System of Black Motherhood — centers emotional safety, relational health, and perinatal mental wellness. This initiative recognizes that chronic stress, trauma exposure, and lack of support increase maternal risk. Through trauma-informed support circles, partner engagement, and mental health referrals, BERRY & JUICE strengthens the emotional core of families.
How the Strategic Plan Supports Sustainable Impact
The FY26–28 Strategic Plan is more than a roadmap; it is a commitment to measurable, sustainable change. It supports impact by:
Aligning funding with outcomes: Resources are directed toward programs that demonstrate clear benefits for families.
Integrating research and service: Data collected from programs informs ongoing improvements and policy advocacy.
Preventing silos: The three pillars work together, sharing information and resources to avoid duplication and gaps.
Centering community voice: Decision-making includes input from families and community leaders to ensure relevance and respect.
Focusing on equity: All efforts prioritize reducing disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.
This approach builds a resilient system that can adapt and grow while staying true to its mission.
What This Means for Our Community What This Means for Funders & Partners
Our FY26–28 structure allows us to: This strategic alignment:
Strengthen coordinated referral pathways Clarifies program architecture
Align mobile health activation with research Demonstrates systems-level thinking
Expand maternal cardiovascular education Strengthens evaluation and accountability
Increase perinatal mental health access Positions us for multi-year investment
Sustain the Community Care Closet Ensures sustainability
Diversify funding streams responsibly We are no longer operating as programs
Measure impact across domains We are a coordinated infrastructure
Ensures that the community voice is central
Looking Ahead: Building on a Strong Foundation
The BLACK Collaborative Inc’s FY26–28 Strategic Plan marks a new chapter in its work. By aligning strategies and creating a clear infrastructure, the organization positions itself to deepen its impact on Black maternal and infant health. The BLACK MOTHER Collective™ model offers a practical, community-centered way to address complex challenges with coordinated, evidence-based solutions.
Our Commitment for FY26–28
Over the next three years, we will focus on:
Scaling mobile health fairs in high-disparity neighborhoods
Expanding cardiovascular risk prevention education
Deepening perinatal mental health support
Increasing structural analysis and community-informed research
Strengthening The Center of Eden as a trusted hub
Advancing policy conversations rooted in lived experience
One Collective. Multiple Pathways.
The BLACK Collaborative Inc. remains committed to:
Healing.
Equity.
Legacy.
Access.
But now, our structure reflects the full depth of that commitment.
Strong roots.
Protected heartbeats.
Regulated nervous systems.
Stabilized families.
Together, we are building a coordinated maternal–family ecosystem designed not just to respond to disparities — but to transform the systems that create them.
Dr. Natashia L Conner, Ph.D., M.Phil, MS, IBCLC
Executive Director & Founder
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