Peace! My name is Nafisah Mahmoud & I am a licensed therapist, certified perinatal mental health professional, and traditional birth worker. More importantly, I am a wife and mother. After having my daughter almost a year ago, I became extremely passionate about the plight of BIPOC women during their pregnancy and postpartum journeys.

While the national data shows that Black women are 3-4x more likely to die than white women while giving birth, that number is nearly doubled in the state of NJ, with Black women being almost 7x more likely to die than white women.

Our goal is to change that through a nonprofit organization called MOCHI, Mothers of Civilization Healing Initiative. This isn’t just about me and my experience. This is about all of us. This nonprofit will be dedicated to supporting pregnant and postpartum women through culturally affirming care, education, and healing. This looks like granting scholarships for doula support, creating community walks, facilitating support groups for dads, and more. The long-term vision is to close the gap between these horrific disparities.

I’m asking you to help me, help us by donating to MOCHI’s GoFundMe account. The funds raised will help to cover startup costs, including filing fees, legal setup, and early community initiatives. Every dollar helps us get closer to our mission, and we’re hoping to reach our goal by this time next month, in honor of my daughter’s first birthday. Your support now lays the foundation for something deeply impactful in the near future, God willing. Thank you so much in advance for your support!