LOS ANGELES—More than 50 local families attended a celebration in honor of Juneteenth and the one-year anniversary of CinnaMoms Crenshaw, a space aimed at supporting Black families who are enrolled in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC).
CinnaMoms, a breastfeeding and postpartum support brand, is part of PHFE WIC, the nation’s largest WIC program and a program of Heluna Health.
The event, which also celebrated Juneteenth, featured dancing, raffles and recognition for outstanding participant families. The celebration also included a resource fair featuring the Social Justice Learning Institute, Crystal Stairs, the IRTH App, Frontline Doulas, El Nido, Black Infant Health, Rising Communities and several other organizations.
“From diapers, books and wipes to grocery bags, no one left empty handed,” said K’Lynn Mitchell, CinnaMoms coordinator and one of the organizers of the event.
Mitchell said that the celebration is just one part of CinnaMoms’ larger effort to provide space for Black birthing families to “rest, nest and connect.”
“This safe space for our Black WIC participants is reconnecting them face to face with each other, our WIC program and the community,” Mitchell said.
The Crenshaw location hosts a variety of support groups, workshops and wellness classes, and provides participants with access to WIC registered dietitians, lactation consultants, breastfeeding peer counselors and other resources.
Toncé Jackson, co-founder of CinnaMoms, said that the organization’s mission is to create a cultural space that promotes empowerment and self-transformation for Black and African American women.
“We come together to share and advocate for breastfeeding/chestfeeding, parenting and health for the entire life course,” Jackson said. “Through the innovative CinnaMoms Crenshaw space we are re-introducing the WIC program to the community by providing a safe space designed by and for Black and African American WIC participants and the community.”
Kiran Saluja, executive director of PHFE WIC, said that she hopes to see the CinnaMoms program expand to more physical locations.
“As we continue to build the legacy of CinnaMoms Crenshaw, the CinnaTeam looks forward to expanding its reach and building a stronger circle of support for Black babies, families and the community,” Saluja said.
About CinnaMoms
CinnaMoms began in 2015 as an initiative to increase breastfeeding rates among Black/African American women in the PHFE WIC program. CinnaMoms created support circles that extended beyond WIC services to provide encouragement and a safe space for families to connect about historical feeding practices, perceptions of breastfeeding, familial feeding experiences and the health benefits of breastfeeding. CinnaMoms hosts classes, support groups, cooking demonstrations and special events that focus on sparking conversations about maternal and postpartum health, support systems and cultural beliefs as they relate to nutrition.
The focus on supporting and creating a network of friendships for Black birthing women is critical at this time when Black maternal and infant mortality rates remain persistently high. According to CDC data, Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Black birthing people are also more likely to experience life-threatening conditions associated with pregnancy, like blood clots or preeclampsia. African American infants are 3.2 times more likely than non-Hispanic white infants to die from complications related to low birth weight (Center for American Progress, 2019).
CinnaMoms Crenshaw is CinnaMoms’ pioneering location, proudly serving the community since June 19, 2023. CinnaMoms Crenshaw hosts in-person events where mothers can connect, share experiences and find support.
About PHFE WIC
PHFE WIC, a program of Heluna Health, is the largest WIC agency in the country. The program serves parents, infants and children in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. PHFE WIC is nationally recognized as a leader and innovator in nutrition education, breastfeeding support, staff training, customer service and outreach to community partners.
About Heluna Health
For more than 50 years, Heluna Health has worked together with nonprofit and community-based organizations, public health agencies, healthcare systems, providers, and policymakers to strengthen health interventions and create equitable access to disease prevention, treatment, care and social resources.
