The ARIAH Foundation
Advancement of Reproductive Innovation
Through Artistry and Healing
The ARIAH Foundation was established in 2019 after the tragic and preventable death of Shamony Makeba Gibson due to a birth related pulmonary embolism. Shamony represents so many powerful women of color whose lives were cut short due to birth inequities and reproductive injustice in the United States. The foundation seeks to support individuals, families and communities who experience the devastating Aftershock associated with maternal/infant morbidity and mortality. ARIAH provides mental, physical, emotional and/or spiritual assistance to support the affected families as they navigate the impact of these traumatic experiences.
All Aboard the Reproductive Freedom Train
Friday April 25, 2025 6p-9p
Saturday April 26, 2025 1p-4p
Over 2 days participants will embark on a powerful session entitled “The Reproductive Freedom Train: An Afrofuturistic Journey To Liberation”, a metaphorical journey across the United States, modeled by the historical Underground Railroad and the Negro Motorist Green Book on Zoom! The freedom journey will follow Black women, birthing people, their babies and families as they seek to “liberate” themselves from the bondage of racism, oppression, injustice and adverse outcomes in the reproductive healthcare system. The stops that they encounter on the “Freedom Train” will allow travelers to experience individuals, organizations and/or events that will offer them support, education, healing, resources and inspiration to counteract the adverse impact and outcomes associated with reproductive injustice and disparities. Each stop on the journey will reflect the critical elements of reproductive justice, including birth equity, trauma-informed care, advocacy, cultural competency, and anti-oppression practices.
Guided by Mama Tandie Lumumba, an Afrofuturistic spiritual leader from Afrum in the year 2,325, the train will transport attendees through immersive storytelling, sensory engagement, and community connection. Participants will also receive a comprehensive resource list of activists, providers, birthing centers, farms, and healing spaces to support their journey beyond the event.
This experience is a call to action, blending historical homage, cultural affirmation, and futuristic visioning to empower participants, foster healing, and imagine a world where reproductive liberation is a reality for all.
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We Are Because You GIVE
We extend a heartfelt invitation for your monetary support with making future programming a success. ARIAH utilizes art, education, advocacy and holistic healing programs to mitigate the long-lasting impact of systemic racism and oppression on the sexual, reproductive health and birth outcomes within BIPOC communities.
Your donations will save and transform lives through programs and services provided by the ARIAH Foundation which are centered around the lived experiences, and expressed needs, of BIPOC mothers and birthing people, who are most likely to be adversely impacted by reproductive inequities, trauma, loss and death, such as, 1. Counseling and Support For Grieving Families 2. Education, Training and Advocacy 3. Community Events To Promote Activism, Artistry, Culture and Healing.
ARIAH in Action
ARIAH utilizes art, education, advocacy, and holistic healing programs to mitigate the long-lasting impact of systematic racism and oppression on the sexual reproductive health and birth outcomes within BIPOC communities through Art Exhibits and Performances,
Visual Storytelling,
Experiential Workshops, etc.
Art
Healing
The Luxor Men's Collective holds space for men who have suffered the traumatic experience of losing, or the near loss, of their partner, due to the maternal mortality, morbidity, and the inequities of the healthcare system. Luxor is a dedicated group of BIPOC men committed to addressing critical issues affecting the black community while seeking to create a space for healing, dialogue, and progress.
The ARIAH Foundation represents humanitarianism in ACTION. The team provides reproductive justice and birth equity training and development to organizations seeking to examine and transform their policies, procedures, practices and organizational culture, to align with the principles of anti-racism and decolonization.
