09/03/2026
Corewell Health Hosts Black Breastfeeding Week Event in Benton Harbor
By Madeline Pierre
Benton Harbor — On Friday, Aug. 28, Corewell Health Center for Wellness hosted a community event in honor of Black Breastfeeding Week, bringing together local families, health professionals and community members to recognize the experiences of Black breastfeeding families and connect them with resources and support.
Black Breastfeeding Week, observed annually from Aug. 25–31, highlights the experiences of Black breastfeeding families and aims to address racial disparities in breastfeeding support and outcomes.
Bianca Nash, an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), spoke at the event about racial disparities in breastfeeding rates and the obstacles that can make it more difficult for Black mothers to meet their breastfeeding goals. She discussed factors that contribute to those disparities and the need for solutions that advance breastfeeding equity.
“Black breastfeeding families are not a problem to be solved,” Nash said. “The disparities are the problem, and the systems, structures, policies, practices, and barriers that create those disparities are what we have to be willing to examine.”
Nash closed her presentation by emphasizing the importance of creating a community where Black mothers feel heard, believed and supported in their decisions to breastfeed.
“So when a Black mother says, ‘I want to breastfeed,’ our response should be, ‘We hear you. We believe you. You deserve support, representation and resources, and, most importantly, we will help you. Because that’s what a village does.”
The event’s Q&A panel brought lactation specialists and community members together to discuss challenges Black breastfeeding families may face and how communities can provide meaningful support. The discussion also highlighted local resources available to families. Panelists included Bianca Nash, Charlie Patterson, a Michigan Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Program case manager at the Berrien County Health Department; Mistel de Varona, an IBCLC with Corewell’s new lactation support program; and Makeila Fadden, a project specialist at Corewell Health.
Charlie Patterson emphasized the importance of support and patience for new mothers, encouraging them to seek answers when they need them and to give themselves time to adjust. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t know, ask… Ask questions, be encouraged, enjoy the moment, don’t rush it, and take it one day at a time,” Patterson said.
Organizers then paused to honor the memory of Ambrece London, a young Benton Harbor mother and breastfeeding advocate who was part of the community and utilized the program before her passing earlier this year. London’s mother, Virginia Lewis, accepted a plaque and bouquet in her daughter’s honor before sharing London’s breastfeeding journey and reading an excerpt she had written about her experience.
Remembering her daughter’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding families, Lewis encouraged those in attendance to carry that same spirit of support into their own communities: “What I want you guys to think about when you’re in your community… is how can you help to make someone’s breastfeeding journey easier?”
Finally, the event marked the announcement of a new lactation support program at the Corewell Health Center for Wellness, offering free support to local families. Lactation consultants will be available to answer questions and address breastfeeding concerns, providing families with resources and guidance throughout their breastfeeding journeys.
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Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals
