HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM BWPC ✨

Shantay Davies-Balch
Dec 30, 2025
4 min read

As 2025 comes to a close, our hearts are full of gratitude for the strength and resilience of our community. This year, BLACK Wellness & Prosperity Center (BWPC) overcame significant challenges and grew even stronger. Despite a difficult year for so many, we move forward with hope, grounded in the ways our community continues to show up for one another.

Thank you for being a part of our community and for your support!

We are honored to reflect on and share the work, wins, and growth that defined this year. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

In February, President and CEO, Shantay R. Davies-Balch, was recognized as a 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award recipient! This prestigious honor included a $350,000 grant to support our mission of improving Black maternal health through advanced doula training and culturally competent care.

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Our team served hundreds of participants by providing free services, education, and resources through events like Black Maternal Health Week, as well as programs including Community Health Advocacy, breastfeeding and lactation support, and BLACK Pregnancy Support Groups.

In April, we celebrated and led another amazing Black Maternal Health Week in Fresno! From the Exhibition to the Health Fair & Jubilee, we welcomed hundreds of community members to uplift Black maternal health through education, awareness, and community building.

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In June, we launched BLACK Pregnancy Support Groups, serving 20 participants by the end of the year. Through group sessions led by a Certified Nurse-Midwife and doulas, moms connected and learned alongside one another, developing a deeper understanding of their bodies and gaining additional tools to advocate for themselves throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

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In October, BWPC team members attended the 2025 California Black Birth Equity Summit in Sacramento, a convening rooted in action and focused on advancing systems that support Black families.

The team engaged in powerful discussions on systemic racism in maternal health, culturally aligned care, and the critical role of communication and policy in improving outcomes for Black birthing people.

Amidst federal funding cuts, unsettling public health claims lacking in scientific evidence, and most recently a government shutdown that left millions without their SNAP benefits, BWPC has remained unapologetically dedicated to improving health outcomes for Black families and the larger Fresno Community.

BWPC's team volunteering at Saint Rest Baptist Church's Food Drive

Our Community Health Advocates (CHA) served hundreds of community members this year connecting them with community resources and referral services. Most recently, when the government shutdown created a food access emergency, we stepped up by publishing a food assistance guide. We hosted a Free Grocery Giveaway for our program participants and volunteered at Saint Rest Baptist Church’s food drives.

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Lactation and breastfeeding support participant, Ekei.

In 2025, we also introduced breastfeeding and lactation support services offered by Hollye Jenkins, a Community Health Advocate and Certified Black Lactation Educator. Hollye partners with families to meet their unique needs, building confidence and well-being throughout the breastfeeding journey.

“Its been a blessing to be able to breastfeed these first 6 months and hopefully the next 2 years. With my first, I was only able to breastfeed for 3 weeks.” - Ekei

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Last week we hosted a special holiday celebration with families from our programs. Thanks to generous support from Valley Children’s Healthcare, families received free winter essentials—including coats, blankets, mittens, and more—to help them stay cozy through the winter. The evening included pizza, hot cocoa, and a chance for families to shop in our boutique using BWPC Bucks. Partners from Faith in the Valley provided a short training and gave out free high-quality air purifiers and gift cards as well!

Thanks to Valley Children’s Healthcare for making this special evening possible and for their support of the families we serve! A big thank you to Elena from Project Linus and the incredible generosity of our local community for donating handmade blankets, cozy hats, and soft toys. We were also honored to receive dozens of blankets and soft toys organized by provider partner Dr. Christina Hiebert and her network.

This year’s Giving Tuesday campaign was evidence of BWPC’s meaningful work. We asked our community, partners and volunteers which word in our BLACK acronym-Belonging, Love, Affinity, Community and Kinship-resonated with them most and how it reflects BWPC’s impact.

We were not surprised to see that Community resonated deeply with so many.

You can read more testimonies on our website here: Blackwpc.org/giving-tuesday

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Whether you’ve joined a pregnancy support group, received services, volunteered, donated, partnered with us or attended an event--you are a cherished part of the BWPC community. We cannot weather the storms that come our way without all of us. Help us continue to strengthen our efforts and deepen our impact with a donation today.

Your gift ensures families receive newborn care essentials like diapers, breastfeeding supplies, and clothing, while connecting them to necessities like health insurance, transportation, food and more.

Every contribution strengthens our efforts to improve health outcomes and provide wraparound support for families. Together, we are building a future rooted in all of what BLACK stands for: Belonging, Love, Affinity, Community, and Kinship!

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