Who We Are
We are a passionate community of advocates, educators, and partners committed to providing culturally affirming, holistic support for Black birthing people.
Our mission is to ensure Black mamas—and those who care for them—have the knowledge, resources, and community to experience empowered, joyful births.
Board of Directors
-
![Close-up of a smiling woman with short curly hair wearing earrings.]()
Valencia P. Walker, MD, MPH
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Chair, Board of Directors
-
![A woman smiling with curly hair, wearing red lipstick, hoop earrings, a black top, a pearl bracelet, and a smartwatch, in a well-lit indoor setting.]()
Marie Boone-Clark
Founder & Executive Director
Vice Chair, Board of Directors
-
![Portrait of a man with short black hair, wearing a light-colored blazer and a collared shirt, smiling against a blue background.]()
Keith Meredith, MD, MS
Board of Directors
-
![Portrait of a smiling Black female doctor with short curly hair, wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around her neck.]()
Alice Obuobi, MD, MBA
Board of Directors
-
![A man with a bald head wearing a dark suit jacket and white shirt, standing against a plain light background.]()
Grady Grant, III
Board of Directors
-
![A woman with braids and freckles smiling, wearing a blue blazer and earrings, against a plain background.]()
Shawn Smith, MD, FAAP
Board of Directors
-
![A young woman with dark curly hair, wearing hoop earrings and a white sleeveless top, smiling outdoors in front of green trees.]()
Allison Cole, MPH
Secretary
Board of Directors
-
![Portrait of a middle-aged woman with light brown curly hair, wearing silver earrings and a black top, against a white background.]()
Tricia Mischler, JD, MPH
Board of Directors
Governance
-
![A smiling African American man in a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt, and purple tie, standing against a beige textured wall.]()
Brighton Ncube, PhD
Board of Directors
Governance
-
![Close-up of a smiling middle-aged man with gray hair, a mustache, and glasses, wearing a white shirt and pink tie.]()
Donald Null, MD
Board of Directors
-
![Close-up photo of a smiling woman with short, curly hair, wearing a pearl necklace and a dark top.]()
Joy L. Henderson, RN, PNP, PhD
Co-Founder
Board Member Emeritus
(In Memoriam)
-
![A smiling woman with black hair styled in loose curls, wearing a light pink shirt with ruffled sleeves and a necklace, posing against a plain light background.]()
L. Joy Baker, MD, FACOG, PMH-C, C-EFM, MT(ASCP)
Board of Directors
Clinical Quality and Safety
-
![A professional African American woman with shoulder-length black hair smiling, wearing a black blazer, a white top, a silver necklace with a black pendant, and hoop earrings, posed against a blurred gray background.]()
Sharon Reed Walker
Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer, Board or Directors
-
![Professional woman with long black hair, smiling, wearing a navy blazer and white blouse, posing against a white background.]()
Theadora James, MHA
Board of Directors
Advisory Council
-
Danielle Clayton, Esq.
Danielle Clayton, Esq. is Senior Counsel in the Ethics and Compliance Division of the New York City Law Department, where she advances ethical governance and public accountability. She previously served as Assistant Corporation Counsel, managing a high volume litigation docket and earning a 2019 Division Chief Award, and broadened her civil practice as an Associate at Lewis Brisbois.
Danielle began her career with judicial and litigation internships that honed her research and trial skills. A graduate of Brooklyn Law School, she blends precision, principle, and purpose in every aspect of her work, championing fairness and trust in the institutions she serves. She also serves on the Advisory Council of Birthing the Magic Collaborative (BTM).
-
Pearl Quartey-Kumapley, MD
Dr. Pearl Quartey-Kumapley is a physician and health equity leader dedicated to transforming care delivery and advancing inclusive, community-centered medicine. She serves as Medical Director for Health Equity at Deaconess Health System and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Before joining Deaconess, Dr. Quartey-Kumapley served as Medical Director of the COVID-19 Response for the Cook County Department of Public Health, leading critical prevention and outreach initiatives during one of the most challenging periods in modern medicine. A graduate of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, she brings an integrative approach that bridges primary care, education, and equity.
-
David W. Johnson, Esq.
David Johnson, Esq., is a former Associate General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer for a global software company, and now devotes his expertise to meaningful work that uplifts others.
A respected leader who also served as Interim Chief Diversity and Social Responsibility Officer, he brings decades of experience in law, compliance, and corporate ethics, as well as public service with the U.S. Department of Labor, local government, and Board Member of a Nebraska credit union.
He serves as our executive advisor at Birthing the Magic, as well as the Callas Foundation, and partners with We Make Change to expand opportunities for underrepresented communities in technology and health information.
His track record is distinguished by excellence, integrity, and tangible results.
-
Sydney Lockhart, MSPH
Sydney Lockhart is a health communications specialist with a background in environmental justice, health equity, and public health administration.
She received her masters from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at the Gillings School of Global Public Health in 2019.
She is a published author within the scientific journal "NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy," and she sees her work as a means of confronting racial disparities and promoting change within POC communities.
Public health is a vast and complex web that affects most industries, and she is very interested in understanding that intersectionality and building rapport between sectors to better global public health initiatives. She is incredibly excited to join the Birthing the Magic Collaborative advisory board and continue the work of improving maternal health outcomes for her community!
-
Ronnetha Darrett
Ronnetha Darrett is a mission-driven executive leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing equity, organizational effectiveness, and community-centered systems across the healthcare and education sectors.
Most recently, Ronnetha served as Chief Executive Officer of a multi-site behavioral health organization supporting children and young adults who are neurodivergent and their families.
She led family-centered care models that elevated caregiver voice, honored lived experience, and ensured services were responsive to family needs and priorities, while providing executive oversight, financial stewardship, organizational growth, and expanding access to care in underserved communities through strategic partnerships.
Ronnetha has held executive leadership roles within public education, including district-level administration and school leadership, where she advanced equity-focused initiatives in resource allocation, talent development, and systems improvement.
Ronnetha holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership.