Rooted in Community. Driven by Equity. Committed to Change.

i.D.R.E.A.M. for Racial Health Equity is a Black-led organization advancing justice, dignity, and transformative care for Black birthing families.

Our Mission and Vision

The mission of i.D.R.E.A.M. for Racial Health Equity, a project of Community Partners®, is to equip a learning community of visionaries with a comprehensive understanding of maternal and infant health throughout the life course.

The i.D.R.E.A.M. Vision 2025: Inspiring Generational Champions for Resilience and Good Health continues the urgent call for leadership, training, advocacy and community service on behalf of Black birthing families.

i.D.R.E.A.M is acronym for our core values:

Integrate:
Collaborating technology, new-found learning and cultural perspectives to address the issues of racial health equity.

Diversify:
Embracing racial and gender differences in order to create a unified community where individuals can freely share ideas and develop new ways of thinking.

Retain:
Remembering lessons learned and acknowledging the history of women and families impacted by poor birth outcomes as a source of reference and relevance to combat the infant mortality crisis.

Educate:
Passing on our knowledge of racial health equity to the public while allowing individuals to partake in community dialogue so that we may swiftly, but strategically discover innovative solutions.

Activate:
Proactively setting ideas and solutions into motion and creating awareness and passion of our mission through different outlets.

Mentor:
Guiding another within or outside the organization by sharing experiences/knowledge, passion for the cause and giving never-ending support.

Black-led Power Building

Anchored by our Sister-Friend Network, i.D.R.E.A.M. for Racial Health Equity has built a powerful Black-led multicultural team that supports communities of Black birthing families through storytelling, education, capacity-building and peer support.

Our journey advocating for Black maternal and infant health has been one of courage and fortitude in telling our personal lived experiences to enact change. Each pivot we’ve made as an organization was derivative of the changing maternal and mental health priorities of our Black community. We have evolved considerably, from a model of social support & advocacy driven by medical research to a public health model, to now—a community-led hospital quality improvement model.

The former State Senator Holly J. Mitchell recognized i.D.R.E.A.M. as the 2019 Nonprofit of the Year in the 30th Senatorial District. Vision 2025 focuses on the urgent call for inter-generational leadership, training, advocacy and community service on behalf of Black birthing families. Recognized as a Black-led community-based organization rooted with a 27-year storied mission, we received multi-year funding (FY22 and FY23) for capacity building and sustaining our legacy during our 10th anniversary.

Download CBFF Concept Paper
Download the California Black Freedom Fund concept paper where we are listed among the 75 grantees.
View Black Empowerment Fund Grantees
We are listed among the inaugural cohort of grantees for California Community Foundation’s Black Empowerment Fund.

The CCF’s Black Empowerment Fund captured a quote to educate their donors on the importance of their investment.

“i.D.R.E.A.M. is a Black-led leadership capacity building organization. The Black Empowerment Fund gives us the space to be unapologetic about equipping the Black Perinatal Workforce & Allies who support Black birthing families. Our focus on the Black Perinatal Workforce & Allies provides a safety net for us who do the work and accelerates our resilience by addressing overcommitting, overpromising, overworking and overthinking.” Wenonah Valentine, MBA, Founder and Executive Director, i.D.R.E.A.M. for Racial Health Equity