Dear ,

This week, we join communities across the nation in celebrating National Midwifery Week (October 6-12, 2025), a time to recognize the vital role midwives play in providing compassionate, personalized care to mothers and families. 

Midwives are healthcare professionals who provide comprehensive care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Their patient-centered approach emphasizes informed choice, continuity of care, and respect for the natural birth process. Research consistently shows that midwifery care is associated with fewer interventions, improved perinatal outcomes, and high levels of patient satisfaction. 

Midwifery has deep roots in indigenous healing traditions and the Black community, where for generations, Black midwives served as pillars of maternal care, attending births and sustaining communities even in the face of systemic barriers to healthcare. 

Access to midwifery care is especially important for addressing maternal health disparities. Communities of color and rural populations often face barriers to quality maternal care, contributing to alarming maternal mortality rates. Midwives can help bridge these gaps by providing culturally competent care and serving in underserved areas. 

In Virginia and across the country, midwives are working on the front lines to ensure that every mother receives respectful, evidence-based care. Their work is essential to our mission of advocating for policies that support maternal health and reduce preventable deaths.  Please click the link below to hear from Nichole Wardlaw, a practicing midwife in Virginia as she discusses the important role evidence-based midwifery plays in maternal health.  

This National Midwifery Week, let's recommit ourselves to ensuring that all families have access to the high-quality, respectful maternal care they deserve. 

Yours in Solidarity, 
Keisha 

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook
Executive Director 

VICPP is partnering with Ekoji Buddhist Sangha of Richmond, and Williamsburg Buddhist Sangha to invite dharma practitioners from across the Commonwealth (Buddhists, Hindus, and others) for a day of connection, reflection, and public presence. 

We will gather at Richmond Hill, share in a lunch (vegetarian, vegan, diary-free, and gluten-free options available), then take a silent, meditative walk down to the lawn near the Virginia General Assembly building. The route is about a mile each way. This is not a protest, but a peaceful expression of our shared values. 

Our hope is to document the event and inspire future conversations and action around the role of interfaith organizing and statewide advocacy. The purpose is to demonstrate that our dharma communities are present, connected, and committed to building a more just and compassionate Virginia.

Voting is one of the most powerful ways we can shape our communities and our future. As election season approaches, we encourage you to make a plan to cast your ballot early.

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy advocates economic,
racial, and social justice in Virginia’s policies and practices
through education, prayer, and action.