Zero Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality by 2033

Network Building

We are building and strengthening an ecosystem of grassroots partners who support the health of Black families.

2022: Building and strengthening the FLOURISH network of partners

Serving as the intermediary for Missouri Foundation for Health’s funds allowed FLOURISH to direct resources to leaders and organizations who directly support Black families throughout their pregnancies and first parenting years.  Philanthropic funding in St. Louis has historically and continues to underinvest in Black-led organizations.  In contrast, more than 80% of FLOURISH-funded organizations are Black-led.  Funded partners are connected to communities across St. Louis City and County with 63106, 63113, 63118, 63121 and 63136 as the zip codes where the greatest number of providers are implementing programs or providing services. 

2022 is our last year of Missouri Foundation for Health’s support to develop the FLOURISH network of partners.  Based on the feedback of our grantees, we have identified a range of capacity building and training interests among grassroots organizations and community leaders that support Black pregnant folks and their infants to thrive.  FLOURISH has worked with MFH to identify resources to support these needs and identified consultants and partner organizations that can support our grantees in addressing organizational development challenges, deepening commitments to racial equity, and identifying and acting upon shared issues through campaign planning.    

In 2022, we are working with the following partners to offer:  

  • Crossroad Antiracism Organizing and Training and Forward Through Ferguson: racial equity and systems-thinking trainings   
  • MOSAIC Beginnings: organizational development, capacity building, and technical assistance support in the form of webinars, live workshops, and 1:1 organizational support customized based on need.   
  • Revisioned Connections: equity-focused communications training.  
  • Generate Health will also offer support for program development and evaluation; and campaign planning for a group of organizations that are interested in working with us on increasing community uptake of safe sleep practices and front-line community leaders’ capacity to respond to mental health needs of pregnant and post-partum families.  
  • St. Louis Area Diaper Bank we will distribute diapers on a quarterly basis to those organizations that signed up to receive them through FLOURISH.   

In recognition that being available for organizational development can be difficult without sustained and reliable funding, participation in these offerings will be free for FLOURISH grantees, and in some cases, stipends will be offered to support organizational leaders as they take time away from other important work. 

Please contact Laura Horwitz at (314) 624-0551 or [email protected] with any additional questions.