In a powerful response to America’s ongoing maternal health crisis, Elev8 Health, Inc. launched its 2025 THRIVE Maternal Health Tour and Community Baby Showers in Houston this weekend, drawing an impressive turnout of expecting parents, new families, and healthcare providers united in a mission to save mothers’ lives.
The scene on Saturday afternoon at the Finnigan Community Center was one of strength and purpose. Medical professionals, birth workers, and mental health specialists connected with families in what organizers described as the embodiment of the African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.”
“They say raising a family takes a village, and we are bringing the village to families, expected parents and postpartum women in need of vital services, mental health support, birth coaching, resources and more,” said Dr. Que English, President and CEO of Elev8 Health, who spearheads the national initiative.
Dr. English, who previously served as Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has designed the THRIVE Tour to directly confront a devastating reality: the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, with Black women three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts.
What makes these statistics even more heartbreaking is that over 80% of these deaths are preventable, according to CDC data. The THRIVE Tour aims to change this narrative by creating collaborative care models in each city it visits.
The Houston event featured expert-led panels addressing critical issues including racial disparities in maternal care, teaching self-advocacy skills, recognizing postpartum depression, and highlighting essential support services like doula and midwifery care. The atmosphere balanced sobering education with celebration, as expectant mothers received practical resources alongside traditional baby shower gifts.
“The energy today was electric,” remarked one local doula who participated in the event. “Having so many resources in one place breaks down barriers that often prevent our community from accessing quality care.”
A unique aspect of the THRIVE Tour is its attention to fathers’ needs. In private breakout sessions, dads and fathers-to-be engaged in meaningful discussions about their challenges and received tools to enhance their mental health and maximize their potential as supportive partners.
This comprehensive approach acknowledges that maternal health extends beyond medical care to include mental, emotional, and social support systems. Recent studies show maternal mortality increased by approximately 27% between 2018 and 2022, with rates rising from 25.3 to 32.6 deaths per 100,000 live births, highlighting what health officials call “an urgent public health priority.”
The 2025 THRIVE Tour, sponsored in part by Walmart, The American Psychiatric Association Foundation, Pfizer and COGIC Urban Initiatives, represents a coordinated response to this crisis, with particular focus on African American and American Indian/Alaska Native communities most severely impacted by high maternal mortality rates.
As the event concluded, participants left with not just material resources but also new connections to healthcare providers and support networks. Many expressed feeling empowered with knowledge that could potentially save lives.
“What made today special wasn’t just the information shared, but how it was shared—within community, across disciplines, and with dignity,” observed an attending maternal health advocate. “This is how systemic change begins.”
The THRIVE Tour will continue throughout 2025, establishing similar village-style support networks in communities across the country, all working toward one critical goal: ensuring that bringing new life into the world doesn’t cost mothers their own.
For Dr. English and her team, the impressive turnout and engagement in Houston reinforces their approach. “While ongoing efforts to improve maternal health outcomes are evident, persistent disparities highlight the need for continued focus on equitable healthcare practices and addressing systemic issues contributing to these inequities,” she noted. “The THRIVE Tour, along with our key sponsors, are providing essential support the families and expecting parents desperately need.”
As the tour moves forward, Elev8 Health’s initiative stands as a powerful example of how community-centered approaches can address even the most complex public health challenges—one expectant family at a time.
