Nana Asante-Smith was quoted in the Raleigh News & Observer, the Durham Herald-Sun, and other newspaper coverage of a statewide Black Maternal Health campaign. 

Nana shared the "debilitating fear" she had felt because of how common poor maternal health care experiences can be for Black women. Pregnancy-related deaths are three times more likely for Black women than white women, according to CDC data. 

Before Nana gave birth to her son, she had a specific request for her caregivers. 

"I implored them that we must walk out of the hospital alive," she said. "It is a shame that experiences like this are not unusual for Black women."

Nana chairs the Durham Mayor's Council for Women. Another member of the council is a director for Action NC, which is behind the Maternal Health Campaign and helped Nana get involved. Nana also works with nonprofits in Durham addressing Black maternal health issues. 

Subscribers can read the full article here: ‘Our mamas can’t wait.’ NC leaders push to address deadly disparities for Black moms.

The N&O and the Herald-Sun are the two leading newspapers in the Triangle. The article also ran in several other newspapers in the Carolinas.