Thriving from the Start: Lessons from Mamatoto Village

The earliest years of life — including the prenatal phase — lay the foundation for lifelong health and well-being. For all young children to thrive, they must live in a society that meets their needs from the very start. In Washington, D.C., Mamatoto Village exemplifies what it means to build that kind of society — one rooted in compassion, cultural awareness, and community care.

In the United States, maternal and infant health remain critical and interconnected issues. Despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries. Additionally, in 2022, the national infant mortality rate (IMR) rose for the first time in 20 years — to 5.61 deaths per 1,000 live births, with the sharpest increases among Black infants (10.9 per 1,000 live births). In the District of Columbia, the infant mortality burden also falls heavily on Black families. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2020 the IMR was three to five times higher among Black infants compared to Hispanic and non-Hispanic white infants. These disparities reveal an urgent truth: for too many families, the promise of a healthy start is still determined by race and ZIP code.

Mamatoto Village disrupts these harmful trends with a carefully curated approach rooted in competence, culture, and community. Nestled in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 7, Mamatoto offers “safe, compassionate, inclusive, and radical collective care.” The Village is organized and operates with Black women in mind, with staff committed to creating accessible career pathways in maternal health and providing culturally resonant, high-quality perinatal support.

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Source: Bainum Family Foundation