Fathers belong here, too.
In too many conversations about maternal health, fathers are either sidelined or forgotten. Not on the Thrive Tour.
“It’s not ‘I’m pregnant,’ it’s ‘we’re pregnant,’” she said. “They’ve been left out of the conversation in a lot of ways. But at the Thrive Tour, they are included.”
Each event includes a “Dad Den,” a dedicated space where fathers and fathers-to-be can connect privately. The room is a mental health checkpoint and peer support incubator designed with Black men in mind.
“We’ve heard them say, ‘I’ve had suicidal ideations. I felt depressed. This is the straw that’s broken my back,” Dr. English revealed. “And to know that, and not give them the support they need, would be a mistake.”
Elevating fathers also leads to better outcomes.
“Public health research shows that Black fathers are often deeply engaged and involved,” she said. “It leads to better outcomes for their children and families. The Thrive Tour shifts that narrative.”
A movement, not a moment
The Thrive Tour isn’t interested in pop-up optics. It’s creating a lasting impact by establishing maternal health hubs in every city it visits. These hubs provide continuity of care and stay rooted in the local village infrastructure after the main event ends.
“The Thrive Tour is community-driven and village-sustained,” she said. “We identify the village, we build it, and then we launch the hub so it keeps going. The events are the launch, but the work continues.”
She’s also intentional about partnering with faith communities.
“They are considered the trusted messenger in those spaces,” she noted. “I include them in everything I do.”
The 2025 tour includes stops in cities often left off national tour maps—from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Greenville, Mississippi. That’s no accident. The Thrive team targets communities with the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates and commits to building up the care infrastructure from the inside out.
Sponsors for the 2025 tour include Walmart, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, Pfizer, and COGIC Urban Initiatives. Partners include A Chance to Learn, Dear Fathers, Daddy University, and the Irth App. For full details, visit Elev8 Health or follow @Elev8HealthInc on social media.
What to consider when choosing a birth worker
If you’re considering a doula or midwife, Dr. English says the most important factor is trust.
“Choose someone who understands your values, who understands your culture, your language, and lived experience,” she advised. “Especially for Black and Brown families, working with someone who recognizes the unique challenges they may face in the healthcare system is life-saving.”
She also suggests asking yourself: Can I be vulnerable with this person? Will they advocate for me? Can they explain clearly and listen well? Are they someone who can walk with me through this journey and help me speak up when it counts?
This work is personal.
At the end of our conversation, Dr. English shared that this work hits close to home. Her own daughter has experienced life-threatening pregnancy complications twice. Both times, she landed in the ICU.
“When you hear that Black women in America are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, that’s not just a stat. That’s our sisters. Our daughters. Our friends,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you have a Ph.D., a six-figure income, or the best insurance. Black women are still dying because we’re not being heard.”
She continued, “This isn’t only about access to care. It’s about how we’re treated when we get there. It’s about implicit bias and systemic racism and generational trauma that shows up in hospital rooms and delivery beds.”
That reality is what drives her. That, and a vision for a future where Black women are seen, believed, and protected in every step of their birthing journey.
“If we want to change the numbers, we have to change the narrative and the systems behind it. Black women are not broken. The system is.”
The Thrive Tour is here to do exactly that–with joy, justice, and a village behind every birth.
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