In a major boost for maternal care, Racha Tahani Lawler-Queen, a fourth-generation Black midwife, has launched Central Virginia’s first Black-owned birthing center, Gather Grounded Midwifery Birth Cottage.
The center, located in Chesterfield County, opened its doors in August 2023, creating a welcoming space for families seeking community-centered, holistic birthing options.
Born into a long line of midwives, Lawler-Queen is continuing a legacy that began with her great-great-grandmother, Louisa, and has passed through generations of women in her family.
Inspired by her family’s history of advocating for Black maternal health, Lawler-Queen’s mission is to provide Black families with culturally congruent care, addressing disparities in maternal outcomes for Black women in Virginia.
The center also serves as a training hub for future birthworkers of color through its Traditional Midwifery Freedom Path apprenticeship program.
This year-long program offers hands-on midwifery training and financial support to three local students, ensuring a sustainable future for Black midwifery in Central Virginia.
Gather Grounded Midwifery offers prenatal and postpartum care, free health visits, and lactation support, ensuring that every family has access to quality maternal care.
Lawler-Queen’s birthing cottage is a haven for those seeking non-hospital births, with a focus on providing advocacy and safe delivery options for Black families in a region that desperately needs them.
