Racha Tahani Lawler-Queen is a midwife-turned entrepreneur.
She founded Gather Grounded Midwifery, Virginia’s first and sole Black-owned birthing center.
She made the facility to become a welcoming haven for expectant families.
Lawler-Queen started her entrepreneurial journey last year after she wanted to realize her passion for giving care that would resonate with her community.
In an interview with WTVR, she revealed that:
“I got on a Zoom call with Black birth workers in RVA and they were just telling me about what they were facing in regards to the lack of representation in birth, especially out of hospital birth,” Lawler-Queen told WTVR.
Lawler-Queen’s Midwife Center Faced Hurdles
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With encouragement from her community, Lawler-Queen initially wanted to turn a Richmond home into her planned birthing center.
However, she couldn’t get the permits she needed.
Determined, she turned to Chesterfield County, Virginia, and had better luck there.
Gather Grounded Midwifery officially opened its doors in August 2023.
What Does Gather Grounded Midwifery Do?
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The birthing center gives expectant moms intentional spaces, including a birthing room and a family room.
Lawler-Queen considers it vital for families to have care that supports and reflects their original identities so they can experience pregnancy without unnecessary interventions or fear.
“It’s meant to feel like a place where people see themselves, they feel seen, they feel safe.”
Lawler-Queen has raised over $30,000 for the facility and credits her community’s support for its success.
“It really gives them even more power and a greater voice and provides them an opportunity without fear to birth in freedom to give birth in a way that affirms them and their family and how they want to move forward after they have this baby.”
