BALDWIN HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — For expectant mothers, the prospect of a new baby can be joyous.<\/p>\n
But for some in Los Angeles, pregnancy can be rife with real life-or-death concerns.<\/p>\n
It’s for these reasons the nonprofit Project Pit<\/a><\/strong> is launching its first Maternal Health Summit this Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.<\/p>\n Click here to register for the summit<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The free, one-day event will create awareness and drive solutions for maternal health challenges facing women, especially in our Black and brown communities.<\/p>\n “One thing that we have realized is it is a growing fear when a Black woman goes in to give birth,” creative director Maryam Dorsey said. “When we go and we give life, we are also risking our lives.”<\/p>\n The statistics are sobering.<\/p>\n Black and Indigenous women face the highest mortality risks, while 80% of maternal deaths could be avoided with proper care and education, Project Pit reports.<\/p>\n Saturday’s summit is meant to empower women to advocate for themselves.<\/p>\n Participants can enjoy a day of relaxation and access to free resources, like panel discussions and kids’ zones.<\/p>\n