ACNM Midwives of Color Council (MOCC)
Midwives of Color Council Elections Information
About the Midwives of Color Council
In June 2025, the Midwives of Color Committee was approved by the ACNM Board of Directors to become the Midwives of Color Council. Prior to the formation of the Midwives of Color Committee, Dr. Betty Watts Carrington gathered Midwives and Students together in her hotel room to provide guidance, mutual fellowship, encouragement and support. From these gatherings, the Ad Hoc Committee on Minority Affairs was birthed!
1. The Ad Hoc Committee on Minority Affairs: Chair – Shirley White Walker
2. Advisory Panel on The Minority Affairs (1990): Co-Chairs – Carolyn Curtis, Georgia Tilly
3. Committee for Minority Affairs (1991) – Chair – Carolyn Curtis
4. Nurse Midwives of Color Committee (1992)
5. Midwives of Color Committee
6. Midwives of Color Council: Elizabeth Cordero (2026 to 2029)
Purposes of the Midwives of Color Council
– Serve as a resource to the American College of Nurse Midwives
– Serve as a resource to all Affiliates
– Serve as a resource to the profession of Midwifery
– Recruit and retain persons of ethnic/cultural backgrounds to the profession of Midwifery
– Increase awareness of and responsiveness to issues affecting People of Color, and
– Provide advice to all Affiliates and the ACNM Board of Directors
Who are members of the Midwives of Color Council?
The Midwives of Color Council represents Midwives and Student Midwives from 14 ethnic/racial backgrounds who are active members of the American College of Nurse Midwives and have paid minimal dues when they join or renew their ACNM membership. These groups include African American, Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Indian, Latinx, Middle Eastern, Multiracial, Native American/Indigenous, Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander, Pakistani or Indian, and anyone who self-identifies as a Person of Color. Individuals who are not active or student members of the American College of Nurse Midwives, including individuals from other related professions who are interested in supporting the mission and purposes of the Midwives of Color Council may become an Associate Member. Annual dues for active members and an optional dues for students support the operations of the Midwives of Color Council. Donate to MOCC here.
Volunteer Opportunities
Midwives of Color serve as a resource to the ACNM Affiliates the midwifery profession and provide advice to the ACNM Board of Directors in recruiting and retain persons of ethnic/cultural backgrounds to the midwifery profession and to increase awareness and responsiveness to issues that affect People of Color. Opportunities include leadership and consultation as needed at the individual, affiliate, state, regional and national level. Below are some ways to get involved!
Mentoring Program
Midwives of Color are invited to serve as mentors to students and new midwives. If you are an active or student member, sign up to be a mentor or mentee here.
ACNM Committees
Midwives of Color Council will not duplicate the work of the 15 ACNM Committees. Members are encouraged to join one or more committees of their choosing to ensure that the voice of Midwives of Color are represented on all ACNM Committees.
Midwives of Color Committees
Besides the ACNM Committees, the Midwives of Color Council have a few committees to assist them in achieving their stated purposes. Here are the 2025-2026 committees that need co-chairs. Please contact the MOCC Chairperson ([email protected]) to volunteer to co-chair one of these committees.
– Mentoring Committee
– Annual Meeting Planning Committee
- Sister Circle – Michelle McManus and Adelene Henderson
- Midwifery Market – Lanitra Ray
- Social Event and Auction – Curshelle Stanley and Moses Fallah
– SROPs Task Force (reviewed during even-numbered years, next review is 2026)
What is the Midwives of Color (MOCC) Board of Governors (BOG)?
The MOCC Board of Governors (BOG) consists of the following elected positions:
President, Vice-President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, seven (7) Regional Governors, two (2) Governors at Large and Student Representative(s). These elected positions with the exception of the Student Representative, serve a three-year term, with the option to renew for a second term. Regional Governors represent the same regions in the ACNM. All elected members of the BOG are active members of the ACNM. The job descriptions are included in the MOCC Standing Rules of Procedure. The MOCC President is appointed to serve on the ACNM Board of Directors.
Midwives of Color are encouraged to run for the MOCC Board of Governors. If interested, please reach out to the MOCC Nominating Committee to learn more about the varying roles and how to proceed.
The MOCC BOG has executive, regional, governor-at-large, and nominating committee positions. Please check the BOG positions for when terms expire. The BOG and nominating positions are elected by Midwives of Color who are active members in ACNM. Submit your name by December 1st for the election the following year which occurs prior to March 15th.
Current Resources
Administrative:
Our Inaugural Board of Governors
Elizabeth Cordero
President 2026-2029
Curshelle Stanley
VIce President 2026-2029
Paris Maloof-Bury
Secretary 2026-2029
Demetrice Smith
Governor at Large 2026-2029
Connie Trujillo
Governor at Large 2026-2029
Midwives of Color Nominating Committee:
Theresa Coley-Kouadio
(through 2028)
Adelene Henderson
(through 2028)
Shawlawn Harris
(through 2028)
Prominent Midwives of Color in ACNM:
Presidents of ACNM
• 2024 – 2026 - Jessica Brumley • 2022-2024 - Heather Clarke
ACNM Board Members
• 2024 – Present – Mari-Carmen Farmer – At Large Midwives of Color Representative • 2024-2026 – Jessica Brumley, President • 2023 – Present – Carolyn Curtis – Chair, Midwife of Color Committee • 2023 – Present – Alexis Amore Dunn – Vice President • 2023 - 2024 – Jessica Brumley – President Elect • 2022 – 2023 – Jennifer Woo, Chair, Midwives of Color Committee • 2022 – 2024 – Nikia Grayson – Region III Representative • 2022 – 2024 – Heather Clarke – President (First African American President of ACNM) • 2021 – 2023 – Jessica Brumley – Vice President • 2021 – 2024 – Charlotte Morris – At Large Midwife of Color (first elected Midwife of Color position on the ACNM Board) • 2021 – 2024 – Nicole Wardlaw – Region II Representative • 2020 – 2024– Teresa Coley-Kouadio – Region VI Representative • 2019-2022 – Felina Ortiz – Chair, Midwives of Color Committee • 2018 – 2024 – Bridget Howard, Secretary • 2017 – 2019 – Patricia Loftman – Ex-Officio Member – Chair, Midwives of Color Committee • 2002 – 2004 – Gwendolyn Spears - Vice President • 1999 – 2001 – Barbara Douglas – Region IV Representative • 1993 – 1995 – Gwendolyn Spears – Region IV Representative • 1983 - 1984 - Shirley White Walker – Region II Representative • 1973 – 1974 - Betty Watts Carrington – Vice President
Hattie Hemschmeyer/Lifetime VIsionary Awardees
• 2025 – Saraswathi Vedam • 2024 – Marsha Jackson • 2022 – Carolyn Curtis • 2001 - Betty Carrington • 1992 - Armentia Jarrett
Chairpersons Midwives of Color Committee
• Carolyn Curtis – Founding Char • Carol Ambrose • Victoria Fletcher • Nivia Fisch • Bridgett Howard • Maria Valentin Welch • Heather Clarke • Patricia Loftman • Felina Ortiz • Jennifer Woo • Carolyn Curtis (completing term of Jennifer Woo)
Dorothea M. Lang Pioneer Awardees
2025 - Betty Farrell 2024 - Phyllis Lynn 2023 - Jo Anna Rorie 2022 - Maria Valentin – Welch, Shirley White-Walker, Karline Wilson-Mitchell 2021 - Pandora Hardtman, Pamela Reis 2019 - Marsha Jackson 2012 - Frances Ganges, Deborah Lewis 2009 - Gwendolyn Spears