AFTERSHOCK: From Grief to Empowerment - Film Screening, Panel + Community

Charleston, South Carolina - Two key organizations in the Lowcountry dedicated to birth equity and birthworker advocacy for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities unite to present a weekend of events dedicated to advocacy and awareness focused on Black maternal health.

On Friday, March 21, 2025, Berkeley County First Steps will present AFTERSHOCK: From Grief to Empowerment - a documentary film screening, panel discussion, and community gathering. This event will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. On Saturday, March 22, The BEE Collective will present its daylong Black Maternal Health Symposium from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Both events will be held at Trident Technical College, 7000 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, South Carolina. Registration is required and free of charge. On-site registration and check-in begin 30 minutes prior to start time for both events. All are welcome, including babies in arms. Elders, those with disabilities, birth workers in Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities, and all birthing people are especially encouraged. Free and ample parking is available. Food and refreshments will be provided. For more information and to register, visit berkeleyfirststeps.org and beecollective.co.

Berkeley County First Steps is poised to present the screening of Aftershock, a 2022 film directed and produced by: Paula Eiselt and Tonya Lewis Lee. Following the preventable deaths of their loved ones due to childbirth complications, two families galvanize activists, birth-workers and physicians to reckon with one of the most pressing American crises of our time – the US maternal health crisis. Following the acclaimed full-length 90-minute documentary, a panel discussion, moderated by Simone Lee of Berkeley County First Steps, will respond by addressing the crisis head-on and discuss ways to move forward by taking action.

"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with SC State University IMM and our other dedicated collaborators to address the critical issue of infant and maternal mortality in our community. A key part of our initiative will be the screening of a powerful documentary that aims to raise awareness and ignite important conversations about the challenges mothers and infants face. These partnerships are crucial to our success—together, we are taking meaningful steps to ensure a healthier, brighter future for families in our county,” says Berkeley County First Steps Executive Director, Ivory Mitchell.

The BEE Collective’s Black Maternal Health Symposium is a one-day event dedicated to addressing disparities in maternal health outcomes among Black mothers and families in South Carolina, with an emphasis on advocacy and action. Attendees will engage in hands-on workshops, advocacy panels, and interactive community action labs. A nationally renowned speaker and local experts will share insights on improving maternal health equity. Topics include: Maternal Health Disparities in South Carolina, Empowering Families and Professionals, and Preparing for Climate and Environmental Crises. The first 50 pregnant or parenting families to register and check in on-site will receive an Emergency/Disaster Go-Bag designed to assist with crisis preparedness. The symposium is expected to directly benefit 150 attendees, including Black mothers, parents, and perinatal professionals. By empowering families with resources and fostering a network of advocacy, the event seeks to improve maternal health outcomes, build stronger community connections, and influence policies for maternal health equity.

“Our symposium is a powerful step toward addressing maternal health inequities in South Carolina. By uniting families and professionals, we aim to build a beloved community where every family thrives. We are grateful to SC State University for making this convening possible,” says BEE Collective’s co-founder, Adrienne Troy-Frazier.

Speakers, participants, community partners, and activities will be announced, with a full schedule to follow. Both events are made possible with support and partnership from the following entities: The BEE Collective, Berkeley County First Steps, Southern BEE Alliance, Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood, and South Carolina State University. For additional information and to register, visit and .

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ABOUT BERKELEY COUNTY FIRST STEPS

Berkeley County First Steps is a state-based initiative to prepare young children for school and a lifetime of learning beyond. Our mission is to improve the early development of Berkeley County children aged 0-5 by providing resources and leadership to their families, enabling them to prepare their children to reach school healthy and ready to succeed.

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ABOUT THE BEE COLLECTIVE: The BEE Collective, founded in 2017, is a leading grassroots organization in South Carolina committed to maternal health equity. Through partnerships with the National Perinatal Task Force and the Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood, BEE offers culturally responsive care, advocacy, and education to empower Black mothers and families.

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South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH)

Infant mortality, defined as the death of a live-born baby before its first birthday, is a reflection of the overall state of a population’s health. The infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of babies who die within the first year of life per 1,000 live births. In the United States (US), the IMR is recognized as a leading health indicator and its reduction is a high-priority Healthy People 2030 objective.1 The South Carolina Department of Public Health monitors the IMR and administers programs aimed at improving the health of mothers, babies, and families across the state. In 2021, there were 416 infants who died during the first year of life. While the US IMR has been declining over the past several years, 2 SC’s rate increased 12.3% from 6.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020 to 7.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021. In 2022, there were 364 infant deaths in SC, and more than half of the deaths were African- American babies (10.8 deaths per 1,000 live births).

South Carolina State University (SCSU)

To address the pressing health disparity of infant and maternal mortality in the state of South Carolina, we propose using a community led approach through education and activities lead by community -focused organizations, such as churches, divine nine groups, professional organizations, and HBCUs in the state of South Carolina. These community-focused organizations will deliver information and programs that would aid in the decreasing the infant and maternal mortality rates across the state. Also, each organization will have the opportunity to apply for community grants to lead applicable Infant and Maternal Mortality (I.M.M) activities.

Infant and Maternal Mortality (I.M.M) PROJECT

Utilizing DPH and SCSU established relationships, the team will identify and engage Minority Serving Organizations (MSO) to lead community-based efforts to include community baby showers, conducting education webinars/presentations, large community gatherings for screening of related I.M.M. documentaries, community conversations, and action plans.

Host or Publisher Berkeley County First Steps