The March for Moms association began in the fall of 2016 with a handful of volunteers who also are influential national leaders and representing diverse professional societies. The small group of passionate individuals rapidly grew to a nonpartisan, solution-oriented 501c3 nonprofit that advocates for the best possible health and wellbeing of all mothers. We bring broadly different philosophies and practices to an "agora," a marketplace, of education and action united to achieve the best possible health and wellbeing for all mothers. March for Moms envisions a society where every person can start or grow their family with dignity by accessing care that is safe, supportive, and empowering. Currently, maternal health is dangerously fragmented and riddled with inequity. Quality of care for women and moms can vary significantly from one woman to the next based on the accident of her geography, the color of her skin, or the size of her paycheck.

We are at an intersection of alarming information, showing that in the last 20 years the United States has experienced escalating maternal death, severe and significant consequences to women's overall health from pregnancy, and once again, rising prematurity. WHY? Does the American public even know? We are at an intersection of whether society as a whole agrees to act and support initiatives to improve maternity care or ignore the evidence that tragic outcomes can be prevented. We are at an intersection debating what is routine maternity care versus evidence-based, best practices that are used in all settings, for all people, while respecting choice. We are at an intersection of whether Congress will support expanding Medicaid to 1 year postpartum, assure funding for Maternal Mortality Review Committees, and retain in the Affordable Care Act pregnancy as an essential benefit.

March for Moms is driving public demand for greater investment in the wellbeing of mothers by organizing our third annual large citizen rally in Washington, DC, on May 11, 2019. Several events coincided with the rally. Free advocacy training webinars were offered twice, several weeks prior to the event, via distance format. Training was led by members of the March for Moms Policy Committee. Recommendations for effective strategies to address current national issues in maternal health alongside prepared "leave behinds" for Hill visits were discussed. State issues, also highlighted during training, focused on three priority initiatives: creating Maternal Mortality Review Committees, funding for Perinatal Mental Health, and Paid Leave. The March for Moms Web site provides an up-to-date, interactive, U.S. map displaying status of each of these priorities alongside actions status of the state http://www.marchformoms.org/state-legislation/. Posttraining recordings are viewable from the March for Moms Web site.

Friday May 10th began with an early morning Congressional Briefing at the Capitol followed by prescheduled Congressional office visits through the day organized by the Policy Committee. Visits focused on appropriations funding for the Maternal Mortality Act as well as expanded Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 1 year; continued funding and support for the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health; and addressing health professions training on implicit bias and cultural competence.

The National Mall rally was a professionally staged event that included a "rockstar" lineup of our country's most inspiring moms (and their families) sounding off alongside national leaders and entertainers. The mall was surrounded by sponsor and organizational partners table top educational experiences. Hero's for Moms hosted a blood drive highlighting near-miss survivor stories. This year the event was the Saturday before Mother's Day. Our efforts come at a time of unprecedented national momentum to improve the wellbeing of moms and their families.

We have pushed our policy makers, professional leaders, employers, and neighbors to expect more, not just tracking maternal mortality but acting to address it, particularly for black women. Not just setting the bar at helping women survive but ensuring they and their families thrive. Our goal is to highlight solutions that will end maternal mortality, improve access to high-quality and equitable care, and broaden support for the challenges of early parenting. You can help by donating any amount, and sharing this information with your peers, family, neighbors, and friends. It is past time to make motherhood a priority in our country. More information is available at http://www.marchformoms.org/