​⁠May 5, 2026 @ 11 AM EST: Day of Action in Albany (& remote!)​

If you’ve been following conversations around birth justice, reproductive autonomy, and access to community-based care, this is an event you won’t want to miss. NYCPM is hosting a screening of the documentary Arrest the Midwife—a powerful film that highlights the real-life consequences of criminalizing midwifery care and limiting access to out-of-hospital birth options.
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📍 Event Details
Film: Arrest the Midwife
Date & Time: February 11th 6:00–8:30 PM
Location: UAlbany Uptown Campus
Room: Standish Room, Science Library
Cost: FREE and open to the public
Parking: Free parking is available in the Dutch Faculty Staff and Student Lots

Midwifery has long been part of how communities have cared for birthing people—through knowledge passed down, lived experience, apprenticeship, and deep trust in physiological birth. Yet in many states, midwives providing community-based care have faced legal threats, harassment, and even arrest, simply for supporting families who choose a different path.
Arrest the Midwife invites us to look closer at the systems that shape birth in the U.S., especially in New York, and ask difficult but necessary questions: 

• Who gets to choose where and how they give birth?
• Why is community-based midwifery still restricted in so many places?
• What happens when families lose access to culturally congruent, relationship-based care?
• ​How do laws impact the safety and autonomy of birthing people?

🅿️ Parking and Location Information: A map is attached for reference, with permitted parking areas circled and the Science Library, the building for the event. The screening will take place in the Standish Room on the 3rd floor of the Science Library.

We hope to see you there—because protecting and expanding midwifery care is about more than birth. It’s about choice, dignity, access, and community.

JOIN US IN ALBANY ON MARCH 26th!
Please join the Mobilize Maternal Health Coalition (MMHC) on Wednesday, March 26th as we raise our voices for maternal health! 📢  We're taking action in Albany to support critical legislation that will save lives, improve care, and support birthing people across New York State. Together, we can create meaningful change. Be part of the movement - your presence matters! 🤱🏾✊🏽
Please fill out this form if you are interested in joining us, in-person or remotely. www.bit.ly/mar26action
#mobilizematernalhealth #powertomobilize

For those joining remotely, the press conference will start at 10am. YouTube Livestream Link: https://bit.ly/mar26mmhc​

Equitable. Safe. Beautiful. Empowered. Just. This is our vision for pregnancy and birth in New York - but it's far from the current reality. Why? And, most importantly, what can we do about it? This community-led teach-in series will unpack the reasons - and solutions - behind why:

• A bill legalizing midwifery birth centers was passed in 2021 yet access is still scarce
• Limited options for midwifery care exist statewide
• Maternal deaths and stillbirths continue to plague Black & Brown families disproportionately
• The postpartum period remains one of the most dangerous times for birthing people
• And much more!

February 25, 2025 (bit.ly/feb25mmhc): Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) Licensure + Updates on Paid Leave (Temporary Disability) Benefits Bill & Announcing Day of Action in Albany 3/26! Join the advocates and community-based orgs leading the Mobilize Maternal Health Coalition (MMHC) for an insightful take on the current maternal health landscape in New York State & NYC, and how YOU can help drive change. #PowerToMobilize Live Discussion - Interactive Q&A - Free!
​Learn more: https://mobilizematernalhealth.com