Maternal & Child Health in a Dangerous Climate: The Impact of Air Pollution, Plastics & Extreme Heat on Women of Color
MAY 8, 2025
9:00 AM
Welcome Remarks
Almeta E. Cooper, National Manager for Health Justice, Moms Clean Air Force
9:10 AM
The State of Women of Color and Maternal Health in 2025
Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, OB-GYN, New York Times best-selling author of Grown Woman Talk and women’s health advocate
Jessica Kutz, Climate and Gender Reporter for The 19th
9:40 AM
How Dirty Air, Toxic Chemicals in Plastic, and Extreme Heat are Hurting Pregnant Women of Color
Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, MPH, Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network
Luz Drada, MNR, Advocate and Program Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Doris Browne, MD, MPH, President of the National Medical Association; Advisory Council, Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health; President/CEO of Browne & Associates
Priya Bathija, JD, MHSA, Founder and CEO of Nyoo Health
10:20 AM
Confronting Maternal Health Inequity in Communities of Color
Julie A. González, Ph.D., Environmental Justice Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Environment, Community & Equity, American University, Washington, D.C.
Barbara Rodriguez, Health and Caregiving Reporter for The 19th
10:45 AM
Improving Maternal Health Outcomes for Women of Color Through Policy
Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, Former Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Isabel González Whitaker, Associate Vice President for Public Engagement, Moms Clean Air Force; Director, EcoMadres
11:15 AM
Looking Ahead: Care, Community, and Commitment
Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, Climate Justice Advocate and Chief Operating Officer, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
Stephanie Reese, MBA, Director Strategic Implementation and Justice, Moms Clean Air Force
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome
Former Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Dr. Sharon Malone
MD, OB-GYN, New York Times best-selling author of Grown Woman Talk, and women’s health advocate
Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune
Climate Justice Advocate and Chief Operating Officer, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
Julie A. González, Ph.D.
Environmental Justice Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Environment, Community & Equity, American University, Washington, D.C.
Doris Browne, MD, MPH
President of the National Medical Association; Advisory Council, Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health; President/CEO of Browne & Associates
