Black Families Nationwide to Stage First Ever Nationally-Coordinated Baby “Lift UP” on August 29th

New York, NY — On August 29th at 3pm EST, black families across America will meet in pre-determined locations in key cities to lift their babies in unison as a sign of support and empowerment for babies. The first-ever National Baby “Lift Up” is part of the third annual Black Breastfeeding Week celebration, a highly anticipated week-long multi-media campaign to increase awareness and support for breastfeeding among African American families. The theme for BBW 2015 is Lift Every Baby, giving a cultural nod to the black national anthem, Lift Every Voice & Sing, at a time when the black community has been facing unprecedented unrest.

“We are seeing our children lives being undermined, undervalued and under attack by negative media stereotypes. As parents and advocates we are excited to make this powerful, visual demonstration to the world that we lift up, support and cherish our babies,” says Kimberly Seals Allers, a co-founder of Black Breastfeeding Week and director of the First Food Friendly Community Initiative (3FCI). “If you can lift your baby, whether he is 8 months old or 8 years old, then we want to see you at the Lift Up.”

“Lift Ups” are already scheduled to occur in Charlotte, Detroit, Milwaukee, Portland and Atlanta with more cities being added (See all location details at www.BlackBreastfeedingWeek.org).

“Breastfeeding is one of the many ways black families lift up their babies by giving them the best start at a healthier childhood,” says Kiddada Green, executive founding director of the Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association in Detroit and a co-founder of BBW. “We also do this by reading to them as babies, advocating for their education as they grow, feeding them nutritious meals and practicing good self-care as parents so we can be at our best.”

“Drawing on the strength and empowerment of our black national anthem is particularly important right now,” says Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka. co-editor of Free to Breastfeed: Voices from Black Mothers (Praeclarus Press) and a BBW co-founder. “Breastfeeding is also an act of self-determination and power and we want to celebrate that.”