Oshun Family Center

About Oshun Family Center

The Mission:

Oshun Family Center provides racially concordant care to members of the community who are seeking to achieve optimal wellness through psychotherapy and holistic healing and birthing modalities such as doula and lactation support. It is our goal to center the experiences of the community and create a welcoming space for healing and refuge. We welcome those looking to break generational cycles and have agency over their bodies. Founded in 2018, OFC has served hundreds of families with services that include but are not limited to, doula support and connection, lactation support, maternal mental health services, childbirth education courses, and community engagement during Black Maternal Health Week (annually). 

The Journey:

Oshun Family Center is embarking on this journey to become Philadelphia’s First fully functional Black-led, women-run, integrated Maternal Wellness Center, which has been created by uplifting the experiences of Black birthing people in and around Philadelphia. This unique opportunity provides members seeking services to be matched with a provider who has racial, ethnic, and or cultural concordance. Oshun Family Center envisions health equity across the reproductive and mental health spectrum. Families in underrepresented communities require providers who embody aspects of their life as it relates to race, culture, and ethnicity therefore it is our goal and vision to assist with overcoming the barrier and include race, culture, or ethnicity-based concordance for care. 

The Vision:

We will connect and collaborate with other community-based providers and serve as a home base and hub for Black birth workers (doulas, lactation counselors, and other healing practitioners) to assist with serving the population of people grossly impacted by the Black maternal mortality rate. The Maternal Wellness Village is a collective of Black birth workers who are committed to being in servitude to families impacted by the intersection of systemic racism and maternal health. As members of the MWV, we plan to connect and collaborate to strengthen the workforce and progression of Black birth workers as it directly pertains to the advancement of Black birthing families in Philadelphia. 

At Oshun Family Center, we define impact as the measurable and meaningful ways our work improves the lives, experiences, and outcomes of the communities we serve. Impact is not just about numbers—it’s about healing, access, empowerment, and systemic change.

We see impact in a parent who feels seen and supported during their perinatal journey. We see it in a birth worker gaining the tools and opportunities to thrive in their profession. We see it in policies influenced, partnerships formed, and the trust built between our team and the community.

Our impact is guided by four core principles:

Uplift: Amplify the voices and experiences of Black birthing families

Advance: Educate and uplift the community through BMHW programming, resources and advocacy

Resources: Circulating Black dollars (hiring Black and minority owned vendors)

Alignment: Shift Culture within policy and healthcare systems

Ultimately, impact for us means creating a world where wellness is a right, not a privilege—and doing the work every day to make that a reality.

• What successes in your work would you like to highlight that others can learn from?

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned and a key success in our work is the power of making the ask. It can feel intimidating to advocate for the needs of your organization or community, especially when you’re bracing for a “no.” But there’s so much more behind a “no” than we often realize.

A “no” might simply mean “not right now—try again when I have the budget.” Or it could mean, “I can’t directly support this, but I know someone in this space who can, and I’ll connect you.” The key is to curate genuine relationships that go beyond transactions. Build trust, stay in touch, and nurture the connection over time.

People often support you—as a trusted, mission-driven individual—before they support the work itself. So don’t be afraid to ask.

Because sometimes… they’ll say YES.

• What is one thing you would like to share /you want peers, supporters and/or funders to know about your org and/or work?

One thing we want our peers, supporters, and funders to know is that Oshun Family Center is more than a service provider—we are a movement grounded in healing, equity, and community power. Our work is intentionally designed to be culturally responsive, community-led, and rooted in lived experience.

We don’t just offer support—we reimagine what care looks like for birthing individuals, families, and the professionals who serve them. Whether it’s through therapy, advocacy, workforce development, or research, we are building systems of care that center wellness, dignity, and sustainability for communities too often left behind.

We are growing, innovating, and leading with heart—and we invite you to be part of that vision.