Tina Knowles and Kelly Rowland are returning to their roots in Houston to champion an important cause. They will be leading the inaugural Third Ward Mile event, organised by the maternal health nonprofit birthFUND, in a bid to address the pressing issue of maternal mortality. Scheduled for November 28, this community-driven initiative aims to foster support for mothers and mothers-to-be while actively working to alleviate the maternal health crisis, particularly impacting Black women.
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Both Knowles and Rowland, who are closely aligned with birthFUND as family supporters, will act as team captains for the event. They will be joined by the organisation’s founder, Elaine Welteroth, and other team members as they promote birthFUND’s mission. The Third Ward, where the event will take place, holds significant importance for both celebrities. Knowles has strong ties to the neighbourhood, having raised her daughters, Solange and Beyoncé, there, as well as establishing her hair salon, Headliners. Notably, this salon was pivotal in the formation of the iconic girl group Destiny’s Child, where Rowland first crossed paths with Knowles.
Reflecting on her return to Third Ward, Knowles remarked, “Third Ward helped me raise my girls. Coming home to support the health of mothers and babies in this community is about watering the roots that made us who we are.” This spirit of returning to one’s origins to enact positive change underpins their commitment to this cause.
Kelly Rowland echoed this commitment, emphasizing that every mother deserves an environment where she feels “safe, supported, and seen.” As a proactive investor in initiatives focused on midwifery care, Rowland expressed her pride in collaborating with birthFUND to generate meaningful change within the community. “It’s such an honour to return to the community I came from to prove that we can come together to make change possible, one birth and one mile at a time,” she stated.
The Third Ward Mile is an inclusive event open to participants aged six and above, with all donations received to be directly allocated to supporting birthFUND’s community initiatives. Welteroth highlighted the crucial aim of the event: to raise awareness of the Black maternal health crisis and advocate for the essential role of community midwives. “This is a preventable crisis. More than 80% of all maternal deaths can be avoided with midwifery care,” she explained, emphasizing the necessity of placing care back in the hands of those who have shown effectiveness in saving lives.
Registration for the event is currently open, with participants encouraged to support Team birthFUND through online or Instagram donations. The race is slated to kick off at 8:00 a.m. local time at the historic Emancipation Park, culminating at the Finishers Village within the Third Ward.
The community walk promises to be more than a mere race; it will feature a post-event celebration packed with food, music, and local vendors. Additionally, wellness experiences and family activities are slated to enhance the overall community engagement, all made possible with the support of sponsors including The Honest Company, Walmart, First Response, and Tommee Tippee.
Through these initiatives, Welteroth aims to create a safe and supportive space that prioritises the needs of current and expectant mothers, recognising their intrinsic value within the community. “Until lawmakers and medical systems prioritise maternal health and the accessibility of quality, culturally responsive birth care options, it’s on us to save us,” she asserted, underlining the urgency of this mission.
As the inaugural Third Ward Mile approaches, the combined efforts of Knowles, Rowland, and Welteroth serve as a powerful reminder of the impact that community action can have on addressing critical health issues. Their dedication to uplifting maternal health exemplifies a broader movement towards ensuring that every woman receives the support she deserves during one of the most significant moments of her life.