What We Believe at BSMF

At the BIPOC Student Midwives Fund (BSMF), our work is rooted in community, accountability, and a deep commitment to justice. These beliefs come from collective conversation, lived experience, and ongoing learning. They are not static and exist as a living foundation that guides how we support student midwives and show up in the world.

Our Values

Centering the Most Marginalized

We prioritize those most impacted by oppression. That includes those who exist on the “margins of the margins” and hold intersectional identities impacted by oppression.

  • We center BIPOC student midwives.

  • We explicitly name and address anti-Blackness and anti-Indigenous harm.

  • We recognize that racism is the root cause of reproductive health disparities and adverse birth outcomes.

  • We understand that oppression is systemic and therefore shapes individuals' access to care, education, and safety.

  • We center communities most impacted by oppression. This includes BIPOC, gender diverse, queer, disabled, and immigrant communities.

  • We prioritize those navigating multiple, overlapping systems of oppression.

Reproductive Options and Choice

We support the full spectrum of reproductive care, including abortion and the many ways people move through their reproductive lives.

  • We honor all pregnancy outcomes without stigma.

  • We affirm and support people who have abortions.

  • We recognize a wide range of reproductive options.

  • We trust people to make decisions about their own bodies and lives.

  • We commit to uplifting and defending reproductive freedom policy at the local, state, and federal levels.

Connection and Heartwork Across Disciplines and Borders

We build across disciplines, communities, and borders because oppression does not exist in a vacuum. We choose collaboration over competition.

  • We engage in local and global coalition building. This includes movement-building and leadership across communities.

  • We understand that health, justice, and community care are interconnected.

  • We invest in relationships as a core part of this work.

  • We prioritize collaboration rooted in shared values and accountability.

Midwifery as Resistance

Midwifery is inherently abolitionist, anti-racist, and anti-colonial. It can never be politically neutral.

  • Our work is rooted in community, autonomy, and resistance to systems that harm.

  • We understand midwifery as part of broader reproductive justice and liberation movements.

  • We name systems of harm, including colonialism, state violence, and environmental injustice.

  • We stand in solidarity with oppressed communities locally and globally.

  • We refuse to separate healthcare from political realities.

We Build with Integrity

We are intentional about the resources we accept and the partnerships we build. Alignment, impact, and accountability guide our decisions.

  • Not all money is good money,

  • We assess values alignment before entering partnerships,

  • We prioritize relationships that are rooted in justice and shared accountability.

  • We consider long-term impact over short-term gain.

  • We create spaces that are grounded and values-aligned.

Community Accountability & Response to Harm

Harm must be acknowledged and addressed. We center those impacted and respond without replicating the systems we seek to dismantle.

  • We believe survivors and take harm seriously.

  • We do not ignore conflict or harm within our community.

  • We center those most impacted in our response.

  • We balance accountability with harm reduction and community care.

  • We maintain clear boundaries around what we will and will not tolerate.

Accountability in Practice

What We Do Not Tolerate

  • Anti-Blackness, transphobia, racism, or harm toward marginalized communities.

  • Disrespect, stigma, or dismissal of abortion care.

  • Harm toward students, including exploitation of student labor.

  • Partnerships or funding sources that conflict with our values.

What We Do Not Tolerate

  • When funding sources feel misaligned.

  • When programs drift from a student-centered mission.

  • When harm or conflict is not being addressed.

  • When external pressure pushes us toward neutrality at the expense of our values.

How We Respond to Harm

  • Acknowledge harm directly.

  • Center those impacted.

  • Assess alignment with our values.

  • Take action (e.g., repair, boundary setting, or ending relationships when necessary)

A Living Commitment

These beliefs are not final. They will continue to evolve as we grow, learn, and deepen our work. We will remain committed to accountability, reflection, and building a future where student midwives and the communities they serve are supported, resourced, and able to thrive!