‘Black Women Aren’t Broken. The System Is’ —How Dr. Que English Is Leading The Movement To Save Black Mothers [Exclusive]

When Rev. Dr. Que English speaks, it feels like a call to reimagine community. A call to rebuild trust. A call to save lives.

The founder and CEO of Elev8 Health Inc. is leading the 2025 National Thrive Maternal Health Tour, a 20-city initiative transforming how we address maternal health in Black and Indigenous communities. At a time when the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations—and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, according to the CDC—Dr. English is sounding the alarm and offering a blueprint.

“When you think of the village, you think of what it’s going to take to improve our outcomes among Black women,” she told MadameNoire in an exclusive interview. “That village has to be doulas, midwives, mental health care specialists, OBGYNs, WIC programs, Healthy Start programs, even housing support.”

The Thrive Tour is both a movement and a reawakening of communal care. Each stop includes a community baby shower and an ecosystem of support that meets expectant mothers, fathers, and caregivers where they are—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Events include expert-led panels, resource sharing, on-site screenings, and wellness checks, all structured to empower families and elevate outcomes.

“Suicide and substance use disorder are the leading causes of death for women postpartum,” Dr. English explained. “We have to have mental health providers in that village, because that’s a part of the solution, too.”

Rooted in cultural competence

Dr. English, a Bronx native with Harlem roots, brings grassroots wisdom to every policy table she sits at. Before founding Elev8 Health, she served as the Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She’s also the founder of the 100 Million Reach Collective, a coalition of African American faith leaders committed to addressing the social determinants of health in underserved communities.

Still, she makes it clear: “I’m grassroots. Yes, I worked for Health and Human Services. Yes, I was top of the food chain. But everything I do is community-driven.”

That community-first approach is why cultural competency is a pillar of the Thrive Tour. During her prior M.O.M.S. Tour, she helped certify nearly 600 culturally competent Black doulas. That foundation is being expanded through Thrive.

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“When I think about bringing our doulas to the forefront to engage with Black women, they are Black doulas,” she said. “Because we understood that if we are going to break the stigma and build trust, they have to look like us.”

The use of doulas and midwives is a strategy backed by evidence. Studies show doulas and midwifery services improve maternal health outcomes—lowering C-section rates, increasing breastfeeding success, and reducing maternal mortality risk. However, many families still see birth workers as a luxury.

Dr. English is working to change that mindset.

“We don’t need to treat doulas like a bonus. For me, they should be the baseline,” she added. “Every mother deserves support, not just the ones who can afford it.”

Additionally, “There are many states that have expanded Medicaid coverage to cover the cost of doulas,” she emphasized. “It’s a lifeline. It’s not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”