The Ayanna Ade Black Student Midwife Scholarship
Shafia Monroe Consulting (SMC) proudly announces the Annual Ayanna Ade Black Student Midwife Scholarship Award. In honor of Ayanna Ade’s contribution to midwifery, SMC will award a scholarship to one recipient of $2000. Eligibility Requirements: Must be an African American enrolled in a recognized US Midwifery College/School or Apprenticeship Midwife Training Model with a preceptor. This scholarship recognizes all midwifery educational programs.
Apply
To Apply: Complete the application form and pay a $15.00 fee that will go towards the total scholarship amount. This will include a 200-300-word essay on how this scholarship will help you emulate the work of Ayanna Ade in your midwifery career. Additionally, include a photo in color and a letter from your school or preceptor stating you are currently enrolled.
The 8th Annual Scholarship application opens May 22, 2026 and closes October 23, 2026. Awardee announcement is November 30, 2026. See the 2026 application below.
Previous Scholarship Winners
- Brittany Needham, 2025
- Chasity Mays, 2024
- Shiphrah Israel, 2023
- Sydney Tyler, 2022
- Nalah W. Linda Morrow, 2021
- LaDereka Carter, 2020
- Mercedes Snyder, 2019
2025 Scholarship Winner
Brittany Needham is a student at the Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery.
Read her Scholarship Essay- How will this scholarship help me emulate the work of Ayanna Ade in my midwifery career?
Emulating the essence of Ayanna Ade began the moment I answered my calling to midwifery. From the age of nine, I knew I wanted to catch babies so I set my path focused and open to learning from women, as I reclaimed the power of birthing with women. I found solace in being an educator and birth companion to families who needed a safe space to feel honored, and understood. I spent my time as a full-spectrum doula listening to women which focused my attention to the increasing need for better human-centered care mothers have access to during this major life transition.
As I grow into my role as a midwife, my vision is to incorporate what I have learned and continue guiding, leading and advocating for families through each life transformation. The support of this scholarship will allow me to emulate the work of Ayanna Ade by becoming one of the very few black certified professional midwives serving the native ancestral homelands of the Paugusset and Narragansett tribe, currently known now as Connecticut and Rhode Island. After I obtain licensing, my goal is to become a preceptor, creating pathways for aspiring midwives to continue the traditional apprenticeship model. With the support of this scholarship. I envision being able to provide women with the opportunity to reclaim the power of midwifery. I envision being able to provide women with the option to have autonomy in their birth and postpartum experience. I will remain committed to emulating the work of Ayanna Ade by reminding women of the inner power, strength, joy, & wisdom that has been instilled in them.
Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you for taking the time to read my scholarship.
With gratitude,
Brittany
Ayanna Ade Midwifery Scholarship Application
Who is Ayanna Ade?
Ayanna Ade was an African American midwife who was committed to equity in birth and diversity in the midwifery profession. Her famous quote from the Bringin’ in Da Spirit documentary:
“Birth is a sacred family event.”
Ayanna Ade
She trained as a homebirth midwife in the 1970s in Houston, TX, her hometown, and later returned to school to become a Certified Nurse Midwife. Ayanna wanted to serve more Black women and be a light for the women who chose hospital birth. She was a mentor to any student midwife who needed her.
In 1980, she co-founded Childbirth Providers of African Descent (CPAD), the first private National Black Midwifery Organization to bring midwives together to learn and support one another. In 1990, she gathered CPAD members to meet with the Jamaican midwives for exchanging knowledge. She was an advisory member for the International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) and the TX ICTC State representative for five years.
Ayanna Ade worked to increase the number of Black midwives, diversify the midwifery workforce, reduce infant mortality, improve maternal outcomes, support fathers, and build community health.
She was my midwife sister and the midwife for my sixth baby. It is an honor to remember her legacy with this annual scholarship award.
Ayanna Ade transitioned at home in Houston, TX on May 23, 2013.
Learn more about the Ayanna Ade Black Student Midwife Scholarship Fund
