Motherhood Maternity is looking to souce powerful, authentic stories from Black moms about their maternity journeys to raise awareness about the particular struggles pregnant Black people encounter for Black Maternal Health Week in April.

Pregnancy can be medically complex and dangerous, and in the United States that's unfortunately especially true for Black moms and moms of color, who are at the highest risk of pregnancy-related complications, mortality and morbidity. In fact, in the US, we average 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births – more than double that of comparably wealthy nations, and the number has been rising for decades. Barriers to obtaining quality medical care and systemic racism notably increase the risks for pregnant Black people, and Black women also experience more maternal health complications throughout their pregnancies than white women. Obviously, we have a lot of work to do to here, and part of that is hearing directly from Black moms, families, and children who have experienced pregnancy and maternal health complications. 

We're looking for three or more moms or families who are willing to appear in a video and speak about their maternity and childbirth journey and birth stories. This is about what challenges or concerns they faced, who advocated for them (even or especially if they only had themselves), and what happened. This may be you, or it may be someone that you know, and it is NOT necessary that you be a filmmaker, or even have access to a filmmaker. Once we find participants, we'll be running a separate project to source filmmakers to bring these stories to life in compelling, powerful, impactful videos that will combine real testimonials with key facts about Black maternal mortality and morbidity, in order to increase the public's awareness and help address this issue by advocating for much-needed change.

If you are a filmmaker yourself, and you are submitting for yourself, or someone you know, you may pitch in the follow up project, but you will not be guaranteed the opportunity to adapt your own story. 

See more information below, and in the Background, and then for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

PROCESS:

• Upon selection, you (and/or your subject) will be asked to fill out a Winner's Affidavit, IP Assignment, and a Talent Release. Story subjects must be willing to share their story on camera.
• After selection, a second project will be launched on Tongal to source a local filmmaker, who will be selected to adapt you or your subject's story. 
• Once a filmmaker is selected, you will be introduced and a pre-interview call will be arranged. On that call, a production schedule and shoot dates will be arranged with you or your subject's input. The filmmaker will share logistics as the date approaches.
• Your payment is then contingent upon your, or your subject's, participation in, and cooperation with, the creator who is selected to bring your story to life.
• If you are submitting a story on your own behalf: you will receive $500 for referring yourself, and an additional $1500 for participation, upon delivery of the video, as well your completion of the Winner's Affidavit, IP Assignment, and (assuming you appear on screen), the Talent Release.
• If you are submitting a story on behalf of someone else, you will receive $500 for the referral, and the story subject will receive $1500 for participation, upon delivery of the video, as well as your completion of the Winner's Affidavit and IP Assignment, and the Talent Release.

TIMELINE: Click this link to view full project timeline.

EXPOSURE: The videos that will eventually be created from these Authentic Stories will be featured on Motherhood Maternity's website and social platforms during Black Maternal Health Week (April 11–17, 2022) and beyond. 

TARGET AUDIENCE: Broad, as this is an issue of national urgency; Black moms and all moms of color; healthcare professionals and policymakers; prenatal/postnatal parents and families.

TONE: Genuine, urgent, honest, informative

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects on our platform do move forward, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and the project team.

The US healthcare system is failing Black moms and all moms of color, who face poorer maternity outcomes. This is a big issue, but through awareness and advocacy we can work together to improve the care that Black moms and all moms of color receive. 

These links provide more information and resources on Black Maternal Health Week (April 11–17, 2022):

• Black Mamas Matter
• Presidential Proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

• AUTHENTIC STORY (REQUIRED): Submit your story, or your subject's story, using up to 500 characters. Remember that the story you share should be relevant and reflect the unique asks of the project.
  
  
• STORY SUBJECT LOCATION (REQUIRED): Tell us where you or your story subject currently reside (city, state).
  
  
• STORY SUBJECT PHOTO (REQUIRED): Provide us with a current photo of you, or your story subject. You may use something from social media, if that's easiest.
  
  
• ADDITIONAL INFO (Optional): If there's any other relevant information or material that you have that you think helps tell your story, or your subjects story, you may attach it here.

The most compelling Stories will be selected and the responsible submitter, as well as the story subject, will then receive an email from Tongal producers detailing next steps. All submitters will also receive an automated email notification that a selection has been announced. To ensure you’re receiving project updates, review your email settings to check that you haven’t unsubscribed.

Creators who’ve been selected will receive funding upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment. The greenlit Story submissions will receive $2,000 each after the filming of their story is completed. Please read all of the below for details:

• If you are submitting a story on your own behalf, your payment is contingent upon your participation in, and cooperation with, the creator who is selected to bring your story to life. You will receive a total of $2000 upon delivery of the video, and your completion of the Winner's Affidavit, IP Assignment, and the Talent Release.
  
  
• If you are submitting a story on behalf of someone else, your payment is contingent upon their participation in, and cooperation with, the creator who is selected to bring their story to life. You will receive $500, and the story subject will receive $1500, upon delivery of the video, your completion of the Winner's Affidavit and IP Assignment, and the Talent Release.

NOTE: Filmmakers will be selected in a separate project that will launch immediately after story subjects are selected. The filmmaker is NOT required to offer any additional compensation to the subject. 

1. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.
   
   
2. BY SUBMITTING AN ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES – SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.
   
   
3. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor’s organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
4. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
5. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
6. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
7. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
8. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
    
9. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
   
   
10. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
11. Creators of selected submissions must provide the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment.
    
    
12. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.