Black babies born in Cuyahoga County are four times more likely to die before their first birthday than white ones. In 2019, nearly 60 Black women in Ohio died per 100,000 live births, far more than any other ethnic group.
Women of all ages and races need somewhere to turn for support once they discover they are pregnant. But with the current state of Black maternal health and the rate of infant mortality among African Americans in the greater Cleveland area, the need is all that much more important. Over the last eight years, Pregnant with Possibilities has become a reliable resource for help.
Incorporated as a nonprofit in 2015, Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center provides culturally competent sexual health education for youth in grades 6 through 12, perinatal support for expecting moms, and tools and techniques that equip women to overcome barriers. The free and confidential programs and services are research-based and reflect best practices.
“I always say, I was born on purpose, for a purpose, for this purpose,” says Veranda Rodgers, founder and executive director. Rodgers explains that she’s a “rainbow baby,” one born after an ectopic pregnancy. Her mom had two before her birth and was told she would never have children.
“Essentially, my life started from my mom’s journey of trying to have a child,” Rodgers continues. “That kind of shaped my foundation for who I am.”
Additionally, Rodgers became pregnant at the age of 16.
“Although it wasn’t the ideal plan and vision for my parents’ life, it has [also] shaped who I am as a leader, person and mom. I know that life doesn’t stop after childbirth, because I’m a first-generation college graduate.”
Originally from Niles, Rodgers finished high school on time in 2005 and immediately moved to Cleveland to attend college. She graduated from Cleveland State University, took a gap year, then went on to earn a master’s of business administration.
The day her son was born, she knew she had to be an example for him. She wanted her life to model triumph as opposed to tragedy.
According to Rodgers, statistics show that three out of nine young women will have a baby by their 20th birthday. Youth between the ages of 15 and 24 account for almost half of sexually transmitted infections.
“There’s so many consequences that go along with risky sexual behavior that I wasn’t aware of. I was in love,” says Rodgers, who is grateful that the man she fell in love with at age 15 is now her husband. “But that’s not everybody’s reality either.”
They currently have a 19- and a 9-year-old. The oldest son is in his second semester, studying mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Her youngest is in fourth grade.
In 2016, Rodgers left her government day job as a financial analyst to advance Pregnant with Possibilities. The idea came to her some years prior while working in academia and taking some courses on emotional intelligence.
That’s when an instructor asked her, “If you could do anything and never make a dollar, what would you do?”
At that moment, Rodgers realized she had a heart and passion for serving families who were once in her situation.
“There were a lot of women in my family who had children, and life stopped,” she continues. She was even told she would be like them when she became pregnant.
“I fuel my life off of people telling me no,” Rodgers adds. “If you tell me no, I’m going to show you what I can do and actually accomplish it.”
Today, Pregnant with Possibilities has a facility in Maple Heights, a full-time staff of seven, including Rodgers, and a four-member board of trustees.
The Resource Center’s MOM (Making Opportunities Matter) program is hybrid and group-based. Participants meet with a certified trauma-informed facilitator virtually or in person for 13 weeks. The curriculum includes parenting lactation, nutrition, goal setting and financial literacy. They offer pre-and post-natal yoga as well.
The expecting mothers are also partnered with a care coordinator — a Pregnant with Possibilities community health worker or social worker who helps that family address any barriers they face. Participants are also paired with a peer support person within their cohort.
The Resource Center’s After Party Program is an extension of its MOM Program. Here, MOM Program alums who have completed 70% of their curriculum receive additional support. They meet bimonthly in person until the baby turns two years old.
Pregnant with Possibilities also conducts free monthly workshops and classes about everything it does for the community. The nonprofit has girl talk nights, Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities and activations during Black Breastfeeding Week. It also has a pantry; diapers, wipes and formula are distributed every other month (typically on the second Thursday). It’s open to Pregnant with Possibilities participants who have earned the required points. There are up to 100 slots, and people can request one on its website on a first come/first served basis. In addition, every other month, the organization hosts a diaper drive, which is open to anyone in the community.
Last year, Pregnant with Possibilities served 200 women in the perinatal program, and it is on target to serve 250 this year. It also served 68 youth in the sexual education program, while 455 families received essential baby care items from the pantry.
The “Mommy and Me Ball,” held in September, is the organization’s annual fundraiser to celebrate its work and a mom from the community doing an excellent job. This year’s “Mom on the Move Award” recipient is journalist Courtney Gousman. Clients who have completed 75% of course work receive tickets to attend the event along with one child.
“It does us a disservice if we speak on their behalf and not let our clients talk about themselves,” says Rodgers.
Tiffany James, a MOM program alumni and single mom, birthed her first son 12 years ago. She recently married and soon after became pregnant at age 42.
“Everything is new,” says James, who says Pregnant with Possibilities talks about things she didn’t think about, including finances.
“As a single mom, I wish I would’ve received the information I got as a married woman this time,” she adds.
In the MOMS program, James says they also discussed goal setting, the difference between self-care and self-love, and preparing yourself for your baby.
“A lot of things dealt with you as a woman and you as the mom,” says James. “A lot of programs focus on you as the mom, but this program is holistic.”
When asked what’s next, Rodgers says, “My goal is that my legacy will outlive who I am and the work that I’ve done.”
The next step is to create transitional housing for women and children. Addressing mental health is another target, she says.