Following the preventable death of their loved ones due to childbirth complications, two families galvanize activists, birth-workers and physicians to reckon with one of the most pressing American crises of our time, the U.S. maternal health crisis. Healthcare professionals will present a panel following the documentary film screening.

Recipient of Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for Change and Full Frame Film Festival: Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights.

In October 2019, 30-year-old Shamony Gibson tragically died 13 days following the birth of her son. Two months later, filmakers began filming Shamony's surviving mother, Shawnee Benton Gibson, and bereaved partner, Omari Maynard, as they began to process what happened and figure out their new normal.

In April 2020, 26-year-old Amber Rose Isaac, died due to an emergency c-section. Within weeks of Amber's death, Omari Maynard reaches out to Amber's surviving partner Bruce McIntyre and a lifelong bond is formed. Together, Maynard and McIntyre begin the fight for justice for their partners with their families and community by their side, while caring for their children as newly single parents.

Through the film, we witness these two families become ardent activists in the maternal health space, seeking justice through legislation, medical accountability, community and the power of art. Their work introduces us to a myriad of people, including a growing brotherhood of surviving Black fathers, along with the work of midwives and physicians on the ground fighting for institutional reform. Through their collective journeys, we find ourselves on the front lines of the growing birth justice movement demanding systemic change within our medical system and government.

The event is organized by the Lenoir-Rhyne University Office of Multicultural Affairs and Catawba Valley Community College.