Press Releases & News
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Naomi Soto, Executive Director
naomisoto@advancingmidwifery.org / 650-964-2229
Kairis Joy Chiaji, Board Chair
admin@advancingmidwifery.org / 650-964-2229
Three scholarships awarded for new and incoming Black licensed midwives in California
January 13, 2026, San Leandro, CA. Culturally congruent midwifery care in community birth settings is a critical tool in ending racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Growing California's Black midwifery workforce will improve outcomes and raise community awareness about midwifery care and its impact on positive outcomes for all birthing people.
This urgent need for more Black midwives in California is the primary motivation for the Bridget “Biddy” Mason Black Midwifery Scholarship and Financial Aid Fund, which offers direct financial support for new and incoming Black licensed midwives.
Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Bridget “Biddy” Mason Black Midwifery Scholarship as:
- Tahira Ali for the $8,700 Student Midwife Scholarship
- Hannah Wassenberg for the $750 License Fee Grants
- Carla Michael Clark for the $2,000 Practice Startup Capital
All other eligible applicants will receive $100 gift certificates to qualified applicants.
“This the fourth funding cycle of the Bridget “Biddy” Mason Black Midwifery Scholarship,” said Executive Director Naomi Soto. “We are proud that in the last 4 years, CAM has invested over $22,000 in direct support for new and incoming Black midwives in California."
The Bridget "Biddy" Mason Black Midwifery Student Scholarship and Financial Aid Fund advances community midwifery in California through a multifaceted funding program developed by CAM's Black Midwives Advisory Group. The structure is designed to reduce barriers to midwifery practices at each stage from education and training to practice.
“We also want to thank the Black Midwives Advisory Group who selected the recipients this year. Their guidance and expertise help ensure that crucial scholarship dollars are going to promising new midwife leaders in our community,” said Board Chair Kairis Joy Chiaji.
The Bridget "Biddy" Mason Black Midwifery Student Scholarship and Financial Aid provides money for tuition, fees, and living expenses for student midwives nearing completion of their midwifery training, as well as grants to new graduates and newly licensed midwives starting midwifery practice in California. Recipients have demonstrated a commitment to honor and nurture Black Midwifery traditions as embodied in the legacy of Bridget "Biddy" Mason's service to her community.
Learn more at advancingmidwifery.org.
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rosanna Davis, LM
cfo@advancingmidwifery.org
Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery Welcomes
Naomi Soto, MPP, as Its First Executive Director
October 23, 2025, San Leandro, CA. Californians for the Advancement of Midwifery (CAM) is proud to announce the appointment of Naomi Soto, MPP, as its first Executive Director.
Soto brings more than two decades of experience in public health, policy, and organizational strategy, with an impressive record of guiding mission-driven organizations through growth and transformation. “Naomi's experience, skills, and passion for public health, organizational transformation, and women’s healthcare are just what CAM needs as we begin this exciting new chapter in our history as a leading force for midwifery advocacy in California,” said Rosanna Davis, LM, speaking on behalf of the CAM Board.
Elected to the Palm Springs City Council in 2024, Naomi also recently served as Director of Programs at the Foundation for Allergy and Asthma Impact & Rescue (AAIR), where she launched the largest stock albuterol program in the nation—expanding school participation from 200 to over 6,000 institutions and building critical partnerships with school nurses and healthcare providers statewide.
Founded over 40 years ago, CAM has stood at the forefront of community-based midwifery in California, advocating for licensed midwives, expanding education pathways, and promoting birth justice for families. Key milestones include the launch of the California Association of Licensed Midwives (CALM) and the development of California’s first Licensed Midwife Associate of Science degree at Cerro Coso Community College, an affordable, hybrid program anticipated for Fall 2026. CAM also administers the Bridget “Biddy” Mason Black Midwifery Scholarship & Financial Aid Fund, honoring early midwifery pioneer Bridget “Biddy” Mason and dedicated to increasing representation of Black midwives in California.
In her new role, Soto will drive CAM’s strategic goals for 2025-27: elevating midwifery as the time honored standard for healthy, safe, and culturally grounded maternity care by restoring the diversity of California's midwifery workforce; increasing public access and education; advancing supportive policies; and revitalizing, growing, and strengthening the midwifery profession in communities across the state of California. These priorities align with CAM’s deep and longstanding commitment to equity, access, and collaboration.
Learn more at advancingmidwifery.org.
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