The Magnolia Project, a Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition Initiative their Community Baby Shower sponsored by Senator Tracie Davis, at the Legends Center on the Northside.
Over 125 families participated, receiving education, resources and essential baby items including car seats, strollers, pack-and-plays, diapers, wipes, and diaper bags through raffles and giveaways.
Dr. LaRae Brown, MD, MHA of UF Health Jacksonville delivered a keynote on maternal stressors, joy, and holistic well-being, offering insight and encouragement to attendees. This gathering marked Infant Mortality Awareness Month with a mission to uplift families, promote maternal well-being, and address the complex factors impacting infant health. The free baby shower centered on four key goals: celebrate and connect families across Duval County; improve the health and well-being of women during their childbearing years; address medical, behavioral, cultural, and social service needs and provide education and resources to ensure moms and babies are off to a healthy start. A diverse array of exhibitors provided hands-on demonstrations and vital information—from CPR and poison control to breastfeeding support, health insurance enrollment, and nutrition education.
Duval County continues to face alarming disparities in infant mortality. In 2023, 7.9 out of every 1,000 babies born in the county died before their first birthday—higher than Florida’s statewide rate of 6 per 1,000. The burden is especially severe among Black infants, with a rate of 13 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 7.3 per 1,000 for Hispanic babies and 4.9 per 1,000 for white babies. (Florida Department of Health, 2023).