Uzazi Village

Founding and History

Uzazi Village was founded in 2012 by Hakima Tafunzi Payne, Mariah Chrans, Rebecca Liberty, and Tash Reed. Payne would go on to become the public face of the organization and was its executive director until her retirement. The focus of the organization was on disparate infant mortality and birth outcomes between Black and non-Black children. ^{4 5}

Financials

For the fiscal year ending June 2023, Uzazi Village reported $1,370,969 in revenue, of which $918,303 stemmed from contributions and grants and $449,615 from program service revenue. It reported $1,230,410 in expenses, of which $584,751 was spent on salaries and compensation and $96,864 in office expenses. It ended the fiscal year with $140,559 in net revenue and $243,748 in net assets. The group did not report any government funding. ⁶

In 2021 the group received a $20,000 grant from Reach Healthcare Foundation as part of its “centering black voices” initiative. ⁷

Organization Philosophy

Uzazi Village affirms that the racial disparity in infant mortality in the U.S. is the result of systemic racism. The group seeks to provide Black-centric health care for pregnant women and new mothers, believing that mainstream health care is lacking in the cultural sensitivity and nuance that makes Black health care different. The group also uses the phrase “birthing person” interchangeably with “mother.” The group states that it seeks to deconstruct the health care system, which it considers racist, and to supplant the old order with one based on equity. ¹

Projects and Initiatives

Community Expert Review Board (CERB)

Uzazi Village administers the community expert review board (CERB) which claims to speak for Black and brown communities to policymakers and people conducting research that might affect ethnic-minority communities. The board states that it has produced health care related training standards, provided consulting services, and various COVID-related informational campaigns. ³

Other Projects

Uzazi Village maintains a community baby clothing drive that distributes clothing donations. It also distributes free diapers and provides classes on “Afro-Centric” birthing and breastfeeding as a Black woman. The village also offers training courses on being a birth doula and prenatal services at a clinic. ^{2 8}

Leadership

As of 2025, Shalese Clay was the CEO and chair of the board of directors of Uzazi Village, a position she had held since November of 2023. She previously worked for a number of health-related and maternal-, natal-, and early childhood-related institutions, such as March of Dimes. Clay is also the CEO of Thirty-Eight Solutions, a community consulting firm. ⁹