NYC Health Department Celebrates Black Breastfeeding Week To Promote Community, Care, and Wisdom

NYC Health Department Celebrates Black Breastfeeding Week to Promote Community, Care, and Wisdom

A Week of Workshops and Activities Aims to Provide Breastfeeding Education, Support, and Resources for Black Mothers and Families Across New York City

Breastfeeding Resources Are Available at the NYC Health Department's Neighborhood Health Action Centers Year-Round

August 25, 2026 - The NYC Health Department today announced a series of events in recognition of national Black Breastfeeding Week. Celebrating 14 years of community, care and collective power, Black Breastfeeding Week aims to uplift Black families and connect parents with breastfeeding support and resources. From August 25 to August 31, NYC Health Department events will provide education, guidance, and wellness resources to support breastfeeding families and promote healthy outcomes for parents and babies. Breastfeeding has been linked to better maternal and child health outcomes.

"Breastfeeding provides important health benefits for babies and mothers, yet Black families continue to face disparities in breastfeeding rates and access to support," said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin. "Black Breastfeeding Week is an opportunity to center Black mothers, babies, and families while reminding us that every New Yorker deserves the resources and support, they need to thrive. Through these events, we're bringing that support directly to communities and empowering families to make the choices that are best for them, while uplifting the services we offer year-round at our Neighborhood Health Action Centers."

Black Breastfeeding Week was created to center the experiences, health, and needs of Black families and babies. This year's theme, "We All We Got," recognizes the community care, collective wisdom, and people who continue to show up for Black mothers, expecting parents, babies, and families. Breast milk provides vitamins and nutrients that support a baby's growth, brain development, and immune system. Breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of certain illnesses and conditions in babies and can provide health benefits for breastfeeding parents, including helping with recovery after pregnancy and reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

In line with this year's theme, the NYC Health Department is hosting activities and workshops on topics like preeclampsia, mental health, and wellness, in addition to professional breastfeeding assistance and guidance from lactation counselors and maternal yoga classes. All events will be hosted by the NYC Health Department's Family Wellness Suites, located in the Neighborhood Health Action Centers of Brownsville, East Harlem, and Tremont.

See below for the NYC Health Department's 2026 Black Breastfeeding Week schedule. Some events are subject to change.

Bronx: Tuesday, August 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Tremont Action Center, 1826 Arthur Ave., Bronx

• Activities
• • Breastfeeding 101 presentation
  • Establishing a Birth Plan presentation
  • Preeclampsia and Breastfeeding presentation
  • Getting to Know Community Partners panel
  • One-on-one professional breastfeeding assistance (available on-site as needed)
  • Light refreshments available

Brooklyn, Thursday, August 27, noon to 3 p.m.

Location: Brownsville Action Center, 259 Bristol St., Brooklyn

• Activities
• • Breastfeeding 101 presentation
  • Breast Health presentation by Memorial Sloan Kettering Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and the NYC Health Department Breast Cancer Task Force
  • Babywearing 101 presentation by Healthy Start Brooklyn
  • Baby Boutique (free gently used baby clothing and toys)
  • Community partners and resources tabling
  • Raffles, giveaways throughout the event
  • Light refreshments available

Harlem, Monday, August 31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: East Harlem Action Center, 158 E. 115th St., New York

• Activities
• • Getting a Good Start on Breastfeeding workshop
  • Breast Health presentation by Memorial Sloan Kettering Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and the NYC Health Department Breast Cancer Task Force
  • Perinatal Mental Health workshop
  • Maternal Yoga class
  • Community partners and resources tabling
  • Light refreshments available

The NYC Health Department offers year-round resources to support breastfeeding parents and their families at the Family Wellness Suites, which are located at the Health Department's three Neighborhood Health Action Centers.

The Family Wellness Suites regularly host workshops to teach families how to get a good start on breastfeeding, including information on the benefits of breastfeeding, ensuring a proper latch, recognizing signs of effective milk transfer, navigating breastfeeding challenges, and pumping and storage. The suites also host a lactation peer support group called Milk & Mingle where clients can build community as they bond over the joys and challenges of breastfeeding. Each Family Wellness Suite is equipped with a lactation room where clients can receive lactation counseling and breastfeeding assistance as needed.

The Family Wellness Suites also regularly provide expecting families with safe, welcoming, and supportive spaces where they can participate in parenting and childbirth education classes, connect with community resources, and access essential supplies, including car seats, playpens, diapers, and breast pumps based on program eligibility while supplies last.

Free Health Department programs for families directly in their homes include Nurse-Family Partnership, which connects participants to registered nurses through pregnancy, delivery, and infancy, and Newborn Home Visiting, which offers support in the first three months after birth. Both offer breastfeeding support, including education and assistance from licensed lactation consultants.

New parents looking for lactation tips can sign up for Mobile Milk, a text messaging service to encourage and support breastfeeding. To get started, text MILK to 55676.

"As we commemorate Black Breastfeeding Week, it is a reminder of the stark disparities in our city that prevent Black mothers from accessing critical resources and care that could drastically improve health outcomes for our youngest residents," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "Despite significant progress in addressing racism in maternal and infant health, Black babies still disproportionately experience higher rates of infant mortality due to cultural and structural barriers that we must actively work to overcome and dismantle. I am grateful to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their continued work addressing these issues and commitment to supporting mothers and children across our borough and city."

"Every parent deserves the support, resources, and information they need to make the best choices for themselves and their babies," said New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman, Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Health. "Black Breastfeeding Week is an important opportunity to celebrate the wisdom and strength of Black families while recognizing the barriers that can make breastfeeding more difficult. I am glad the NYC Health Department and Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin are bringing education and support directly into our communities, so that every family has the opportunity to give their children a healthy start."

"Black mothers are the bedrock of our communities, which is why I applaud the New York City Health Department for uplifting Black Breastfeeding Week," said New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse. "The science is extremely clear: a child's first few years set the tone for their entire future. Every young person deserves a good start at life, and giving young families breastfeeding support is crucial."

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