ABOUT

MA Mom Advocates (MAMA) was co-founded by Mariah T. Sabir and Katie Riconda to ensure no birthing person has to recover from childbirth without support. Both founders bring lived experiences that reflect the urgent gaps in maternal health care. Mariah, navigating trauma and mental health challenges, prepared carefully for postpartum yet still faced bias and dismissal within the healthcare system. Katie, raising her family in Barnstable County on “The Cape,” struggled with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) in a rural community where maternal health resources were scarce. Their journeys underscored the need for accessible, culturally responsive, and continuous support for parents across Massachusetts.

MAMA began as a grassroots, peer-led nonprofit connecting birthing people with compassionate advocates who walk with them through pregnancy and postpartum. Many advocates carry their own lived experiences, uniquely positioning them to build trust and reduce isolation. Beyond direct support, MAMA addresses the root causes of inequity—racism, provider bias, trauma, and underinvestment in community care—through statewide advocacy. As part of the Mind the Gap Coalition, MAMA helped lead efforts behind H.2208/S.1411, legislation designed to expand access to culturally competent perinatal behavioral health care.

Today, MAMA is growing its reach, including its first grant-funded programming in Barnstable County. Its vision remains clear: to build a maternal health system that honors every parent’s humanity and resilience through community, compassion, and policy change.