NACPM is excited to announce the launch of the Bigger Table Fund! The Fund will provide financial awards for student midwives of color, indigenous and/or LGBTQ student midwives for the initial NARM examination fee, the fee for retaking the NARM examination when needed, and state licensure fees.
The goal of the fund is to remove some of the significant financial barriers that student midwives of color, indigenous and/or LGBTQ student midwives face when entering the CPM profession. We recognize that there are multiple barriers beyond the NARM exam and state licensure fees that student midwives encounter, and it is our ardent intention to grow this fund in the coming years to help defray some of those additional expenses.
Funds will be distributed quarterly, according to a lottery system, with $3,000 available per cycle. The maximum individual award is $1,000. We invite you to apply to the Bigger Table Fund. You also can access the application on the NACPM website.
The Bigger Table Fun FAQ can be found here.
2019 Application Deadlines
January 15, April 15, July 15, October 15
2019 Bigger Table Fund Award Announcement Days
February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1
NACPM is committed to:
* investing in a strong CPM workforce that is racially, ethnically, and socially representative that can meet the needs of all childbearing people;
* ensuring that native families have access to the services of Indigenous CPMs;
* opposing the oppression of LGBTQ people, including homophobia, transphobia, and violence based on sexuality, gender expression, and family structure;
* understanding and addressing the compound negative impact of oppression on marginalized childbearing people with multiple intersecting identities.
NACPM is launching the Bigger Table Fund in partial fulfillment of these commitments.
The name of the fund is derived from two different sources. One is the quotation: “When you have more than you need, build a bigger table not a higher fence,” the underlying premise being that we need less isolation, more community, and greater abundance for all. We know that sustainability is an issue for many, if not most CPMs; we also recognize that there is an unfair and inequitable distribution of resources for education and entry into practice due to the systemic forces of racism, colonialism, homophobia, and transphobia.
The fund’s name is also a reference to the quotation: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” We know that inclusion matters and that the future of midwifery and access to safe, compassionate, and culturally responsive care for all childbearing people depends on who has a seat at the table. So, we’re seeking to expand ours.
Please click the link to donate to the Bigger Table Fund (please write BTF in the note)
We welcome and encourage donations to this fund from our members and wider community!