The Shades of Blue Project is reshaping maternal mental health support through community care, advocacy, and culturally responsive solutions.
When Silence Became A Call For Change
For many mothers and birthing people, the emotional realities of pregnancy, postpartum recovery, grief, and mental health challenges are often carried quietly. Conversations around maternal mental health can feel isolated, especially within Black and Brown communities where barriers to culturally responsive care continue to exist. Kay Matthews understood that silence firsthand after experiencing the stillbirth of her daughter, Troya Simone, followed by undiagnosed postpartum depression.
What began as a deeply personal search for healing eventually became something far larger. Matthews transformed grief into purpose by creating The Shades of Blue Project, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to improving maternal mental health outcomes and advancing health equity for Black and Brown families across the country.
Today, The Shades of Blue Project stands at the forefront of maternal mental health advocacy, blending lived experience, education, workforce training, storytelling, and community support into a movement that continues to reach families nationwide.
“The Shades of Blue Project was born from grief, but it has grown into a movement rooted in healing, advocacy, and action,” Matthews said.
Centering Community In Every Solution
At the heart of The Shades of Blue Project is a belief that maternal mental health cannot be separated from community, equity, and dignity. The organization recognizes that mental health challenges surrounding childbirth are often shaped by broader experiences involving trauma, access to care, racism, financial hardship, family support systems, and infant loss.
Rather than offering surface level awareness campaigns alone, The Shades of Blue Project creates spaces where families feel seen, heard, and supported. Through support groups, educational initiatives, national advocacy work, and culturally grounded programs, the organization works to ensure that mothers and birthing people are not left to navigate emotional distress alone.
This people centered approach has helped establish The Shades of Blue Project as a trusted national voice in Black maternal mental health. The organization’s signature initiatives, including Black Maternal Mental Health Week and the Black Maternal Mental Health Summit, continue to bring together advocates, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and families to discuss solutions rooted in compassion and accountability.
Many participants describe these events as transformative spaces where lived experience and professional leadership meet. Instead of reducing maternal mental health to statistics alone, the organization encourages honest conversations that honor both pain and resilience.
Training Professionals To Respond Differently
One of the organization’s most impactful contributions has been its focus on workforce development and provider education. Through the INSPIRE Method, The Shades of Blue Project trains healthcare providers, community health workers, doulas, advocates, and Healthy Start staff to better recognize and respond to maternal mental health concerns through a trauma informed and culturally responsive lens.
The training encourages professionals to move beyond clinical assumptions and listen more intentionally to the experiences of mothers and families. Participants have shared that the program improved their ability to recognize warning signs, communicate with empathy, and provide more meaningful support to families during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.
“What makes this work powerful is that we do not separate lived experience from expertise,” Matthews explained. “The voices of mothers, birthing people, and families are central to every solution we build.”
That philosophy continues to shape every aspect of the organization’s mission. The Shades of Blue Project bridges the gap between personal experience and systems level advocacy, ensuring that families are not only heard but represented in conversations that influence policy and healthcare practices nationwide.
Expanding Access Through Technology And Advocacy
As maternal mental health conversations evolve nationally, The Shades of Blue Project continues to explore new ways to make support more accessible. One of its most innovative initiatives is the SHARE Network App, a maternal mental health platform designed to connect families with resources, education, support, and community during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, grief, and emotional distress.
The app reflects the organization’s commitment to meeting people where they are, especially during moments when finding reliable support can feel overwhelming.
“We built the SHARE Network App because families should not have to search endlessly for support while they are already carrying the weight of pregnancy, postpartum, grief, trauma, or emotional distress,” Matthews said. “Help should be accessible, culturally responsive, and easy to find.”
Beyond technology, The Shades of Blue Project continues to advocate for systemic change through public policy discussions, national partnerships, storytelling campaigns, and community engagement efforts. The organization’s leadership has contributed to broader conversations surrounding Black maternal health equity and the urgent need for healthcare systems to respond more effectively to maternal mental health challenges.
“Black maternal mental health is not just a personal issue,” Matthews said. “It is a public health issue, a community issue, and a justice issue.”
National Recognition For Maternal Mental Health Care
The Shades of Blue Project was named the Best Maternal Mental Health Support Service in the United States of 2026 by Evergreen Awards and Best of Best Review. The recognition reflects the organization’s commitment to culturally responsive care, innovative programs, community support, and national advocacy for Black maternal mental health.
A Movement Focused On Healing And Hope
The continued growth of The Shades of Blue Project reflects a larger cultural shift toward acknowledging the emotional realities many families experience before, during, and after childbirth. Through advocacy, education, training, and direct community support, the organization has built a model rooted in healing, accountability, and human connection.
Families, healthcare professionals, and advocates interested in learning more about The Shades of Blue Project can visit Shades of Blue Project to explore programs, training opportunities, advocacy initiatives, and community resources.
Supporters can also stay connected through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, where the organization shares educational content, updates, and stories from the communities it serves.
Families seeking additional maternal mental health resources and support can learn more about the SHARE Network App.
