When BCE Capital Circle member Tara Lawal (Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center) heard that one of the busiest birth centers in Washington was looking for new ownership, it felt like a dream come true.
Lawal had been hoping to open a clinic to serve the Asian and Pacific Islander and other Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities in Seattle’s inner suburbs, so the potential to own an already thriving birth center in Renton, WA was a perfect fit.
To seize on the opportunity, Tara applied for a loan through a private bank – until she talked to BCE. With BCE’s mission of growing birth center infrastructure for generations to come, our approach to making strategic investments that significantly accelerate birth center growth and development, and our commitment to opening 10 new community birth centers by 2023 through our Open Doors Initiative, BCE was delighted to put resources toward Rainier Valley’s purchase of the Renton site.
With a $75k Open Doors Initiative grant from BCE, Rainier Valley midwives expanded the reach of its services and is ensuring that API/BIPOC community birthing needs and voices will be elevated in Renton. In Tara’s words, “I’m committed to creating a place for all birthing families to BELONG to, and for birth workers to be treated with kindness and equity.”
Congratulations Tara and Rainier Valley Midwives!
