The Broken Brown Egg

Real Talk. This is why folks with Master's Degrees are taking up side jobs at coffeehouses, and why advocates like myself are steadily figuring out ways to grassroot ourselves into supporting our community. Because reproductive health is health, and family-building is a human right.

Thank you to everyone who shared their story with us and applied for the AHA Grant. The grant cycle has now closed and we are entering review. We'll keep you posted on our next one!

There's still time.
Applications for the 2024 AHA Grant are still open for one more day, and I want you to be included. YES, the grant can be used for adoption, YES, it can be used towards IVF, YES, YOU SHOULD APPLY.
You deserve the chance to say, "I'm going for it".
We're partnering with our friends at Progyny to give TWO $10,000 family-building grants, is providing medication support, and best of all, ALL 3 of us are offering our listening ears and understanding hearts. So apply.
The grant window closes tomorrow, August 10th.

-pictured, The Thomas Family, previous recipients.

There's still time to apply for this year's AHA Grant and I want to see you take a chance on yourself.
If for no other reason than to be heard, apply today.

If you or someone you know needs support on their journey, make sure to apply for The Broken Brown Egg AHA grant by August 10! Progyny is giving two $10,000 grants to individuals who need it: https://thebrokenbrownegg.org/aha-grant/

This is called, "Girl! You get it!" featuring me and .hall at her recent Chicago performance of her amazing one-woman show Spadura .
This show is funny, educational, and most of all, REAL TALK about the journey towards parenthood through the murky streets of infertility as a black woman.

Sis, thank you for having me, for sharing your heart with us, and for making it REAL for people who don't understand. I hope you enjoyed your time in the Chi.
Atlanta Eggshells, yall got next!

Here's more info on the show:
"Framed as a baby shower, SPADURA is a one-woman comedy show written and performed by Dahéli Hall, which unapologetically takes on the emotional/financial cost of IVF, grief, aging, as well as the unique fertility obstacles faced by Black women in America — all with a ton of humor!"

Did you tell somebody that the 2024 AHA Grant is open?
Did you apply?
What'chu waiting on?
https://thebrokenbrownegg.org/aha-grant/

**Drum roll** Applications for the Broken Brown Egg AHA Grant are now open! and the are coming together to provide two grants of up to $10,000 each towards someone's journey. We believe that anyone and everyone should have access to the family-building care they need, and these grants will help with this. We hope the financial assistance, coupled with a dedicated fertility coach, fertility medication, and education will give them the support they need on this journey. Apply at the link in our bio!

Just felt like somebody needed to hear this.
Is it you?

Just checking on yall.
Here in the Chicagoland area, we've been recovering from the tornados earlier this week, as our power and internet has slowly started to return. I can only imagine how my Eggshells in Texas and other affected places are dealing. It's hard to compartmentalize your health, especially REPRODUCTIVE health when you're trying to navigate other life concerns. For the past couple weeks we've been making sure our family in Houston was okay, but also in my mind I've been thinking about those who have embryos or s***m stored, and those whose anxiety just didn't need yet another thing to navigate.
Please remember that it's okay to care for YOURSELF.
Do one thing at a time.
Set your boundaries where you can.
And don't feel obligated to "handle" everything.
You got this.

Just so yall know your internet nephew Judah be thinking about yall...
We came across this dog toy in the clearance bin at last week and Judah goes,
"Mommie, it's a Broken Brown Egg! You should get it for the people who want babies but can't have them yet to make them smile!"
Sharing this because it cracked me up, and also because he wants YOU to smile.
I'm raising a fertility advocate, LOL.

Because reflection is important.

Love yall, for real for real,
Regina

Help provide support and engagement for those experiencing infertility or other reproductive health experiences by serving as a discussion leader for the BBE's online support groups.

Link in my bio or click here: https://forms.gle/7LgrZqorPW4zcTiH9

Outside of my library a few days ago after a really rough rain.
Came across it in my saved images and thought I'd share it with you in case it's raining in your mind these days and you need a reminder that there is hope on the other side.
I needed that reminder myself today.

Also, pretty appropriate for , eh? LOL

Love yall,
Regina

Did you know that by the time the average person goes to sleep, they’ve made over 35,000 decisions. Thirty-five THOUSAND. And that's just the average person so that doesn't count you overachieving type-A folks.
The four symptoms of are procrastination, impulsivity, avoidance and indecision. Sound familiar?

Last week, S.4445, the Access to Family Act, a bill that was designed to protect the right to access fertility treatments, including IVF, was blocked in the Senate. Just three days after this dude, who would not exist without IVF, had a birthday.

My dad was also in the hospital last week so I just couldn't emotionally digest it all. Sometimes it's like life sends chaos from all directions. But yall KNOW I have thoughts...

It's crazy to me how many conversations of so-called family values and family-planning are quite one-sided when you really get down to the bottom line of they unceremoniously exclude the thousands of people trying to BUILD families.

Almost more heartbreaking than the fact that something like this even needed to be introduced, is the fact that the actual vote was split just about 50/50, with literally 48 Yea votes and 47 nays. This drives home all the more, why we NEED your voice. We NEED you to stand up and tell your legislators, friends, and families just how important these services are.

I cannot imagine life without this dude who constantly tells me dinosaur facts and has just now taken to calling me "bruh". The BBE is committed to continuing to support and provide resources and education to everyone hoping to build their families because you deserve the chance to have that too.

In the meantime, let's keep giving one another safe spaces to feel these complex feels, regroup before we react, and stay in the fight for reproductive justice and access.

I mean...is you finished or is you done?!

Happening right now! Are you here with us? Let me know!

HEY MARYLAND!!! Registration is officially OPEN for the MD Summit! I'm honored to serve as one of the virtual hosts for this next stop of the Cade Foundation's Reproductive Equity Summit.

Let’s talk about the fertility and maternal health problems - Maryland-focused treatment that improves outcomes and the laws in MD that impact access to high-quality fertility and maternal health medical care!

We will listen and learn then advocate by engaging YOUR state representatives! Sign up today to join virtually or at an in-person watch party (Baltimore, Reisterstown, Bowie, Hartford Co.) mdjustice24.Eventbrite.com

📢EMPOWERMENT OPPORTUNITY!

A reporter is seeking women of color who have experienced at least 2 unsuccessful rounds of IVF for a story to be published next month for Allure Magazine.

If you're interested, please email Annie directly at the address listed in the post!

The BBE shares these requests to empower those who are facing infertility!

Accurate for those days when you're just like, "ugh, I'm so tired of being tired of this."

HEY MARYLAND!!! Registration is officially OPEN for the MD Summit! I'm honored to serve as one of the virtual hosts for this next stop of the Cade Foundation's Reproductive Equity Summit.

Let’s talk about the fertility and maternal health problems - Maryland-focused treatment that improves outcomes and the laws in MD that impact access to high-quality fertility and maternal health medical care!

We will listen and learn then advocate by engaging YOUR state representatives! Sign up today to join virtually or at an in-person watch party (Baltimore, Reisterstown, Bowie, Hartford Co.) mdjustice24.Eventbrite.com

Just so you know you're normal.

P.S.
Are you registered for tomorrow's wine sip?

It's about that time!
Registration is now OPEN for this year's BBE Mother's Day meetup! Our annual wine-sip is completely virtual and your opportunity to be around others who understand why and how Mother's Day can be one of the hardest days of the year.

So grab your favorite beverage or treat, and let's hang out! Feel free to bring a friend or share with someone you know may need the support. This year we will also light a candle in honor of our dear friend Nicole, who was present at each and every one until we lost her last year to cancer.

www.thebrokenbrownegg.org/mosaic

Happy National Teacher's Day to the ones who go hard for other people's kids day in and day out, while navigating their own fertility.
It matters.
NOTHING you do in the lives of children is ever wasted.
One of my library kiddos made this for me and I was reminded that they SEE us. On the hard days, on the questioning days, and even on the days where we feel MOST invisible. You matter, fam.

It's my brother's birthday!!!
And I'm sharing that as we close out National Infertility Awareness Week, because, in a way, his life is part of how I developed my philosophy on Black Women and our Reproductive Health journeys. He was born when I was 15 years old, and on NUMEROUS occasions, he was mistaken for my son.

It took me a long time to better understand why that confusion bothered me, but eventually I came to terms with the fact that it was the hyper-sexualization of black girls and the sheer WEIGHT of the generational stereotypes that gave me such conflicted emotions and would eventually lead to a lot of my thoughts on body image and sexual health.

So Boone, when you look at it that way, I guess you're a part of my Broken Brown Egg Shell! LOL Happy Birthday to my beloved, who does no harm but takes no crap, and who unapologetically joins me as an advocate for reproductive, sexual, and educational rights. Turn UP today, Lawrence. I love you!