Kennedy-King College Launches Illinois' First Midwife Degree Program to Address Maternal Mortality Crisis
Kennedy-King College in Englewood, Chicago, has launched Illinois' first certified professional midwife degree program. This initiative aims to train a new generation of midwives and address the state's maternal mortality crisis, particularly among Black women. The program, approved by the City Colleges of Chicago’s Joint Curriculum Development Council, follows the 2021 Illinois Licensed Certified Professional Midwifery Practice Act, which established a legal pathway for certified professional midwives. Until now, Illinois lacked an accredited in-state program for midwife education and training. The first cohort, comprising 20 students, will begin core midwifery classes in spring 2027 after completing prerequisite courses. U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, along with Kennedy-King President Katonja Webb Walker and Black Midwifery Collective Executive Director Star August Ali, celebrated the program's launch. Mayor Brandon Johnson declared August 25 as 'Black Midwifery Collective Day in Chicago' to support and adv... 
