Amber Ward
LM, CPM, IBCLC, MA-MCHS (c)
I am a community midwife, lactation consultant, educator, and reproductive justice advocate based in Hawaiʻi. My work is rooted in culturally grounded care, community accountability, and the belief that families deserve to feel seen, supported, and empowered throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and early parenting.
As the founder of the SweetGrass Wellness Collective, I am committed to building community-based systems of care that center Black and Indigenous, Birthing People. My leadership practice is shaped by midwifery values: listening deeply, reducing hierarchy, honoring lived experience, and creating structures that help people remain supported while still free and in charge of their own care.
This portfolio documents my growth as a maternal-child health leader and the development of SweetGrass as a living model of reproductive justice, collective care, and culturally rooted perinatal support.
The SweetGrass Wellness Collective
I chose the SweetGrass Wellness Collective as my leadership project for my Master's in Maternal-Child Health Systems at Bastyr University. At the SweetGrass Wellness Collective, we strive to create a nurturing environment for birthing folx and their families. Our mission is to support the journey of parenthood through holistic care, community connection, and culturally responsive services. We offer a range of programs including perinatal education, mental health support, lactation consulting, and community-based midwifery care. Our team of experienced professionals is deeply rooted in the values of reproductive justice, ensuring that every family receives compassionate and equitable care tailored to their unique needs. We launched during Black Maternal Health Week in 2025.