Welcome to the new CINCH website! Check out what we do and get involved.
Meet Our Chairwomen
Takemia Cornegy-Hawks
Takemia Cornegy-Hawks, BMHEAA Co-Chairperson, is the Office Coordinator for the EVMS Center for Maternal and Child Health Equity and Advocacy and has over 10 years of experience working in maternal health. Takemia has a very strong passion for assisting families in need. She takes pride in educating, collaborating and participating with families around the region.
Benita Thompson
Benita, BMHEAA Co-Chairperson, has been the Family Resource Specialist with The Up Center’s Healthy Families program since 2022. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in African American Studies. With over 15 years of experience serving youth and families in multiple systems, Benita is passionate about serving the Hampton Roads community (where she was born and raised) through advocacy and collaboration.
Action Teams
Equity Data
Improves the capacity of Hampton Roads area maternal care practices to review clinical patient outcomes data related to racial disparities in health.
Patient Advisory Systems
Advocate for Hampton Roads area maternal care practices to conduct patient surveys, advisory groups, and feedback mechanisms including a focus on reducing disparities. Promotes maternal care practices developing community or patient advisory boards.
Implicit Bias Training
Collaborates to improve the reach, effectiveness and quality of implicit bias training in healthcare settings that serve Black Birthing Families.
Empowerment Conference
Holds Black Birth Empowerment Conference during Black Maternal Health Week 2025 (April 11-17) to support bringing families and providers together to increase birth safety and provide training for self advocacy.
Black Maternal Care Resource Guide
Educates black families about birth justice and framework for equity through the development of a resource guide for black families on how to find a maternal care provider that best meets their needs “Questions to ask when choosing a maternal care provider.”
AIM CC Maternal Monologues
Utilizes AIM CC maternal monologues toolkit to promote community engagement between patients and providers.
