Board Director

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Ancestral Hands Midwives

Call for Board of Directors

Updated May 2026

A Call to Leadership: Govern for Reproductive Justice

Ancestral Hands Midwives (AHM) is seeking transformative leaders to join our Board of

Directors. This is an invitation to participate in the movement for improvements in Black

maternal health and reproductive justice. We are calling in a cohort of stewards, strategists,

practitioners, and advocates who will utilize their power to dismantle systemic anti-Black barriers

and build a future where all Black birthing people can thrive.

As a board director at AHM, you will be a key partner in this work, supporting and overseeing

the Executive Director through strategic governance, ethical stewardship, and accountability.

About Ancestral Hands Midwives

AHM is a Black-led organization dedicated to providing culturally grounded and trauma-informed

midwifery care. We are founded on the principle that birthing with dignity is a human right and

that reclaiming ancestral birthing traditions is an act of liberation. Our work is explicitly

Afrocentric, pro-Black, queer, and trans-affirming and rooted in a reproductive justice

framework.

Although midwifery services are funded by the Ministry of Health, AHM is advancing a broader

vision: the development of a Black health hub that addresses both clinical care and the social

determinants of health, including housing and community supports. To realize this vision, AHM

has established an Afrocentric governance model and is seeking board leadership to help bring

this initiative to life. Over the past year, we have further defined our direction through a

comprehensive strategic plan (view here).

The Director’s Role: A Commitment to Community Stewardship

As a member of the AHM Board, you are a trustee of the community’s vision for a more just and

equitable maternal and reproductive health care. Your role is to ensure the organization has the

strategy, resources, and accountability structures to fulfill its mission. This involves a dynamic

interplay of oversight, strategic thinking, and community accountability to support the Executive

Director. You will be expected to:

• Uphold fiduciary and ethical duties by ensuring the long-term financial health and legal

integrity of the organization, always with an eye toward equity and justice in resource

allocation.

• Champion the mission by supporting the organization’s strategic direction, sustainability,

and resource development through governance leadership and relationship-building.

• Engage in generative governance by looking beyond the immediate operational issues

to explore the larger strategic questions and opportunities facing the organization.

https://ancestralhands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Rooted-rising-Ancestral-Hands-Strategic-Plan-December-2025.pdf

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• Uphold and practice AHM’s Afrocentric governance and leadership values, grounded in

the principles of Nguzo Saba, as they apply to board decision-making, accountability,

and stewardship.

Qualifications and Competencies for Immediate Recruitment

We are seeking a diverse cohort of leaders who, collectively, embody the skills and experiences

needed to guide AHM at this critical moment. We have identified competencies that are

foundational and add strategic depth to the board as a whole. No individual director is expected

to bring all competencies; strength comes from the collective composition of the Board.

Competency Category Description

Accounting & Finance You have expertise in Accounting and or

Finance and are committed to ethical, non-

extractive investment, fundraising and

philanthropic models.

Governance and Ethical/Legal Stewardship

You have governance and/or legal expertise,

and understand how to provide strategic

direction and fiduciary oversight through an

anti-oppressive lens, prioritizing community

accountability in all you do.

Health Equity/Midwifery & Reproductive

Justice

You have a deep understanding of the social

determinants of health as they apply to Black

communities and are committed to applying a

reproductive justice framework to governance.

Legislative Knowledge/Government

Relations

You have experience advocating for policy and

systems change at the Municipal, Provincial, or

Federal levels and can advise on how to

leverage funding from these sources.

Philanthropy or Fundraising

You are prepared to support the organization’s

fundraising efforts through personal

contribution, relationship-building, advocacy, or

other appropriate means. All board members

are expected to donate (at their capacity) to

the organization.

Banking, Entrepreneurship and/or Financial

Markets

You are knowledgeable about business and

finance and able to guide AHM to consider

alternative forms of earned revenue.

History of Collaborative Impact in Black

Communities

You believe that the board is accountable to

the community it serves and have experience

building authentic relationships and impactful

programs with Black community members.

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Information Technology

You are familiar with IT systems and can

advise the organization on how to optimize its

technological systems and processes.

Marketing, Communications, & Public

Relations

You are a skilled communicator who can help

shape the public narrative and utilize various

digital media platforms to promote Black

maternal health and reproductive justice.

Board Cadence & Governance Cycle

The following activities typically form part of the Board’s governance cycle within each fiscal

year.

o 4-6 bi-monthly board meetings (excluding Committee meetings)

o Annual budget approval

o Annual audit approval

o Annual Executive Director evaluation

o Annual Officer review

Time Commitment

This is a volunteer position requiring approximately six meetings per year, with an estimated

time commitment of 10-20 hours annually for board meetings, preparation, and required

governance activities. Additional time may be required for committee participation or special

initiatives.

How to Apply

Board service at AHM is rooted in collective leadership, accountability, and care. Directors are

expected to engage thoughtfully, bring their full experience to the governance table, and grow

alongside the organization as it advances reproductive justice and Black maternal health.

To apply, please submit a letter of interest and a resume to liz@ancestralhands.ca. In your

letter, please describe your experience and which preferred competencies you would bring to

the board.

mailto:liz@ancestralhands.ca

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