City of Los Angeles Honors Halle Bailey for Maternal Health Advocacy.
By sharing her postpartum journey, Halle Bailey is shining a light for new moms everywhere to feel seen and supported.
Halle Bailey is being honored by the City of Los Angeles for using her voice to shine a light on maternal health, openly sharing her postpartum journey to inspire others. On August 16, The Little Mermaid star took the spotlight at Project Pit’s first-ever Maternal Health Summit, where she joined Faith Evans in being recognized for their powerful advocacy for women and maternal health.
“Hii everyone 💕 I’m so grateful to the City of Los Angeles and @projectpit for this beautiful honor,” Bailey shared on Instagram. “Being recognized for opening up about maternal health and my postpartum journey is truly humbling ❤️ Remember, vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the bridge that brings us closer together.”
The city’s honor comes more than a year after Bailey shared on Snapchat that she was struggling with “severe” postpartum depression following the 2023 birth of her son, Halo—an admission that drew widespread support and opened up honest conversations among new moms.
“I’ve been dealing with severe postpartum depression, and I don’t know if other new moms can relate,” she revealed. “It’s gotten so tough that being away from my baby for even 30 minutes makes me start to panic.”
After Halle’s brave reveal, fans and fellow moms filled her Instagram comments with love, encouragement, and their own postpartum experiences.
“One mom shared, ‘I didn’t feel normal in my body until over a year after my baby,’” showing just how many women could relate to her journey.
“Thank you for speaking out about postpartum—not just for yourself, but for so many mothers,” one supporter wrote.
Bailey was honored for using her platform to bring awareness to postpartum depression, while Evans was recognized for founding Ryder’s Room, a nonprofit supporting children and families with disabilities and special needs. The Project Pit event, held at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, was a free, one-day summit dedicated to raising awareness and driving solutions for maternal health challenges, with a special focus on Black and brown communities.
“One thing we’ve come to realize is the growing fear Black women face when giving birth,” said Creative Director Maryam Dorsey. “When we bring life into the world, we’re also risking our own lives.”
The summit offered more than conversation—it featured educational panels, relaxation spaces, kids’ play areas, and even a community baby shower in partnership with It’s Bigger Than Us LA, providing free diapers, formula, wipes, breast pumps, and other essentials.
“Many women are afraid,” Dorsey added. “Insurance and finances can be huge barriers, so having a place that’s completely free and full of resources is truly indescribable.”
