Born: July 19, 1948 in Moscow, Arkansas
Bio: Kathryn Hall-Trujillo is a public health expert and advocate who focuses on healthcare for African American women. Best known for founding Birthing Project USA, “Mama Katt,” as she has been affectionately called, was named a 2010 hero by the CNN television network for her work with at-risk mothers and babies. She is a member of the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.
In 1988, Hall-Trujillo founded the nonprofit organization Birthing Project USA: The Underground Railroad for New Life, which has the goal of reducing infant mortality rates by pairing pregnant women (primarily Black women) with “sister friends” to guide and support them during pregnancy and after the birth of their child. Between 1988 and 2010, the Birthing Project helped 12,000 babies in 94 community chapters in the United States, Canada, Cuba, Central America and Africa.
You can learn more about the life of Kathryn Hall-Trujillo at the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.