Nandi (Flower) Mjenga

Nandi “Flower” Mjenga is a dedicated mother of three daughters and a passionate advocate for maternal and community health in Washington, D.C. Nandi is a Stakeholder Engagement Core member and Founding Member of Moms’ Collective Wisdom, a group whose lived experiences shaped the Mommy&Me study proposal. Her advocacy journey deepened through her role as a Context Team member with the DC Primary Care Association, where she and colleagues created DC Women’s Health. Through this initiative, Nandi championed access to critical resources, facilitated DC Mommy Meet-Up support groups, and led trainings in respectful, human-centered care. Her leadership opened doors to collaborate with organizations across the city, including supporting the DC Department of Health Care Finance in the creation of the Maternal Health Taskforce. Grounded in her own experience as a teen mother navigating pregnancy and raising children while combating the challenges of poverty in D.C., Nandi brings personal wisdom and professional expertise to her work. She is committed to ensuring that no mother feels unseen and that every family has access to compassionate, equitable care.

That’s one of the reasons Nandi is happy this PCORI-funded research project includes maternity care specialists who advocate for moms before and after delivery. Just knowing there is a go-to person will help moms cope with challenges that come their way. Having an advocate who will speak for moms whose voices are often muted and tone policed. In the focus groups, members also supported text messages as a way to send encouragement and motivation, even for moms in the prevention group. Trauma runs deep, and this project can help to mobilize sources of support during the first, second, third, fourth trimester and beyond. #DontMuteMothers #NoMothersLeftBehind