March 2022 - From the Desk of Debra Bingham

Dear Colleagues,

March is here already, and with it the promise of spring as we start enjoying warmer temperatures around the nation. In our weekly team meeting at PQI one person reminded us that cherry blossom season is nearing in Washington DC. I love this time of growth and hope.

I’m reminded of hope as we celebrate another International Women’s Day. I love this year’s action-oriented theme of #BreakTheBias. All humans have biases. It takes reflection, courage, cultural humility, and concerted effort to become aware of our biases and eliminate those that are inconsistent with our values. I look forward to the strides we make as a society as we all begin to dismantle harmful biases and work toward equity.

I’d like to share a moment of humanity with you all and admit that I am struggling with what I can do to show my feelings about Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine. At a minimum I can speak up and express my outrage. My heart breaks for all the refugees, but I especially feel very concerned for the pregnant people and those who have recently given birth and their newborns. My grandchild and close to 100  other students in her school just finished performing The Sound of Music for this year's school production. I was moved to tears as I thought about how relevant the Von Trapp family story is to this moment in history. In addition to speaking up I am considering other ways our small organization can make a difference. 

How are you coping with the invasion into Ukraine? I hope you are finding healthy ways to express your feelings and, if so moved, ways to make a positive impact on those whose lives have been so violently upended. If you would like to share things that you and/or your organization have done, please send them to info@perinatalqi.org. 

In gratitude and hope for the future, 

Debra Bingham