Exploring Life & Business with Asia Raines of Harlee and Harper Women’s Association

Today we’d like to introduce you to Asia Raines.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
In 2018, I found out I was pregnant with my first child and was extremely excited. I didn’t know what to expect and began researching information regarding pregnancies and support groups for pregnant women. Upon my research, I found a forum for pregnant women where I could connect with other women through a digital platform. I also began attending a pregnancy class. Both were informative about the development of the baby before giving birth. Unfortunately, I was not cognizant of the psychological and postpartum mental effects women experience during their pregnancy journey, how to properly breastfeed, and the proper nutrition during pregnancy to reduce the chances of having things like preeclampsia, which is something that I experienced during my first pregnancy. I was also rushed into an emergency cesarean due to having pre-eclampsia and was completely traumatized by the experience. I am extremely grateful for my beautiful daughter, but I do wish I was more prepared for what I experienced. 

With my second child, I was more prepared, so my postpartum depression wasn’t as intense as it was with my first child. During both pregnancies, I struggled very hard to find support groups for African-American women in my community who experience depression and health conditions during pregnancies. The more women in my community I would share my story with, I found that most of them shared the same experiences, if not worse. Research shows that 80%-85% of mothers suffer from postpartum depression or baby blues. In recent years, mortality rates have increased amongst pregnant women and children within 1 year old due to mental and physical health effects. Research also shows that 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. I realized that something had to be done to improve the maternal experience for the women in my community. 

I am the founder of the Harlee and Harper Women’s Association, which was created in February 2023. It is a 501c3 Detroit-based nonprofit that aims to assist African-American women mentally, financially, and emotionally during their maternal journey. We serve as a resource hub by providing women with mental health/postpartum experts and nutritionists to ensure a healthy pregnancy. We also assist them with baby necessities such as milk, diapers, wipes, etc. Our mission is to be a primary resource to mothers by providing them with resources and maternal advocacy to reduce mortality rates of birth-related deaths in my community. 

My ultimate goal is to help women receive the assistance and support I wish I had during my pregnancies. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Creating and solidifying Harlee and Harper Women’s Association has brought some obstacles, and I’m sure there will be more. We’ve had issues with getting licensed, collecting donations and funding to support our women, gaining awareness, and even collaborating with medical experts to help support the women in our community. Nonetheless, I know that this is something that is needed in my community, and I won’t give up until more women are mentally and physically strong enough to endure their maternal journey. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Harlee and Harper Women’s Association?
This year, Harlee and Harper Womens Association have given over $5000 worth of baby goods such as baby formula, strollers, cribs, swing sets, clothing, pampers/wipes, and toys to expectant mothers in our community. We have alleviated financial stress for moms by providing these necessities to them. We want to continue doing this along with providing mental and physical health support to our moms. We have helped over 100 moms this year, and we will help more in the years to come. We are unique because the amount of maternal support groups that help with mental and physical health is scarce. Typically, you can find a support group to teach you how to breastfeed or how to bond with your baby, but not how to deal with the stress and anxiety that may occur while breastfeeding, which could affect your milk supply. 

We want the women in our community to know that they are supported and have a place to go if they are seeking healing from a traumatic maternal experience or even questions about finding the right medical provider. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Starting next year, we will begin maternal workshops in our community, where women are welcome to attend to gain more information on what to eat during pregnancy, how to seek prenatal care, and how to deal with postpartum depression. We will do this by featuring nutritionists, medical experts, and mental health experts during our workshops. In the next 5 years, our goal is to have a women’s center in Detroit that caters to maternal women. It will be a place where maternal women can come to get support and education related to their pregnancies. We will continue hosting workshops, but our goal is to expand our horizon with the knowledge that we are providing to the women in our community. We want to educate the mothers in our community so that they will experience healthier pregnancies and reduce the mortality rates related to births in our community. Our vision is to create a world where women are maternal experts over their mind and body. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.harleeharperwa.com
• Instagram: Harleeharperwa
• Facebook: Harlee and Harper Womens Association
• Twitter: Harleeharperwa