Brilliant Detroit Central Hub Hosts Hitha Healing House Maternal Wellness Program After Fire

February 18, 2026

After a fire damaged the Grixdale Farms facility housing Hitha Healing House on December 12, 2025, the Detroit-based maternal wellness nonprofit has partnered with Brilliant Detroit to continue operations at their Central Hub location. The organization, established by Kayana Sessoms in 2022, provides holistic maternal health support to Black mothers who face disproportionately high mortality rates during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Through this collaboration, Hitha will maintain its programming including the Nurturing Roots initiative, which offers up to ten paid wellness sessions covering services from nutrition counseling to emotional support for new mothers.

Who is affected

Mothers and families who relied on Hitha Healing House's on-site programming
Black women and mothers (who face elevated maternal health risks)
Kayana Sessoms (founder of Hitha Healing House)
Hitha Healing House organization
Hundreds of people who previously attended classes and conferences at the original location
Mothers and primary caregivers enrolled in the Nurturing Roots program
Brilliant Detroit organization
Children ages 0-5 and students in grades 1-3 who access Brilliant Detroit programs
Detroit Public Schools students (grades 1-3 eligible for summer camp)

What action is being taken

Brilliant Detroit is bringing Hitha Healing House programming to its Central Hub
Hitha Healing House is continuing to provide maternal wellness services at the new location
Nurturing Roots is offering mothers up to 10 paid wellness sessions after giving birth
Applications are currently open for the 2026 Nurturing Roots program
Brilliant Detroit is hosting ongoing programs including Maternal Health Office Hours (Mondays), Play & Learn (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), Homework Helper (Tuesdays and Thursdays), and Nature Tots/Nature Trunks (Thursdays)
Clothing Closet and Diaper Distribution resource is operating by appointment Monday through Thursday

Why it matters

This partnership matters because it prevents a critical disruption in maternal health services for Black women in Detroit, who die during pregnancy and postpartum at nearly three times the rate of other groups due to systemic healthcare gaps. The swift response ensures that vulnerable mothers and families maintain access to holistic, culturally-rooted wellness support during high-risk periods of pregnancy, postpartum, and grief. By preserving the continuity of care and community connection, the collaboration addresses both immediate needs and the broader maternal health crisis affecting Black women. The partnership also demonstrates how community organizations can respond rapidly to emergencies when built on existing relationships and shared values.

What's next

Official Hitha Healing House programming at the Central Hub begins in March 2026
A public event is planned to walk residents through Nurturing Roots programming scheduled from February through June 2026
Weekly Wellness Wednesdays will be held at 6 p.m. once the calendar is fully underway
Community Mama Meals and Meetups are scheduled for every fourth Sunday at 4 p.m.
Hitha plans to offer seasonal childbirth education classes
Community outings and service-learning experiences for mothers and babies will be hosted on rotating Saturdays
Additional Saturday and Sunday events will be scheduled throughout the year
Brilliant Detroit will host a free summer camp for Detroit Public Schools students in grades 1 through 3 (applications now open)

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle