In Washington, D.C., during Howard University’s iconic Homecoming Week, a new kind of celebration emerged — one that fused art, advocacy, and ancestral care. The Delivering Legacy Soirée, founded and curated by Michael Redmond II, cultural strategist and founder of The Red Thread Agency, is more than an event. It’s a movement — one that honors the life-saving work of nurses, midwives, and birthworkers while raising crucial funds for The BirthFUND Midwifery Scholarship.
Hosted at Ìpàdé, the elegant D.C. space owned by Elizabeth Dawes, the soirée transformed a weekend of revelry into an evening of reflection and purpose. Co-hosted by Dr. MyQueen Dickens and co-curated by Raquel Guyton, founder of St. Germain Creative, the event offered an immersive experience that blended cultural storytelling with heartfelt advocacy — proving that when culture and care unite, legacy is born.
“Delivering Legacy isn’t just about an event — it’s about building an ecosystem where care, creativity, and community coexist.”
— Michael Redmond II, Founder, The Red Thread Agency
Culture Meets Care
At its core, Delivering Legacy reimagines advocacy through experience. Each soirée merges philanthropy with culture, turning social spaces into platforms for empathy, education, and empowerment. Funds raised directly support the BirthFUND Midwifery Scholarship, helping train and equip the next generation of midwives and doulas — the unsung heroes of maternal care.
Operating not only a fundraiser but also as a movement of voices, each event convenes advocates, artists, healthcare leaders, and community builders to elevate birth equity — reframing maternal health as not just a women’s issue, but a shared cultural and social responsibility.
“We honor the women who bring life into the world — and the communities who stand beside them.”
— Dr. MyQueen Dickens, Midwife & Entrepreneur
A Dynamic Conversation: Voices of Change
A highlight of the soirée was a powerful panel moderated by Troavè Profice, Executive Director of Bell Tower, who guided an inspiring discussion featuring three leading voices in maternal health and culture:
- Dr. Brandale Mills-Cox, media scholar, author, and Howard University professor, whose work on Black motherhood has been featured in The New York Times, Essence Magazine, and The Grio.
- Dr. MyQueen Dickens, licensed midwife and maternal health advocate, grounding the discussion in compassion and care.
- Faisa Ali, Director of Marketing for The BirthFUND, whose storytelling bridges community and digital advocacy.
Together, these women transformed dialogue into movement — weaving together research, representation, and lived experience.
“Awareness begins with storytelling — and storytelling can save lives.”
— Dr. Brandale Mills-Cox, Scholar & Media Advocate
“When community and culture collaborate, care becomes contagious.”
— Troavè Profice, Executive Director, Bell Tower
Why These Women Matter
Each of the women behind Delivering Legacy represents a vital thread in a larger tapestry of change:
- Dr. Brandale Mills-Cox ensures accurate representation of Black motherhood through media and scholarship.
- Dr. MyQueen Dickens connects the movement to lived maternal experiences and systemic reform.
- Troavè Profice bridges education, policy, and community empowerment.
- Faisa Ali transforms visibility into tangible impact through storytelling and advocacy.
Together, they embody the mission of Delivering Legacy — advocacy that’s intelligent, inclusive, and deeply human.
“It’s not just a women’s issue — it’s a human issue. Men must also stand beside the movement for birth equity.”
— Michael Redmond II
An Evening to Remember
Powered by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry, the soirée welcomed over 60 distinguished guests, including Paris McTizic (Netflix’s The Circle), Preston Mitchum (Bravo’s Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard), and Ashley Etienne, former White House Senior Advisor.
The event’s success was reflected not only in its energy but in measurable impact:
- Thousands raised for The BirthFUND Midwifery Scholarship
- Brand visibility for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry across signage and media
- Gifting partners included Fenty Beauty, FIGS Scrubs, Cohiba Cigars, and LOSTSHDWS
- Over 87,000+ social impressions under @DeliveringLegacy
- A heartfelt tribute honoring midwives and nurses nationwide
“Legacy is what we deliver when we choose to show up for one another.”
— Raquel Guyton, Founder, St. Germain Creative
What Sets Delivering Legacy Apart
What makes Delivering Legacy exceptional is its ability to bridge art, health, and social impact — three sectors that rarely share the same stage. Under Redmond’s leadership, the soirée pairs conversation with culture and philanthropy with fashion. It’s advocacy, redefined as experience.
Perhaps its most distinctive feature is inclusivity. The initiative intentionally invites men into the conversation, encouraging them to stand as allies in the fight for birth equity — a holistic framework that ensures everyone sees themselves as part of the solution.
“Care is culture, and culture is legacy.”
— Michael Redmond II
Expanding the Legacy
Following its powerful D.C. debut, Delivering Legacy is set to expand nationwide — beginning with Miami during Art Basel 2025, and continuing to Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Orleans in 2026. Each new city will bring together local partners, new panels, and purpose-driven experiences — all dedicated to advancing maternal health initiatives and celebrating the communities that sustain them.
“Delivering Legacy proves that when culture leads, community follows — and care becomes universal.”
— Faisa Ali, Director of Marketing, The BirthFUND
With The Red Thread Agency guiding its vision, Delivering Legacy stands as a living blueprint for modern advocacy — one where every story threads into another, and every connection delivers a legacy of care.
