Meet Marie Boone-Clark

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marie Boone-Clark. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marie below.

Hi Marie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

have always had a passion for giving back to the community, something I trace to being a minister’s daughter. My father’s church, like so many Black churches, was deeply connected to the community and supported families in both celebrations and hardships. Even while working full time, I stayed committed to service, volunteering with the Junior League, serving on boards, and remaining active in my church.

When I first learned about the maternal health crisis, I was struck by how the narrative was framed. Too often the blame was placed on Black women, suggesting they lacked prenatal care, were drug exposed, or somehow responsible for their own deaths. Then I learned about Dr. Shalon, a brilliant public health professional who had every resource and still died from preventable complications. Her story made it impossible to deny the truth. Black women are dying not because of who we are but because of how we are treated. It is racism, bias, and a system that consistently devalues Black lives that fuels this crisis.

As the mother of a daughter, that reality cut deeply. The blessing was that I had strong relationships with outstanding physicians, and together we created a care team that ensured my daughter’s safe and positive birth experience. That moment crystallized my purpose. I knew then that every Black woman deserves the same level of safety, respect, and informed care. My work is about nothing less than transforming the conditions of birth for Black families, because survival should never be the measure of success in childbirth.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

We founded Birthing the Magic Collaborative out of both heartbreak and hope. After learning about the devastating reality of Black maternal mortality, it became clear that we had the opportunity to build something different. But before building anything, we spent time talking to mamas, their families, and their support systems. We listened to stories of beautiful births and stories marked by trauma. What we heard was later confirmed by research. Black patients consistently receive less time with providers, less education about their care, and less respect for their voices. Our team sought to close this gap by creating a space where families could access education that is both culturally grounded and science based, where lived experience is valued as much as data, and where people are affirmed and respected.

What excites us most about this work is watching transformation happen in real time. You can see the shift when a mother realizes her symptoms deserve to be taken seriously, when a father learns how to advocate for his partner, or when a grandmother feels her wisdom is valued in a new way. For too long, Black maternal health has been told through a deficit lens, focusing on what Black women supposedly lack. We refuse that narrative. We center our strengths, honor our traditions, and ground everything we do in both evidence and lived experience, so families leave with knowledge that is credible, practical, and empowering.

Since our launch we have hosted free series on cardiovascular health, prematurity awareness, and perinatal education. This year we have begun building something larger than individual workshops. By partnering with other organizations, we are creating an ecosystem of care that stretches from mental health to infant care, and even to honoring the women whose families have endured the tragedy of maternal death. Alongside our ongoing collaborations with experts in lactation, emotional well being, and reproductive justice, these partnerships allow us to connect families to a network of support that is informed by science and shaped by community.

At our core, we are about building a movement that insists joy, safety, and cultural respect are not luxuries in childbirth. They are the standard. Our greatest hope is that every Black family we touch leaves with knowledge in their heads, science in their hands, strength in their spirits, and a sense that their lives and stories are sacred. That is what makes this work not just necessary, but magical.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

When I think about the qualities and knowledge that have shaped my journey, three stand out as especially transformative. The first comes from my decades in the pharmaceutical industry. That experience gave me more than technical knowledge of healthcare systems. It gave me an insider’s view of how decisions are made, how to navigate complex structures, and most importantly, it introduced me to extraordinary physicians, nurses, and practitioners. Many of those relationships continue to inform and strengthen the work I do today.

Equally important has been learning from the community we serve. Data and reports are valuable, but they never tell the full story. Sitting with families and listening to their birth experiences, whether moments of joy or experiences of trauma, has taught me to respect cultural strengths and traditions as much as scientific evidence. That blend of lived wisdom and data is what makes our programs both relevant and impactful.

Finally, none of this would be possible without strong organizational skills. Leading a nonprofit is equal parts vision and logistics. Partnerships, events, fundraising, and community engagement all require careful coordination. Being able to keep the big picture alive while managing the details has been the bridge between ideas and real impact.

If I had to offer advice to someone starting their journey, it would be this. Build relationships before you need them. Let the community guide you. Treat organization not as busywork but as a form of respect for yourself and those you serve. Skills can be learned, but trust and credibility are cultivated over time.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Throughout this journey, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by people who have shaped, guided, and sustained me. My board has been one of the most important forces in my growth as a leader. Several members walked with me as I transitioned from the corporate and pharmaceutical world into the philanthropic space, offering both strategic guidance and encouragement. Their wisdom has helped me see challenges not as roadblocks but as opportunities to grow stronger in the work.

My life partner has been equally essential, bringing unwavering faith in both my vision and the mission of Birthing the Magic Collaborative. That steady belief has carried me through moments of doubt and fueled the persistence this work requires. My friends have offered perspective, honest feedback, and the reminder to celebrate progress instead of rushing past it.

I am also deeply grateful to the many brilliant collaborators who have shared their expertise with us. Together we have created content that is both culturally grounded and science based, work that honors the community and strengthens the movement we are building.

All of these relationships have taught me that leadership is not about doing the work alone but about creating space where others can bring their strengths forward. The people who have impacted me most have not only shaped my growth but have also helped ensure that Birthing the Magic Collaborative remains a reflection of collective wisdom and shared purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://birthingmagic.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthingthemagiccollaborative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BirthingMagicCollaborative
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/birthing-the-magic-collaborative/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BirthingTheMagicCollaborative

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