The Stories We Can Tell
Attending the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in person at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, NY was an extraordinary opportunity. As a delegate, I was immersed in a global gathering of passionate, brilliant, and determined individuals working toward gender equality. But what left the deepest imprint on me wasn’t just the legal action or the statistics shared—it was the stories. The stories of women. Of women empowering women. Of women choosing their life. Of women fighting injustice, fear, and oppression.
Beginning with the special screening of the award-winning documentary, American Delivery, director, Carolyn Jones, said she believes in the power of storytelling to light the issues. This idea of storytelling resonated with me throughout my entire experience at CSW69. I had read some articles about the growing maternal health crisis, but had not digested the seriousness nor the impact of the situation, especially for women and families of color.
I am not a mother. Initially, sitting in the Chapel at CCUN, I didn’t think I would connect with the film or the topic. Watching the film, I was transfixed by the power of the women seeking the best choice for their delivery. Each woman faced a challenging situation, mental health, emergency birth, and post-partum concerns. The film highlighted the strengths of Nurse Family Partnership, based on the classic research by David Olds in 1972 demonstrating the efficacy of nursing visits to the homes of first-time moms. The film showcased the caring nature of the nurses who lived in the trenches with the mothers, viewing the situations and cases holistically.
The film shared each women’s story showing the humanity, the hope, and the struggles in a moving and transformative way. American Delivery will be offered on PBS on May 1 and the premier will be May 5, 2025. Our awareness of this issue is integral to enacting change for the future mothers and babies in the US.
There’s a particular power in storytelling that transcends data. It makes visible the invisible. It takes the abstract and makes it deeply personal. The storytelling at CSW69 reminded me that change doesn’t only come through policy; it also comes through connection. Every story told was an invitation to see, to listen, and to act. These narratives didn’t just highlight what’s wrong—they illuminated what’s possible when women lead and communities rise together.
This experience re-ignited my own commitment to not only listen more deeply, but to share more bravely. Because our stories—especially those rooted in struggle and strength—are not just personal. They are political. They are transformative.
And they are far from over.
