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Transnational Birthing Justice - Ghana I is a place-based writing-intensive Experiential Research Lab. Students will write to reflect on and respond to literary fiction, nonfiction writing, and scholarly articles on historical and contemporary Black women’s birthing experiences throughout the African diaspora, particularly in West Africa. Students will research the intersections between Ghana’s colonial history, culture, environment, local government, education system, policies, and maternal and reproductive health. To prepare to travel to Ghana students will curate public-facing writing to amplify Ghana’s maternal and reproductive health challenges. While in Ghana students will partner with international-based public health agencies, The University of Ghana School of Public Health, and Accra-based partners, to utilize their writing, research, and public health skills to develop a framework to address maternal health challenges in Ghana. Students will engage with Ghanaian practitioners focusing on community health to participate in a Hopkins-sponsored community health screening and maternal health kit giveaway to support local individuals. Students will visit three cities, Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, and sites like Kakum Rain Forest, and Elmina Slave Dungeon. Students will build a portfolio of writing that will include writing for themselves, social media, community, and scholarly audiences. This class will be co-taught with Tanay Lynn Harris, the co-founder and director of Bloom Collective. By permission only. Application required; email lewright@jhu.edu. Commitment to AS.360.407 in Summer 2025 required.