From Grief To Action: Shades Of Blue Project

A Personal Loss That Sparked A National Movement

On one of the hardest days of her life, Kay Matthews found herself navigating grief that few people openly discuss. After the stillbirth of her daughter, Troya Simone, Matthews also faced undiagnosed postpartum depression, carrying emotional pain while searching for support that felt compassionate, culturally responsive, and accessible. What she discovered was a gap that too many Black and Brown mothers and birthing people continue to experience across the United States.

Instead of allowing that silence to define her future, Matthews transformed personal tragedy into a national movement for healing, advocacy, and change.

Today, The Shades of Blue Project stands as a nationally recognized nonprofit organization focused on improving maternal mental health outcomes and advancing health equity for Black and Brown communities. Under Matthews’ leadership as Executive Director and Founder, the organization has become a trusted voice in conversations surrounding maternal mental health, postpartum support, grief, trauma, and systems change. More importantly, it has become a place where families feel acknowledged, respected, and supported during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

“The Shades of Blue Project was born from grief, but it has grown into a movement rooted in healing, advocacy, and action,” Matthews said.

Building Solutions Beyond Awareness

Unlike organizations that focus solely on awareness campaigns, The Shades of Blue Project combines direct support, workforce training, advocacy, education, storytelling, and technology to create practical solutions for families and professionals alike. The organization approaches maternal mental health through a culturally grounded lens that recognizes how trauma, racism, access to care, financial stress, family support, and infant loss all shape the experiences of mothers and birthing people.

That approach has helped The Shades of Blue Project expand its national reach through signature initiatives such as Black Maternal Mental Health Week, the Black Maternal Mental Health Summit, support groups, advocacy campaigns, and the INSPIRE Method. Through the INSPIRE Method, the organization trains providers, doulas, advocates, community health workers, and healthcare professionals to better recognize and respond to maternal mental health challenges with compassion and accountability.

“Our work is personal, but it is also national,” Matthews explained. “We are changing conversations, building resources, training communities, and pushing systems to respond differently to maternal mental health.”

The organization’s impact extends beyond education and awareness. The Shades of Blue Project has become an active participant in policy discussions and national advocacy efforts connected to maternal health equity and community centered care. By centering lived experience alongside professional expertise, the organization continues to push institutions and policymakers to recognize Black maternal mental health as more than an individual struggle.

“Black maternal mental health is not just a personal issue,” Matthews said. “It is a public health issue, a community issue, and a justice issue.”

Creating Community Through Innovation

That perspective has resonated with families, advocates, and healthcare professionals across the country. Community members consistently describe The Shades of Blue Project as a safe and affirming space where maternal mental health is discussed with honesty, dignity, and cultural understanding. Participants in the organization’s trainings have also shared that the experience helped them better understand how to support families navigating pregnancy, postpartum depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and emotional distress.

As the organization continues to evolve, innovation remains central to its mission. One of its most impactful initiatives is the SHARE Network App, a maternal mental health platform designed to make support, education, and resources easier to access for all families in need. The app reflects the organization’s belief that help should never feel difficult to find, especially for individuals already carrying emotional and mental health burdens.

“We built the SHARE Network App because families should not have to search endlessly for support while they are already carrying the weight of pregnancy, postpartum, grief, trauma, or emotional distress,” Matthews said. “Help should be accessible, culturally responsive, and easy to find.”

The growth of The Shades of Blue Project reflects a broader shift in how maternal mental health is being discussed nationwide. Through storytelling, training, advocacy, and community engagement, the organization has helped move conversations beyond statistics and into real human experiences. Matthews and her team continue to emphasize that healing requires more than awareness alone. It requires investment, accountability, collaboration, and systems that respond to people with empathy and respect.

Turning Lived Experience Into Leadership

What distinguishes The Shades of Blue Project is its ability to bridge lived experience with professional leadership. The organization does not separate personal stories from public solutions. Instead, it treats the voices of mothers, birthing people, and families as essential to shaping programs, advocacy efforts, and long term change.

“I never wanted another mother to feel as unseen, unsupported, or dismissed as I did,” Matthews shared. “This work is how I honor my daughter, Troya Simone, and how I continue helping families find care, healing, and hope.”

The organization continues to expand its reach through community centered care, culturally responsive education, national advocacy, workforce training, and technology driven resources that support families before, during, and after childbirth.

National Award Honors Maternal Mental Health Excellence

The Shades of Blue Project was recently recognized as the Best Maternal Mental Health Support Service in the United States of 2026 by both Evergreen Awards and Best of Best Review. This distinction reflects the organization's unwavering commitment to culturally responsive maternal mental health care, innovative support programs, national advocacy efforts, professional workforce training, and technology driven solutions such as the SHARE Network App.

Building A Future Rooted In Healing And Equity

Supporters, advocates, healthcare professionals, and community leaders interested in learning more about The Shades of Blue Project can explore its programs, advocacy initiatives, support services, and maternal mental health resources through the organization’s official platforms.

Visit the official website at Shades of Blue Project to learn more about the organization’s mission, community programs, and ongoing advocacy efforts.

Readers can also connect with The Shades of Blue Project on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for updates, educational resources, and community engagement opportunities.

Families and professionals seeking additional maternal mental health support and resources can explore the SHARE Network App.