Kay Matthews is a motivational speaker and advocate for the mental health of black mothers. She graduated with a 2-year Degree in Early Childhood Development from North Harris College and furthered her education in the mental health field by becoming a Licensed Community Health Worker. Matthews tackles the Black maternal health crisis impacting their physical and mental health. Matthews founded the Shades of Blue Project (SBP) after losing her infant at birth and going through postpartum depression. Matthews is actively teaching and speaking to women of all ages to help them understand how important it is to advocate for themselves before and after childbirth. She created a self-help journal titled, “365 Days to Recovery: Finding Your Way Out of the Darkness,” for mothers that are facing mental health challenges after childbirth. Her objective is to address the critical diversity gap in mental health resources and the emotional support for Black and other minority mothers. In her interview with Every Mother Counts, she says, “Inequities in maternity care affecting Black birthing people will continue to exist if systematic racism is not addressed in a way that dismantles and rebuilds systems of care. Until this happens and, even after it does, we will continue to serve from a holistic approach.”