“When I found out I was pregnant, it was one of the happiest times of my life,” says Portia Quarles, a wife, mom, and champion of maternal health in DC. She wasn’t yet a patient at Community of Hope and reflected on her first prenatal appointment “I was spoken to in a way that felt belittling. It was disheartening. I cried. I felt defeated.”
So, Portia met Community of Hope during one of the most important chapters of her life—starting her family.
At that moment in 2021, Portia was navigating her first prenatal appointment alone. Due to lingering COVID-19 restrictions, she was in the exam room while her husband waited outside in the car. The emotional toll of that moment stuck with her until a friend encouraged her to reach out to the Community of Hope.
Portia called Community of Hope and shared what had happened—and her experience at Community of Hope was completely different. Portia says she felt welcomed with compassion and urgency.
“I felt supported, I felt safe, I felt like I was where I belong,” says Portia.
Portia went on to receive all her prenatal care through Community of Hope and gave birth to her first child in 2021. Although she had originally planned to deliver at the free-standing birth rooms at Family Health and Birth Center, a late test result prompted a change to the hospital—where her midwife arrived with what Portia describes as “superhero energy.”
“She came in like a superhero with a cape,” Portia laughs. “Everything I could ask for, she did for me.”
She also joined Community of Hope’s CenteringPregnancy® program—a group prenatal care opportunity where expectant parents could connect and midwives offered consistent guidance. At the time, the sessions were all virtual but still meaningful.
A few years later, she returned for her second pregnancy. This time, everything was in-person, and the care remained just as personal and thoughtful.
“There was one day somebody gifted the group a blanket,” she recalls. “Every mom in the Centering group left that day with a book and a blanket. Things like that are so special.” As often as possible, Community of Hope receives donations of handmade baby blankets and quilts.
For Portia, that feeling of being seen and cared for is what defines Community of Hope.
“It felt like you were the only patient they had,” she says. “You’re never rushed. If you need to talk, they’re going to listen.”
So impressed with her experience, now, Portia serves on Community of Hope’s Board of Directors (over 50% of our board members are patients), offering insight from her firsthand experience as a patient and mother. She understands the power of representation in healthcare and works to ensure that new parents’ voices are heard and valued.
In December 2024, Portia was invited to share that experience on a larger stage. She spoke on a panel at the Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative’s Maternal Health Convening in Washington, DC, where she highlighted the power of patient-centered care and the vital role of community organizations like Community of Hope in supporting families and communities. She also spoke at the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) close-out panel in January.
“You hear the stats about Black maternal mortality,” says Portia. “And I know what it feels like to walk into an appointment and feel mistreated. That shouldn’t happen. Care like this should be the standard.”
This Women’s History Month, we are proud to spotlight Portia’s journey—a story shaped by care, connection, and her commitment to helping other moms thrive.
