Our Founder

Crystal D. Charley is a distinguished community organizer, activist, and advocate renowned for her commitment to reproductive justice and civil rights. A proud mother, she holds an MBA in Public Administration and is certified as a perinatal doula and educator. In 2023-2024, Crystal was selected as a fellow for the Black to the Future Public Policy Institute, a program of the Black to the Future Action Fund. This fellowship emphasizes policy advocacy and leadership training, equipping community leaders with the tools needed to empower Black communities and cultivate independent Black political power.

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Currently, Crystal serves as the Director of Back in Our Hands Birth and Wellness for the Greater Mount Zion Community Development Corporation, where she fosters a nurturing and innovative environment for maternal and infant care. In this role, she collaborates with community stakeholders to ensure that services meet the needs of families, with a particular focus on Black families in Trenton, NJ. Additionally, she is a Senior Organizer for Salvation and Social Justice, leading vital campaigns centered on Black maternal health.

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As the Founder of Melanin and Maternal Wellness, a village-centered organization focused on birth and reproductive justice, Crystal is deeply committed to eradicating disparities in Black maternal health. She is also a co-author of the award-winning reproductive health curriculum, My Black Health is Beautiful, a new lesson plan series that addresses reproductive health equity and Black maternal health. Her extensive training as a Certified Shafia Monroe Consulting (SMC) Full Circle Doula Birth Companion enables her to provide comprehensive perinatal doula services, including prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, further solidified by her graduation from the Commonsense Childbirth Institute, Childbirth Educator Course.

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Crystal's influence reaches nationally through her involvement with the National Perinatal Task Force and the Board of Trustees for the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing, a Public Health Institute. She actively participates on the Board of Directors for the Fair Share Housing Center, Planned Parenthood of North, Central, and Southern New Jersey, and the Sister Song Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective.

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Before transitioning to her full-time career in health equity and reproductive justice, Crystal served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Executive Director of Policy, Research, and Planning, and the Director of Local Programs and Services for the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission. Her role involved shaping research-driven policy and its implementation, where she played a pivotal part in critical initiatives such as the establishment of administrative procedures for legislation like the A4663 Restorative Justice Bill. Demonstrating her managerial expertise, she supervised five units of managerial staff comprising approximately 40 employees, ensuring optimal operational efficiency. Crystal exemplified professionalism and diplomacy in managing communications, coordinating personnel actions, and preparing comprehensive reports that informed decision-making. She also successfully led the planning and execution of major events, including the New Jersey JDAI conference, which attracted over 600 attendees.

 

A steadfast member of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, Crystal currently serves her third term as the 2nd Vice-President and is a Silver Life Member. She chairs the Women in NAACP (WIN) for the New Jersey State Conference.

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Her dedication has garnered recognition from numerous media outlets, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Burlington County Times, the Grio, 6ABC, Pix11, and many others. As a sought-after speaker, Crystal regularly presents at conventions and panels on vital topics such as reproductive justice, Black maternal health, civil rights, systemic racism, diversity and inclusion, and health equity.

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Beyond her professional endeavors, Crystal is a proud legacy mother, and an active member of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, Burlington County Chapter, emphasizing her commitment to fostering positive development and opportunities for children.

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With her extensive background and unwavering dedication, Crystal Charley is a formidable force in the fields of reproductive justice, civil rights, and Black maternal health. Her tireless advocacy profoundly impacts countless individuals and communities as she continues to champion a more just and equitable society.