Crystina Hughes: Advocating for Black Maternal Health in Alabama

The 2026 Black Excellence of Alabama initiative honors achievement, influence, and enduring legacy. In partnership with Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, 92.9 WTUG, Praise 93.3, 105.1 The Block, and The Tuscaloosa Thread, alongside our valued community partners, the Tuscaloosa Branch of the NAACP and the Tuscaloosa County–West Alabama Chapter of the NPHC, united in honoring the individuals who shape our community and inspire the next generation.

Stillman College proudly highlights the dedication of its aspiring journalists through this article, authored by Journalism student Madison Fralin. This piece stems from a collaboration between Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa and the Department of English, Journalism, and Media Communications.

2026 Black History Maker of Alabama – Crystina Hughes

Crystina Hughes is a passionate advocate for maternal health, serving her community as a nurse, birth doula, and director of community outreach at WAWC Health in Tuscaloosa. Certified through Doulas of North America International, Hughes founded Diamonds for Doulas to address Alabama’s alarming maternal mortality rates by providing accessible doula services and support.

Hughes created the organization after recognizing a critical gap in structured, professional, and community-centered doula care in West Alabama. Motivated by a desire to improve maternal health outcomes, she built Diamonds for Doulas to support families during childbirth while also training doulas to serve with confidence, compassion, and excellence.

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“I saw a clear need for structured, professional, and community-centered doula support in our area,” Hughes said. “My passion for improving maternal health outcomes and expanding access to education and advocacy pushed me to create an organization that supports families and develops confident, competent doulas.”

Diamonds for Doulas focuses on serving WIC- and Medicaid-eligible families and mothers of color, ensuring they receive equitable, culturally responsive care and strong advocacy during pregnancy and birth.

Hughes’ compassionate approach and extensive experience make her a trusted presence in the community. A former emergency medical technician and current licensed practical nurse with more than a decade of experience, she views providing birth options and creating a birth space designed by the patient as a form of reproductive justice advocacy.

To Hughes, her work is deeply connected to history, identity, and justice.

“Black history, to me as a Black nurse and birth doula, isn’t something that lives only in textbooks or month-long celebrations,” she said. “It’s alive in my hands, my voice, and my presence.”

Hughes also said that she’s not just honoring Black history, she is continuing it. She said that as a Black nurse, Black history means assessing not only vitals but safety — recognizing when patients are not being heard and understanding that statistics reflect real lives, including her own family and community.

As a doula, she emphasizes that birth is not only a medical procedure for Black families; it’s political, emotional, spiritual, and generational. Her presence challenges systems that have historically overlooked Black pain and reminds birthing people that their voices and intuition matter.

Under Hughes’ leadership, Diamonds for Doulas is making a meaningful difference in maternal health outcomes across West Alabama. Colleagues describe her as deeply committed to the community she serves and praise her dedication to improving birth experiences for families.

Through advocacy, education, and compassionate care, Hughes is not only supporting mothers and families but is also continuing a legacy of resilience, equity, and empowerment.