Charles Johnson (he/him)

Founder
4Kira4Moms

Charles Johnson suffered an unimaginable tragedy that strikes too many families—and he has made it his life’s mission to save others from the same fate.

In April 2016, Charles’ healthy and full-of-life wife Kira gave birth to their second beautiful child. But Kira immediately began struggling in ways the hospital staff could not explain, even as Charles watched and implored the staff that something was horribly wrong. Kira died within hours.

Charles was understandably overcome by grief—grief that turned into outrage. He channeled his pain and his passion into founding 4Kira4Moms, a nonprofit dedicated to changing systems to better prevent birth-related deaths. 4Kira4Moms advocates for improved maternal health policies and regulations; educates the public about the impact of maternal mortality in communities; provides peer support to victims’ families and friends; and promotes discussion of maternal mortality as a human rights issue. 

Charles has shared his story and advocated for change through countless live events and media appearances all over the country, including at the March for Moms rally in Washington, DC. He also testified before the US House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health about the need to pass the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017, which was indeed passed by Congress and signed into law.

When he is not advocating to improve maternal health practices, Charles is busy raising his two sons, Charles V and Langston.