An early morning fire on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 damaged the Grixdale Farms house where Hitha Healing House operates, knocking the Detroit nonprofit out of its usual space and forcing a pause in on-site programming. For the mothers and families who rely on that circle of care, the loss reaches beyond the building itself, disrupting the weekly rhythm that helps people move through pregnancy, postpartum, grief, and the stretch of life that comes after.
The interruption lands in a moment when maternal health remains a life-or-death issue for Black women. Systemic gaps in health care keep risk elevated during pregnancy and postpartum, and Black mothers continue to die at nearly three times the rate of other groups, according to an April report.
Founded by Kayana Sessoms in 2022, Hitha House opened its center more than a year and a half ago and quickly grew into a steady community resource. Sessoms said hundreds of people have come through for classes and conferences, turning the space into a familiar landing place for learning, support, and connection.
Brilliant Detroit says it has stepped in to keep that rhythm from breaking.
The nonprofit announced a partnership that will bring Hitha Healing House programming to Brilliant Detroit’s Central Hub, allowing services to continue after the fire left Hitha’s programming location unusable. The move includes Hitha’s maternal wellness program, and Nurturing Roots.
Hitha Healing House is a Detroit-based community wellness organization that provides holistic maternal wellness support rooted in cultural healing traditions and trauma-informed care. Under the partnership, Nurturing Roots will offer mothers up to 10 paid wellness sessions after giving birth. Those sessions include nutrition counseling, massage therapy, lactation support, chiropractic care, and emotional wellness services, according to the announcement.
“This partnership brings our shared values to life by supporting caregivers and children from ‘belly through eight’, within walking distance, in spaces that feel welcoming and rooted in community,” said Tarsha Gale, executive director of Brilliant Detroit.
Sessoms said the loss of a physical home hasn’t changed the organization’s purpose.
“Although we lost our physical home, our mission was never lost,” Sessoms said. “Partnering with Brilliant Detroit allows us to continue serving families with intention, dignity, and care.”
However, this partnership didn’t start from scratch.
Brilliant Detroit said Sessoms first connected with the organization more than a decade ago while she worked at Osborn Neighborhood Alliance and participated in community engagement tied to Brilliant Detroit’s neighborhood hub work. She later supported engagement and outreach at Brilliant Detroit hubs through contract work.
That history, both groups said, helped them move quickly after the fire.
Brilliant Detroit said Hitha’s current offerings include a weekly “Wellness Wednesday,” monthly Sunday community dinners, “First Friday Mama’s Messages,” and a group described as “our Mamas for our Mamas.”
A public event is planned to walk residents through Nurturing Roots programming scheduled from February through June 2026, according to the announcement. Official Hitha Healing House programming at the Central Hub begins in March.
Once the calendar is fully underway, Wellness Wednesdays will be held weekly at 6 p.m., billed as a consistent space for restoration, education, and connection. Additional Saturday and Sunday events will be scheduled throughout the year.
Community Mama Meals and Meetups are set for every fourth Sunday at 4 p.m., bringing mothers together for a shared meal and conversations focused on wellness, motherhood, and holistic care for mama and baby. Hitha also plans seasonal childbirth education classes focused on childbirth, early parenting, and child development. On rotating Saturdays, the organization will host community outings and service-learning experiences for mamas and babies to do together.
The partnership also opens the door for Hitha families to tap into programs already offered through Brilliant Detroit’s Central Hub.
Those include Maternal Health Office Hours on Mondays from 5 to 6 p.m., described as a virtual space for pregnant and postpartum women to connect, learn, and access resources, including support with self-advocacy in medical settings and links to local programs.
Play & Learn, led by Boldi/Detroit Institute for Children, runs Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon and is designed for children ages 0 to 5, with stories, guided play, and parent-child activities.
Homework Helper is held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m., offering students help with homework, study skills, and building confidence in school subjects.
Nature Tots/Nature Trunks takes place Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon for children ages 2 to 4 and their caregivers, with stories, crafts, movement, and outdoor exploration.
A Clothing Closet and Diaper Distribution resource is available Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment, providing gently used clothing for all ages and essentials for families, Brilliant Detroit said.
Brilliant Detroit also noted additional resources for participants, including weekly produce boxes, and said it will host a free summer camp for all Detroit Public Schools students in grades 1 through 3.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Nurturing Roots program.
The program is described as limited enrollment for mothers and primary caregivers seeking consistent, healing-centered support through pregnancy, postpartum seasons, grief, or major life transitions. Enrolled families also receive access to private offerings closed to the general public, including grief circle healing spaces, emotional support groups, family-specific resource navigation, and invitation-only blessing ceremonies and retreats.
Brilliant Detroit Central / Piety Hill is located at 803 Hazelwood St. in Detroit. Families can apply for Nurturing Roots online.
