Stepping away from conservative political background, Angela Stanton-King brings pregnancy resource center to Albany to help black mothers

ALBANY – About 20 years ago, Angela Stanton-King gave birth to her last child while incarcerated and chained to a bed with law enforcement officers in the delivery room. 

Almost 20 years later, after speaking about her experience, she was pardoned by President Trump of her conviction for federal conspiracy charges for her role in a car theft ring. In 2020, she ran as a Republican to fill the district 5 U.S. House seat left vacant by John Lewis. Last year, she served as the black voter engagement director for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign. 

Now, she’s stepped away from politics to embrace her nonprofit work, opening Auntie Angie’s House to address Georgia’s maternal health crisis by providing safe housing, essential resources and support to pregnant women and new mothers in need. Four months ago, she brought this nonprofit to Albany, and on Saturday, she’s accepting community help to renovate the transitional housing facility.

“We’re focused on providing resources and empowerment to women who find themselves pregnant, facing a crisis,” Stanton-King said. 

Auntie Angie’s House does this by providing transitional housing, partnering with other organizations to provide the whole picture of education, job training, counseling and child care services. Stanton-King said it’s a service for women who “make the decision to choose life.”

Since the nonprofit established its location in Albany, she said it’s been able to help three women who have since transitioned out of the house to apartments of their own through a partnership with Mount Hope Church. Stanton-King said one of the women is now a firefighter for Albany and another is working at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

“These are the types of stories that we’re hoping that we continue … to get with the community pouring in, and basically just locking arms together and saying, ‘Hey, let’s make a difference,’” she said. 

Stanton-King is passionate about this work because she too was once a mother in crisis. After learning she was pregnant, she said many pressured her to have an abortion because of the situation she was in. Stanton-King heavily considered it.

“But I still kind of saw value and light in her life, and so I ended up keeping my baby,” she said.

Stanton-King gave birth chained to a bed while a sheriff watched her deliver her child. Fast forward about 20 years, she stood in front of President Trump who pardoned her. In 2019, the First Step Act was codified, prohibiting the use of restraints on federal inmates during pregnancy, labor and post-partum recovery unless the inmate is considered a flight risk or a threat to themselves and others. 

Stanton-King struggled to find housing assistance and work when she was released from prison and caring for four children. She found help from Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King Jr. and founder of Alveda King Ministries, a pro-life organization. 

Stanton-King said now she wants to provide the same resources and support for other pregnant mothers.

Auntie Angie’s House was created in Atlanta, but Stanton-King said she chose to bring the nonprofit to Albany because she saw a great need for the services as the city struggles with a high poverty rate and as black women grapple with high maternal mortality rates. 

“Albany is also very close to my heart,” she said. ”I lived in Albany, Georgia, a few years back after facing some hardship myself.  I started Auntie Angie’s house to help women who basically fell down on their luck because I once was in that space, and I was very fortunate to be able to overcome a lot of those trials and tribulations.”

The goal for the Albany space is to be a beacon of pregnancy resource centers – one that provides a place for mothers in crisis to stay.

“There are many pregnancy resource centers throughout the U.S., but where they lack is in housing,” she said. “

Then, rather than “reinventing the wheel,” Stanton-King said she wants to foster relationships with already-existing local pregnancy resource organizations.

“We understand that it takes a village to raise a child,” she said. “So we partner with other community organizations in the area to provide educational resources, counseling resources, job training resources. We provide that secure foundation so that they’re able to focus on their future.” 

Before Auntie Angie’s House can help more mothers, it needs some renovations. Saturday’s project will add new paint to the walls, update residential units and plant a garden for homegrown foods.

Stanton-King said she also plans to create a community closet where mothers, who aren’t in need of the full services, can still come and get supplies like diapers and milk for their children.

“We want it to be a place of love and hope,” she said. 

Stanton-King also stresses people over party. She’s trying to step away from political division and past controversies – including widespread criticism over anti-LGBTQ statements. In 2020, she shared posts on X comparing gay and transgender people to pedophiles.

However, she said Auntie Angie’s House is a space where everyone can come together to help mothers in need. 

“I’ve been a Democrat, then I was a Republican, now I’m independent,” she said. “I learned that regardless of what party you align yourself with, we should all be people over party, and that’s what Auntie Angie’s house is about.”

Stanton-King has been vocal about her support for Trump as well as her pro-life stance, but she stands firm that Auntie Angie’s House does not endorse any political side. 

“When we sit down and we have these conversations about helping women and children, I haven’t talked to anybody that does not want to help American women and children,” Stanton-King said. “We forget about party alliances, and we come together and we do what’s right.”

Volunteers will meet at the Albany location on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Those interested in helping the cause can visit AuntieAngiesHouse.org and find contacts to sign up to volunteer or make monthly contributions.