AS A DOULA, I TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PREGNANCY, BIRTH, AND POSTPARTUM. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CHALLENGE THE LACK OF ACCESSIBLE AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE RESOURCES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

Breyonna Gaines-Barrett is the mother of two girls and spouse to an Army specialist. She is a graduate of California State University, Fresno and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology. Fun fact: Breyonna loves to snowboard. A reproductive justice advocate, womanist, and doula, she spends most of her free time building relationships with community stakeholders. Her goal is to eradicate infant and maternal mortality by seeking and demanding reproductive justice in all that she does.

I WANT TO REMIND OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY THAT THE EXPERT IN THEIR CARE IS THE BIRTHING PERSON. THE BIRTHING PERSON DESERVES TO BE HEARD AND FEEL SAFE IN KNOWING THEIR MEDICAL TEAM HAS THEIR BEST INTEREST AT HEART AND IS WILLING TO COLLABORATE TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE BEST BIRTH OUTCOME

Sabrina Beavers was originally born and raised in Bakersfield, California. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her little one, who is every bit of a toddler-teen. She moved to Fresno in 2001 after high school to attend Fresno State, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Health Science. As a team member of the Black Infant Health Program, she actively works to bring awareness to the adverse birth outcomes experienced by the Black community and helps to provide support to the ladies who participate. A Black woman herself, Sabrina delivered a beautiful baby girl prematurely in March 2019, five weeks before her due date. Although she had all the resources and support imaginable, she still had the experience of being discharged home after delivery while her baby had to stay behind in the NICU. Sabrina’s personal experience has helped her use her voice to advocate on behalf of the mothers she serves as they navigate the foreign experience of preterm birth and, sadly, sometimes infant loss.

I’VE BEEN AWAY FROM THIS WORK FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, AND I’M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO DIVE BACK IN AND SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR BLACK MOTHERS AND FATHERS THROUGH THIS AMAZING CAMPAIGN! THESE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING OUR BLACK BABIES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, AND THEY ARE LEFT UNTALKED ABOUT. THIS SILENCE INCREASES THE CHANCES OF PRETERM BIRTH.

Kalisha M. Goodwin is a mother, business owner, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, and the author of “20 Tips to Navigating College for First-Generation Students.” She received both her bachelor’s in Criminology and her master’s in Marriage, Children, and Family Counseling from Cal State Fresno in 2010. Throughout her work as a therapist, she focuses on familial conflict and restoring black families. She is from the south side of Stockton, California, and gives significant credit to her city for shaping her into the woman she is today. In 2018, she gave birth to her son prematurely. Soon after, she drew on her experience, working with First 5 Fresno on initiatives dedicated to African American infant mortality.

MY MISSION IS TO BRING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY: TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER OUR WOMEN OF COLOR ON HOW TO ADDRESS AND COMBAT THE ISSUE OF INFANT MORTALITY AND ENCOURAGE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.

Shadaria Prince was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. In 2010, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Public Health, and in 2015, she received her master’s in Social Work. She is a medical social worker at Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, California. Her areas of expertise are working with children and families, providing emotional support, and linking families to appropriate community resources. Something fun about her: She enjoys hiking, playing board games, and baking.

MY MISSION IS TO MEET WOMEN WHERE THEY ARE AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR OWN DESIRES TO UPLIFT THEMSELVES.

Desiree Miller loves seeing the growth and progression of her community. Originally from Inglewood, she always looks forward and aspires to see the growth in herself and the people around her. Fresno, California, became home in 2013 when she pursued a college education at Fresno State University. Her initial career pursuit was to be an academic as she believed it would be an avenue for change, but then she discovered the world of advocacy and policy. Desiree found that she is a natural advocate and motivator who loves to engage meaningfully around Black equity and social justice. Desiree is also the Best Babies Zone Program Coordinator.

I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE A CHANGE IN THE CURRENT COURSE AS THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I WANT THERE TO BE REFORM: I WOULD LIKE THE DOCTORS WHO DISMISS AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND THEIR CONCERNS WITH THEIR BODIES TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

Re’Niisha McClinton-Slack is 25 years old and was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She is currently a full-time mom and student. Having been enlisted for more than six years, she has traveled to several different countries and states — and even knows a little French. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in English Literature. Her goal is to become an English professor and teach at different universities. She and her husband welcomed a baby girl in March 2022.

MY MISSION IS TO ADDRESS INFANT MORTALITY ON A LARGER SCALE HERE IN FRESNO COUNTY BY OPENING A COMPREHENSIVE BIRTHING CLINIC, TO ADDRESS THE MANY NEEDS AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THOSE WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE HAD IT.

Brittnie Wilson is from Fresno, California. She received her B.S. Health Science 2015 from Fresno State University, and is currently pursuing her Masters’s degree in Public Health at Capella University. She is a birth worker, a current certified lactation educator, and a health assistant for WIC. She enjoys singing in church and spending time with her beautiful family. She has three daughters who are 8 years old, 4 years old, and 4 months and has been married for 5.5 years. She loves her community and watching it flourish. Because her daughters live in Fresno, she also wants them to see and enjoy the beauty of the community they come from. She loves to sing, and her favorite guilty pleasure is nice cold Pepsi.