Leveling Up in Lactation
Podcast
Leveling Up in Lactation is a podcast that highlights, amplifies, and documents the journey of Black Lactation Professionals.Tune in every Monday for a laid back, candid conversation with colleagues about their journey through the Lactation profession.
Listen now on the following platforms:
About
Hosted by Erika Dudley, IBCLC, she created this podcast to highlight, amplify, and develop an audio hub for the journeys of Black Lactation Professionals. Join Erika every other Monday morning for about an hour as she has a laid back, candid conversation with Colleagues about their journeys through Lactation Land.Erika Dudley is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who began her career in lactation as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor after successfully pushing through barriers to breastfeed her son. Within a year she became a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist then promoted to the Lead Breastfeeding Counselor. After becoming an IBCLC she transitioned into private practice where she owns Enriched Lactation
© Erika Dudley 2021-2023. All rights reserved.
Episode 1
“Hold Steady”
Chanelle Andrews IBCLC, CBS
Chanelle Andrews is a lactation specialist and educator hailing from New Jersey, USA. She is, at her core, an avid supporter of parents and communities. Chanelle has a passion for the “aha!” moments and providing people with the education and information they need to make the best decisions for their families and their goals.Learn more and connect with Chanelle:
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Hey Mama Lactation and Perinatal Care
Episode 2
Generational Health, Honey
Jada Wingo-Metcalf CBPC, PPD
Jada is a Maternal a Certified Maternal Child Community Health Worker, Post-partum Doula and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist providing mobile lactation and postpartum services to the metro Atlanta population. Her goal is to encourage mothers and caregivers to trust their instincts during pregnancy and beyond through radical support and evidence based education.Learn more and connect with Jada:
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The Milk and Honey Co.
Episode 3
“Don’t wait. Just do it.”
Lydia O. boyd, ibclc, cle, doula
Lydia O. Boyd is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Certified Lactation Educator (CLE), and Doula who is currently employed at Watts Healthcare Corporation in the WIC Department as Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. Ms. Boyd has been in private practice since 2016. And she is one-fourth of the teaching team for The B.L.A.C.K. Course; which is a full scope lactation and breastfeeding education course made by and for Black People and folks supporting black breastfeeding.Learn more and connect with Lydia:
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Lydia O. BoydLearn more about the B.L.A.C.K. course:
B.L.A.C.K. Course
Episode 4
“All The Things”
Aimbriel Lasley, ibclc
Aimbriel C. Lasley is a native of Indianapolis, IN. She is a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and also holds a Master’s degree in Health and Wellness Counseling. She is married and has four children with a set of twins included in the bunch and a new dog! Aimbriel is very passionate about maternal and child health and health outcomes in the black community. She is committed to serving her community, in raising breastfeeding rates and decreasing disparities in our maternal health practices. Aimbriel enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exercising, exploring new places and is dedicated to being a lifelong learner.Learn more and connect with Aimbriel:
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Holistic Lactation CareLearn more about Black Mama Vegan:
Black Mama Vegan
Episode 5
“Make The System Work For You”
Whitney Dula, cbs
Whitney is a native-born Marylander, having lived in the DMV region her entire life. She began her journey into lactation support after noticing a lack of providers in her immediate area, as well as providers that looked like her. She’s been a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist since 2019, working for the Babies Born Healthy Program in Montgomery County as a lactation counselor providing prenatal breastfeeding education and postpartum support. In addition to her counselor duties, she is the current President of the Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition, formerly serving on the Board of Directors as an At- large member. Her advocacy focuses on closing the gaps in maternal/infant mortality, increasing Black breastfeeding rates and education, and increasing the number of lactation professionals of color. She's also involved with the USLCA Advisory Board, and a co- founder of the Black Breastfeeding 365 Initiative. Whitney is the mom of two breastfed babies who went well into toddlerhood.Learn more and connect with Whitney:
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The Mama’s Dula
Episode 6
“Divine Intervention”
Bianca Nash-Miot, clc
Bianca Nash-Miot, in my personal life I am a Wife, mother to two amazing toddlers, house plant enthusiasts, and adventure seeker. In my professional life I am a CLC, CPST, and Birth worker who provides a wide assortment of services. I have worked with families providing lactation services for almost 4 years and truly believe this is my calling and talent.Learn more and connect with Bianca:
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Birth Queens and Milk Queens
Episode 7
“I Know What Breastfeeding Did For Me”
Courtney Polk, RN, ibclc
Courtney Polk is a registered nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She is a native of New Orleans but currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and their 2 children. Since graduating from Southern University in 2006, Courtney began her nursing career in labor and delivery. She went on to earn a masters in nursing education in 2012. It wasn’t until having her son in 2014, and experiencing breastfeeding for herself that lactation became her focus and passion. Since becoming board certified she has helped countless families in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex area meet or exceed their breastfeeding goals. Courtney is also the current president of the Dallas Lactation Consultant Association.Learn more and connect with Courtney:
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RNIBCLC
Episode 8
“It's Not too Late to Pivot”
Erika Dudley, ibclc, CBS
Erika Dudley's professional experience in supporting breastfeeding Moms and Parents spans from discharge into toddler hood. With a passion and special interest in helping those transitioning back into working outside of the home, Erika enjoys identifying ways they can continue working towards their goals. Her goal is to relay to parents the value in their investment of providing breast milk to their little ones.Learn more and connect with Erika:
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Enriched Lactation
Episode 9
“God Ordained”
Danielle Freeman, LPN, ibclc
Danielle Freeman is Licensed Practical Nurse, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant the owner and founder of Milkin’ Melanin Lactation Services. Services include prenatal breastfeeding classes, virtual consults, and home visits for most of Connecticut. In addition to private practice, she also works at Manchester Memorial Hospital as an IBCLC.Her love for supporting moms and babies was born when she was recruited to become a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in November 2018 at Yale New Haven Hospital after having breastfed her own children. She has since worked with hundreds of families helping them to establish and reach their feeding goals. She is extremely passionate about the support she provides and believes in equitable, collaborative care.Danielle is married and has three amazing children who were all breastfed. The lack of professional support when nursing her own children, was an additional motivating factor for creating Milkin’ Melanin Lactation Services. She wants to be able to provide the support that she did not receive. Feel free to contact Danielle directly to learn more about the services she offers.
Learn more and connect with Danielle:
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Milkin’ Melanin
Episode 10
“If Not Me Then Who?”
Nikki Greenaway FNP-C, ibclc
Nikki Greenaway, aka Nurse Nikki, is a wife, mother of three, Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Servicing both Louisiana and Texas, Nurse Nikki is the proud owner of Bloom Maternal Health a perinatal house calls practice and co founder of the New Orleans Breastfeeding Center and Cafe Au Lait Breastfeeding Support group for families of color. She is co-good trouble maker and co-creator of Nikki and Nikki Lactation Career Consultants which assists black lactation specialists navigate the pathways to becoming IBCLCs.Learn more and connect with Nurse Nikki:
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Nurse Nikki NP
Episode 11
“Ripple Effect”
Deidra Washington Ibclc,clc
Deidra has lived in Florida since she was 9 years old. She attended college at Florida State Universityand graduated with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She went on to become a nutritionist at the health department for the Florida WIC program. While at WIC Deidra developed a passion for helping families establish and reach their health and nutrition goals. She saw a further need for helping her clients learn about the importance of their baby’s first food.Deidra has been supporting families with breastfeeding since 2011 and is and Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 2021. She also holds the credential of CLC and loves the counseling aspect of lactation support.She is a mother of 2 free-spirited little girls ages 2 and 4. She is married to a brilliant and supportive man for almost 8 years. Her friends and family would tell you when she walks into a room, the vibe lifts. Deidra has a special and unique way to connect with people, and her Spirit draws people towards her!Learn more and connect with Deidra:
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Love On Top LLC
Episode 12
“Increase My Value”
Tikara Cannon mph,cbs,milc
Tikara is a native of Franklinton, North Carolina. She went to North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC where she graduated in 2011 with a Bachelors of Animal Science degree. She met her husband, Clint, at A&T and they married in 2012. After a battle with infertility and pregnancy loss, they welcomed their twin daughters 2 months before their expected due date in 2015. From the challenges and obstacles that would follow, Tikara cultivated the ability to further educate herself and truly decide what her calling was.
In 2017, she graduated from Liberty University with a Masters of Public Health degree and a desire to work primarily with infant and maternal health. In 2020 she completed the 90 hour Certified Breastfeeding Specialist course and was trained to become a postpartum doula.
Tikara works in private practice at Milk & Cradle LLC which she launched in July 2020, providing postpartum and lactation support to families in the Charlottesville and surrounding areas of Virginia.Learn more and connect with Tikara:
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Milk and Cradle LLC
Episode 13
“It Is A Flex”
Nichelle Clark ibclc, cbs
Nichelle Clark is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), wife, and mother of two residing in Chesapeake, Virginia. She is the owner of SonShine & Rainbows Lactation Services. Born and raised in Upper Marlboro, MD, Nichelle joined the United States Navy in 2010 and served honorably for 7.5 years. In 2020, she founded Black Breastfeeding 365, an organization that seeks to bridge the gap between Black Parents and the Lactation Professionals who serve them.When she’s not spending time with her husband, 5 year old son and 4 month old daughter she serves as a United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) Advisory Board Member and Clinical Lactation Journal Social Media Editor. In her spare time, she admins multiple online support groups for People of Color, providing breastfeeding support and lactation education to her community. As a former exclusive pumping mom herself, Nichelle is a champion for breastfeeding parents to write their own rules and breastfeed their way.Learn more and connect with Nichelle:
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Sonshine and Rainbows Lactation
Episode 14
“Onward”
Nekisha Killings mph, ibclc
Nekisha Killings MPH IBCLC is an equity strategist and maternal and child health advocate who speaks, teaches, and facilitates on topics related to equity and dismantling bias across various sectors. She acts as a Director of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and consults organizations on creating and implementing strategies to better support marginalized communities. Nekisha penned the chapter titled Cultural Humility in the latest Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Care. Coined the Aha! Moment Maven, Nekisha works to wow audiences with new realizations that will impact their approach to business and life positively.Nekisha is on a mission to normalize brown breasts in health provider education, thereby better equipping providers to accurately diagnose and treat people of color.Accordingly, she founded The Melanated Mammary Atlas® in 2021. Nekisha is co-founder of Nikki & Nikki: Lactation Career Consultants, which is dedicated to equipping aspirants of color to sit for the IBCLC exam. Nekisha’s work is rooted in a compassion and candor that could only have been cultivated in years of supporting new parents through their journeys during the first days of parenthood. To eager audiences, she extends her own brand of wisdom, wit, and eureka moments to shift the way they approach life and work.Learn more and connect with Nikki:
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Nekisha Killings MPH, IBCLC
Episode 15
“Self Starter”
Erica Campbell bsn, rn, ibclc
Erica was born, raised, and currently lives in the Houston area with her family. She has two children that have fueled her journey into this profession.Erica started as a mother/baby Registered Nurse and simply had a passion for helping mothers. It wasn’t until having her own and seeing the support systems first hand, that she realized she wanted to do more.In 2017, she passed the board exams and became an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). She is thankful for her diverse professional experience and having worked in the hospital system as a nurse and a lactation consultant and now working with a private group in Houston to do private 1-on-1 on consults.The professional aspects of her career are a definite must but it’s her personal experience that has really impacted how she works and cares for the families that she helps.She is extremely passionate about educating and informing the entire family unit and working towards whatever is the goal of the family.Learn more and connect with Erica:
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The Milk Manual
Episode 16
“Chaos Worker”
Kimberly Webb clc
Kimberly is a South Carolina based Certified Lactation Counselor from Wisconsin. She has 3 children and husband that could technically count as her fourth. She has been in private practice for 2 years and is starting her Pathway 2 degree in October 2022. Her hobbies include starting craft projects, thrift shopping, and gardening.Learn more and connect with Kimberly via her website:
Melanated Maternal Support
Episode 17
“Stay Hungry”
Shondra Mattos ibclc
Shondra Mattos is an IBCLC (Internationally Board-certified Lactation Consultant) and owner of a Location-independent lactation practice where she provides breastfeeding and infant feeding support to families countrywide.Shondra has a passion for sharing her understanding of complex lactation subjects with her colleagues and aspiring lactation students. When she's not with clients, speaking, or teaching, she spends time with her daughter.Learn more and connect with Shondra via her websites:
Mattos Lactation
Shondra Mattos
Episode 18
“There's Not Enough of Us. Period.”
Fallon Smalls, cbs
Fallon Smalls is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist located in Prince George’s County Maryland. She’s also a public relations specialist, wife, and mom to three beautiful children. After struggling with nursing her oldest son, Fallon vowed to do everything within her power to make it work for her daughter when she got pregnant 6 years later.As she went on the journey of educating herself she found that there were so many people like her that needed information, resources, and most importantly support to breastfeed their babies. That’s how she became everyone’s Breastie. You can find her on IG posting funny but educational videos and tips encouraging her Breasties to do what they feel is best for themselves and their babies.Learn more and connect with Fallon via her website:
Your Breastie
Episode 19
“Divinely Aligned”
Tiara Caldwell, ibclc
Tiara Caldwell is a Nurse, Doula, and IBCLC in the DC metro area. She provides doula services, childbirth education and lactation help to parents through her company Crowned & Cradled which she started in 2015. Early in her marketing endeavors, Tiara found the value in having a strong social media presence, and through that has explored different ways to engage her audience and speak to her ideal clients.As a mom of four, Tiara has learned ways to maximize the small windows of time in her day to make the biggest impact online and with her clients in person. Her desire is to educate and encourage other professionals to throw out self doubt and imposter syndrome.Tiara is an advocate for diversifying the lactation field by mentoring and training new lactation professionals of colorLearn more and connect with Tiara via her website:
Crowned and Cradled
Episode 20
“Momentum”
Nasheeda Pollard, ibclc
Nasheeda Pollard is a wife and proud mother of two beautiful breastfed children! An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, author of Magical Milk, and owner of Lactation Goddess LLC. A brand focused on helping new and expecting families unapologetically define their breastfeeding journey so they can feel confident in their abilities to lactate in a way that fits their lifestyle.Her passion for supporting lactating families of color and normalizing breastfeeding is the motivation behind Magical Milk. Working with breastfeeding families and hearing their stories along with her own experiences pushed her into purpose.Learn more and connect with Nasheeda via her website:
Lactation GoddessOrder her book, Magical Milk today!
Episode 21
“The Blueprint Does Not Exist”
Dairian Roberts OT, ibclc
Dairian is an occupational therapist (OT) and international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) that uses an integrative and holistic approach to infant feeding and development. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, Irvine and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has additional training in postpartum care, homeopathy, newborn care, and manual therapies.She is a passionate advocate for Black maternal health equity – creating opportunities for high-quality, accessible care within her community. Dairian lives in the South Bay Los Angeles area with her husband, son, daughter, and family pet, Fire Dragon, a bearded dragon lizard.Learn more and connect with Dairian via her website:
Humbled By Motherhood
Episode 22
“Ruffle some feathers”
Dominique Gallo, ibclc
I am a L.E.O (Law Enforcement Officer) Wife, mom to the most wonderful tiny humans you will ever meet and have the craziest fur baby (dog) that adopted us and fits in this family perfectly. I am from Newport News, Va now residing in Roanoke, Va. I am a strong believer in parent's right to choose and believe that parents are fully capable to make decisions for their families.I have been helping mothers with lactation and birthing for the past 9 years and am a life time learner. I actively pursue continuing education to maintain my clinical skills and to stay current with the changes in evidence and practices.Learn more and connect with Dominique via her website:
Gallo Birth Services
Two Broke Cheer Moms
Episode 23
“Continue to Become”
Dr. Sekeita Lewis-Johnson,dnp,fnp-bc,ibclc
Dr. Sekeita Lewis-Johnson is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Birth Doula. She is the Accredited Provider Program Director and an Instructor for Lactation Education Resources.She is one of the Founding Members of Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color and Mama’s Mobile Milk. She is the owner of Mommy and Me Lactation Consulting, LLC, and serves as a Board Director for The United States Breastfeeding Committee. She sits on The Maternal Infant Health, Health Equity Action Committee for the State of Michigan. She serves her community by volunteering on the Beloved Community Initiative Leadership Team in Farmington Hills, Michigan and Birth Detroit in Detroit, Michigan.Dr. Lewis-Johnson has received multiple awards during her career. In 2021 she was the recipient of two awards: The Award of Excellence from the United States Lactation
Consultant Association and The Alumni Service Award from The College of Nursing at Michigan State University. Dr. Lewis-Johnson is an avid advocate for equitable and just policies and practices especially related to black maternal-child health disparities. Passionate about maternal-child health and breastfeeding, she provides lactation and doula services within Metro-Detroit and surrounding areas. Her main goals are to prevent obstetrical harm, and to assist families to achieve their desired feeding goals. She believes that breastfeeding self-efficacy, along with skilled and timely lactation support are key to breastfeeding
success.Learn more and connect with Sekeita via her website:
Mommy and Me Lactation Consulting
Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color (SEMI)
Episode 24
“A Piece of the puzzle”
Kiana Ayers rn,ibclc
Kiana has a passion for helping families access breastfeeding resources and prenatal education. A Registered Nurse, IBCLC, and Lamaze certified childbirth educator she started Mamas and Tatas to give support to women in her community when they need it the most. She is the Executive Director of Ready Set Push Inc, a nonprofit dedicated to offering low-cost childbirth classes to low-income families.When she can spare a moment, you'll find her coming up with all kinds of ideas that may never come to pass but she has so much fun imagining they will. She is completely committed to serving the underserved and to help advance equity so all families can have access to the necessary resources they need for a safe and healthy delivery.Learn more and connect with Kiana via her website:
Mamas and Tatas
Ready, Set, Push
Thrive Lactation Collective
Episode 25
Sierra Woods rn,ibclc
Sierra Woods and is the founder of MelaMama Maternal Wellness, Inc. She is a wife, mother to 2 amazing boys, registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and child passenger safety technician. She services the Indianapolis, IN area and virtually around the world. She truly believes breastfeeding is a gift for your children as well as yourself and mothers need more support. Sierra's goal is to support mothers in accomplishing all of their breastfeeding goals through their journey.Learn more and connect with Sierra via her website:
MelaMama Maternal Wellness
Episode 26
Charline Ogbeni ibclc
Mrs. Ogbeni is a proud NICU mom and Owner of Supporting Our Mothers Initiative, LLC a company created to address the needs of birthing individuals in Queens, NY. She is a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, self-proclaimed Lactivist, Full Spectrum Doula, Brownsville Baby Café Facilitator, Mentor, and Vice President of the New York Lactation Consultant Association (NYLCA). She gained an interest in breastfeeding after attending the Brownsville Baby Café program in 2019 and has been hooked since.Her future goals include starting a nonprofit benefiting breastfeeding mothers, establishing a weekly breastfeeding support group in Queens, NY, and creating a Birth Center.Learn more and connect with Charline via her website:
Supporting Our Mothers Initiatives
Episode 27
Tenise Hordge ibclc
Tenise Hordge is the President & CEO of Mother's Magical Milk, a full service lactation firm with a donor milk dispensary. Having left her corporate engineering and program management career of 18 years, Tenise followed her passion of the healing role human milk plays in our current health crisis and is an advocate for normalizing breastfeeding through the education of the benefits and management of breastfeeding.She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant residing and serving in the southern Dallas Fort Worth Area.Learn more and connect with Tenise via her website:
Mother's Magical Milk
Episode 28
Leslie Owens rn ibclc
Leslie Owens is a Perinatal Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, based in Douglasville, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. She has supported pregnant and postpartum families for over 15 years in the perinatal space. Her passion for birth and lactation began with her own personal experience birthing and breastfeeding her oldest child who is now a teenager, and it was reignited with breastfeeding her twins who are currently nursing their way through toddlerhood.Leslie currently owns and operates Mother Nurture Maternity, a private practice where she is committed to providing quality and equitable virtual and in person lactation services and resources to the community, especially those purposively marginalized. She considers it a great honor and privilege to support families during the perinatal period as an advocate, facilitator, and clinician.Learn more and connect with Leslie via her website:
Mother Nurture Maternity Lactation Services
Episode 29
keyra peraza, cbs
Keyra Peraza became a certified breastfeeding specialist in 2021. Prior to lactation, she taught biological, chemical and physical sciences in the public school system. She is a wife and a mother currently living in a Vancouver Washington. Keyra was born in Philadelphia but raised in South Florida. Her background is African American, Jamaican and Indian.Keyra is a board member for her local coalition and a moderator for Black Breastfeeding Mamas Circle Group. Her goal is to help transform and break barriers that are affecting black and brown families and others who are neglected by the system.Learn more and connect with Keyra via her instagram:
@Keyraperaza.cbs
Episode 31
kellie green, slp, ibclc
Kellie Green is the founder and owner of Green Living & Wellness. She is a Speech Pathologist and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. Driven by her own struggles to breastfeed, she takes pride in providing the best care possible. Her mission is to give families a great beginning, supporting them from birth and beyond to help them reach their feeding goals. She offers in office services for those local to Columbus, OH and virtually, wherever you are, via telehealth.Learn more and connect with Kellie via her website:
Green Living and Wellness
Episode 32
Rhonesha isreal, cbs, ibclc
Rhonesha is a wife and mother of 1 son who she breastfed for 13 months. She is a masters level social worker and she just so happened to fall in love with all things breastfeeding. Rho is currently a school social worker and a private practice IBCLC. She was able to gain experience in the community at an outpatient lactation clinic, with virtual clients, as well as on a mother-baby unit in a hospital. Her goal is to continue providing services to women and their babies in her community.Learn more and connect with Rhonesha via her website:
Milking With Rho
Episode 33
Tiffani Dickerson, rn, ibclc
Tiffani is a Registered Nurse and IBCLC located in Dallas Texas with a background in NICU. She is proud to be a BIPOC lactation consultant to help provide ongoing infant feeding support.
Tiffani is married to her amazing husband and a mother of two. She strive to equip, empower and instill competency in the families she serves.Learn more and connect with Tiffani via her website:
The Breast Choice
Episode 34
Zakela Mickens, BPC
Zakela Mickens is a 31 year old Wife and mom of 4. She is the founder of Powered By Chocolate Milk. She created a Breastfeeding Education and Support Group for Women of Color who are pregnant, or Currently Breastfeeding.Zakela is currently a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor with WIC through The Florida Department of Health. About 3 years she launched her own Breastfeeding Peer Support Group in Jacksonville Florida.Zakela has breastfed all of her children and she is still breastfeeding her 19 month old. Her goal is to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She is in the process of completing her Certified Breastfeeding Specialist certification while continuing her journey towards becoming an IBCLC. She is also completing her bachelor's degree in Maternal Child Health: Human Lactation.She provides Breastfeeding Support and Education to women of color online and over the phone, by helping them get off to a good start with breastfeeding, latch support, and providing them with other resources to assist them in their Breastfeeding Journey.Learn more and connect with Zakela via her website:
Powered By Chocolate Milk Co.
Episode 36
Angelica Knight, MS, IBCLC
Angelica Knight MS, IBCLC entered the birthwork world originally as a Doula back in 2020 when COVID first hit the US. With a speciality in exercise physiology, she set the goal to support families through unmedicated birth with movement and expanded in education and advocacy through her experiences.Even with supporting labor and birth, she had minimal experience with postpartum care and lactation. Acknowledging she had a gift for things in the clinical setting, she pursued her IBCLC to better support black families with breastfeeding care within hospitals.After completing the P2P Lactation program at NC A&T, she now works in a Level 4 NICU supporting human milk and breastfeeding during the day while pursuing nursing school at night. Her goal is to continue to provide independent lactation care to underserved communities, as well as broaden her services to midwifery through nursing.Learn more and connect with Angelica via her website:
Blue Moon Doula
Episode 37
Sophia Taylor, LPN, IBCLC
Sophia Taylor is a pediatric nurse and IBCLC born in Manhattan, and raised in Long Island New York. She now resides in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband and their four daughters who were all breastfed.She is the owner of Relatable Lactation, and her purpose is to create diversity in the Lactation Field. She prides herself on creating an environment where black families feel like they don’t have to code switch, and can relate to a Lactation provider who truly gets it.Sophia considers herself a life long student, who is continuously growing, and has a goal to collaborate with other lactation professionals and community leaders, to help bridge the gap in order to better service black and brown families, and give our people access to quality Lactation care beyond the clinical setting.Learn more and connect with Sophia via her website:
Relatable Lactation
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