Please Fund The Aspiring Midwife that Can!
Hello Everyone,
My name is Jewel and I am a full-spectrum doula, birthworker, artist, and aspiring midwife! I've been a doula since 2014 and have diligently been serving my community and on the road to midwifery school since then.
As a doula, I serve primarily Black Indigenous Queer Trans People/Families of Color in the San Francisco and Oakland Bay Area and look forward to providing accessible midwifery care to my communities in the future! As a full-spectrum doula, I primarily support folks throughout pregnancy, labor, and loss, both in hospital settings [pre-COVID] and at home! Additionally, I love teaching my pregnancy movement class -Dance Baby Down!
Fun Fact: I didn't figure out my calling & purpose is to be a midwife until after I finished my undergraduate degree at SFSU. Over the last 5+ years, I put myself through night school and completed all but 5 classes I need to be eligible to apply - all with As & Bs [minus Chem, thank God for that C, whew!].
While I was able to complete the majority of my prerequisites for free through attending City College of San Francisco, due to application timelines and the COVID-19 pandemic, I've chosen to complete my last 5 courses online at John Hopkins University School of Nursing- the best and most affordable option for me.
In my summer term [May - July 2020], amidst uprisings, COVID, & the rest of it, I took Anatomy [+lab] and Biostatistics, earning an A+ and B+, respectively.
Currently, I'm in my last 2 out of 3 remaining prerequisite classes - Physiology and Microbiology, with the goal of earning As in both.
In Spring, I'll be taking my last prerequisite course - Pathophysiology, required by Thomas Jefferson University's Certified Midwifery pathway program.
Where I'm Applying:
At the end of this year, I'll be applying to Bastyr University's Masters of Science in Midwifery Program .
I'll be applying to Thomas Jefferson University's Certified Midwife Pathway program in the Spring.
The Goal(s):
Short Term: Apply to midwifery school and certify as a Certified Professional Midwife/Licensed Midwife, providing care in home birth & birth center settings.
Long Term: Open community-led & centered integrated healing clinics, inspired by the amazing work of Jennie Joseph & her Common Sense Midwifery model, Brittany "Tru" Kellman's Jamaa Birth Village , and CHOICES Memphis Center for Reproductive Health
How You Can Help:
While I've paid my tuition & book costs up front, I am seeking help in recouping funds to aid in cost of living and securing stable housing.
Cost Break Down:
Summer 2020 Tuition + Books = $2,700
Fall 2020 Tuition + Books = $3,000
Spring 2021 Tuition + Books = ~ $1,700
Why You Should Donate:
Black Midwives Save Lives!!!
We hear so much about Black Maternal & Infant Mortality Rates, but did you know that Black Midwives help to reduce these disparities and help our communities THRIVE?!
Birthwork is my calling and my passion. Donating to my campaign is not only an investment in me as a future midwife, it is also an investment in creating healthy communities, presently and in the future.
I am a dedicated student, and my grades tell the tale:
In 2011, I earned my Bachelor's of Arts in Communication Studies from SFSU [go Gators!] with 3 semesters on the Dean's List & an undergraduate GPA of 3.27
In 2017, I graduated from Syracuse University's Newhouse School [go Oranges!] with a graduate GPA of 3.3, even while continuing to serve my community as a doula.
In my science courses, I've maintained a GPA of over 3.5, while surviving in the Bay Area, working full time, taking additional doula & skills trainings, engaging in reproductive justice advocacy, and being a heavily engaged community member. While I wear many hats, being a community doula and aspiring midwife is by far the biggest.
I welcome all channels of abundance and can also accept donations via:
PayPal: Jewel.b175
Venmo: @Jewelbb
CashApp: $jewelbb
Thank you all!!
JewelB//HoneyB