We are the keepers of your wildest dreams and deepest fears. The healer for what ails you. Soothers of aching bones and spirits. We are space holders. Bearing witness as your wisdom guides the baby here. We are singing your name to the heavens. Quietly calling in the ancestors to welcome this new life into the community. We are the protectors of this rite of passage.

                                                                                                                - The Black Birthworker



Hi family! Thank you for being a part of my community! 


I am Kea’nia. A black herbalist, doula, ancestral foodways keeper, community breastfeeding educator, and now a student midwife!  Black midwives are vitally important in the fight to reduce black maternal morbidity and mortality.  Studies show that patient-physician concordance ( patient and physician share the same race) results in better health outcomes for both the birthing person and newborns. I am honored for the ability to support my community in this way. My work as a doula has been deeply rooted in affirming the experiences of black birthing families. As a midwife, I will be able to provide full-spectrum medical care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.  Being a black midwife means safeguarding the families in my community.

Throughout my work, I have witnessed just how powerful, and necessary, it is to be apart of a community. To be seen, held accountable, and valued for what you offer to the greater whole. Only within the community can you proclaim your life’s purpose and be affirmed along the journey to stand in that calling. Thank you for choosing to be apart of my community and affirming the need for black midwives. Your support is beyond invaluable. It is life-changing for me and the families I will serve as a midwife.



I wanted to share some quick statistics for black birthing families. All data was compiled by either the CDC or PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America)


-Black women are 3 to 5 times more likely to die due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth than white women. This is after controlling for socioeconomic status, education levels, and geographical location.

-Roughly 60% of these deaths were preventable

-Black parents are twice as likely to have their infants die in the first year of life than white parents.

-18% of black babies are born prematurely

-Newborns cared for by providers of the same race (physician-patient concordance) are estimated to have a reduced risk of death by over 50%.



For a moment, I want to acknowledge some women who have passed due to a lack of compassionate care. You may recognize a few of these names. Many of these women we’ve lost in the last 12 months alone. And of them, three resided in New York while seeking care.



       Sha-Asia Washington                            
       Shalon Irving
       Amber Rose Isaac                                     
       Kira Johnson
      Shamony Gibson                
      Yolanda “Shiphrah” Kadima
      Victoria Rexach                    
      Lisa Swinton McLaughlin


As you say their names, I hope the gravity of the situation is with you. We are more than a number. We are unique individuals that deserve patient-centered medical care. I am ready to be the change I’ve fought for as a doula. Representation within midwifery is critical for gaining a perspective that can save lives.  The black and brown community needs to be taken care of by providers who see them, who validate their concerns, and who walk with them every step of the way.  This work is about advocacy, deep transparency, and an intimate understanding of my family's needs. Holding this level of compassion allowed me to see the gaps in medical care for birthing families. Most of my clients do not have access to home birth. As a doula, I am able to empower my families with education but to a certain extent; we are still working within a structure that has a hard time providing equitable care to our communities.


Black women have been the wisdom holders and teachers of midwifery since we were brought to this country. We ushered in life for both black and white women during slavery, our bodies were used to birth American gynecology, and we were a safe place for our community when American healthcare did not welcome us into the doors. Yet, somehow we have been written out of this knowledge, leaving us to fight tooth and nail to regain this wisdom. It is a wisdom that Black and Brown people need to thrive during the transition into parenthood.



 Holding space during pregnancy and birth is what I have been called to do. To stand in the gap. As a doula, I am a beautiful balance of poise and grit. I am a gentle whisper in the quiet times. And I ignite fire into the spaces that call for our movement. My support is based on holistic, traditional practices that empower my clients to create their own birthing stories. I am there to encourage my families along the journey to parenthood. As a midwife I know I will be able to expand my scope of care to provide medical support. I ask that you join me in providing care for families that need it the most.




About Me:

I am honored to be apart of a POC-led doula collective that offers free full-spectrum doula services to underserved families in Brooklyn, NY… Let me back up and share a bit more about myself.


I’ve always had a deep love for babies and the bodies carrying them. My great-great grandma was a southern midwife in rural Virginia so this calling runs deep. My Aunt Jackie also ran a home daycare center when I was a child. I really loved being there to watch her, and all the women in the house, love on the toddlers and babies ( although I was scared to hold the little ones because I thought I would break them lol).  My Aunt Jackie has always been the baby whisperer.  Truly! To this day; it is so special to see my aunt, grandmas, and cousins (now mamas) share remedies for heat rash, colic, and the like. Those summer visits to Virginia as a child hugely influenced who I am today. I remember in high school my Psychology teacher asked us to create a collage representing who we were/ what we liked.  In the middle of my collage was a pregnant woman. I absolutely did not have the words or understanding that I wanted to support birth. All I could say was, “ I really love pregnant bodies. I think they are so magical and pretty.” Of course, that got a few chuckles from the back row.


My journey began with the opportunity to develop a food therapy program centered around conflict resolution for incarcerated youth. Girls who fought all day were able to get in the kitchen and talk the situation out over a pot of rice. Incredible. I realized I wanted to use food as a way to empower women of color to govern their households and the larger community. I ventured to Boston University to obtain a Masters in Gastronomy with the goal of working with childbearing families, but I truly fell into alignment with my purpose outside of the classroom.


While in Boston I started my first herbal apprenticeship where many of my classmates were also doulas. This was the first time I witnessed the role ancestral wisdom and spirituality plays in birth. My herbal focus quickly honed in on reproductive health. This apprenticeship highlighted how much I wanted to fuse food and herbal remedies into the sacred birth space. I firmly believe that pregnancy is a time of intense transformation and growth. A calling of mine is to inspire birthing people of color to use traditional wisdom to prepare themselves physically and spiritually for birth and parenthood.

When I returned to Brooklyn, NY I completed a full spectrum doula training with Ancient Song and a birth doula training with DONA International. I was later selected to be one of six doula apprentices to train with By My Side where I was paired with my mentor. With the guidance of the by my side apprenticeship and my doula collective, I have been able to serve families during all stages of childbirth.



How Your Support Helps:

I have been accepted into The Florida School of Traditional Midwifery: Cypress Grove this fall! Unfortunately, they are still working towards approval to offer financial aid. I will be paying for midwifery school out of pocket until financial aid is approved. Every bit will go towards tuition, books, supplies, and things that I need to complete the first year of school without worry, or concern around how I will continue my education. A portion will also go towards relocating to Florida so I can secure housing and make sure basic needs are covered. Again, I thank you for all of your support. Without you, this would not be possible. It is with you that I am able to stand in my purpose as a student midwife and soon a midwifery care provider!


         ~Ways You Can Help~

Monetary Donations:

Every little bit supports me in reaching my goal and no amount is too small. I am humbled by every cent you choose to invest in me and I hope it returns 10 fold in your life. Below is a breakdown of where your donations will be going.

Financial Breakdown

Yearly Tuition                        $13,056

Books & supplies                       $450

                                     Total: $13,506

All additional donations will go towards unforeseen school supplies, PPE gear, and relocation expenses.



Spreading The Word

Sharing the campaign with your friends, family, and tribe means the world to me! It truly takes a community and every share helps amplify reaching my goal. I appreciate you taking the time to spread the word on your social media platforms and in personal circles.

Your support allows me to thrive and be fully immersed in my education. Each donation and share is encouragement to continue uplifting the birthing families in our community.  It is validation that I am seen and held during the process of holding others.



Many thanks. As a small token of my immense gratitude, I have included a few videos I hope can help along the journey to birth. You will find quick tips and advice about pregnancy and birth. Even if you are not able to financially support I hope these videos will be a little love message to you and your loved ones that may be expecting. Please feel free to share the videos with friends and family! 


Deep Gratitude, 

Kea'nia