Support Alba and Claude's Journey to Parenthood

Alba is an AfroAndean artivist, academic advisor, educator, healer and independent scholar who began teaching 20 years ago with infants. Since then, Alba has taught Pre-K through college-aged students in public, private, non-profit, international, and community settings, meanwhile also obtaining Bachelor's, a Master's, and Ph.D. degrees.

Claude is a Black veteran, organizer, educator, and healing practitioner. He has been dedicated to building community to find solutions to local issues. Now, as a long-term substitute teacher in the NYC Department of Education, he hopes to find more ways of being in service as well as making a better world for his family, friends, and community.

Alba and Claude met in February of 2022 and began dating after a few months of friendship. Then they prayed for children on sacred Mohican, Schaghticoke Lands - Soul Fire Farm - the Soulstice of 2023 and, with the blessings of the community, decided to create life in the Spring of 2024. Their wondrous and magical journey into parenthood has not been without challenges, however. Alba lost her full-time salaried job last June of 2023, and then her 2 part-time jobs ended in March of 2024. When they learned of their pregnancy, they found it difficult to find prenatal and postpartum care, particularly for expecting Black and Native parents on Medicaid in the Bronx. After much searching, the couple found a doctor in Yonkers, a long trip from where they live in the Bronx (~$40 one way via ride apps). The couple is currently facing financial hardships while juggling multiple jobs and expecting a baby this winter.

This fundraiser was created to help support Alba and Claude as much as possible in the next year as they welcome and care for their Aquarius baby.