Fund Black Midwives!
Donation protected
Black midwives are the answer to the higher rates of maternal and neonatal mortality among Black communities. Please join us in supporting and lifting up these birth workers so they can continue this important work. Keep in mind while Raya and Shaquan continue their work and certification process, they are also supporting themselves and their families! GIVE GENEROUSLY WITH INTENTION AND LOVE!
Raya’s Story
“Birthing experiences of family, even my grandmother and close cousins, attracted me to the Midwifery Model of Care. I connected with a BOMB Birth Worker who introduced me to birth work explaining her role as a doula and connected me with Chicago Volunteer Doulas. Serving families as a birth doula at several Chicago Hospitals led me to exploring and supporting Home Birth. I am a student midwife pursuing certification as a Certified Professional Midwife. An important part of my role is shifting the experience of birth for black families from fearful to peaceful. Black women deserve peaceful birth experiences, with support at Home.”
You can learn more about Raya’s present doula work at
https://profoundlypeacefulmama.com/
COSTS
PEP Route (all phases and NARM EXAM) $2,100
Books $1,000
Bridge Program $4,800
Additional ways to donate
Cash App - $RayaFord
Zelle - [email redacted]
Venmo - @RayaFord
Shaquan’s story
Shaquan is “A Magnificent Force of Black Doula Love” (www.thepeoplesdoula.com) and Certified Lactation Consultant who is now on the path to becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife after the many hoops and barriers toward her original dream of becoming a Certified Professional Midwife, rendered it inaccessible to her.* She says that the bright side of her transition to CNM is that she will be more accessible to Black families, which is one of the main reasons she chooses this work. She is also the founder of Chicago Black Doula Alliance, co-host of the Birthworker Baes podcast, and a second time Mama to be!
Raya’s Story
“Birthing experiences of family, even my grandmother and close cousins, attracted me to the Midwifery Model of Care. I connected with a BOMB Birth Worker who introduced me to birth work explaining her role as a doula and connected me with Chicago Volunteer Doulas. Serving families as a birth doula at several Chicago Hospitals led me to exploring and supporting Home Birth. I am a student midwife pursuing certification as a Certified Professional Midwife. An important part of my role is shifting the experience of birth for black families from fearful to peaceful. Black women deserve peaceful birth experiences, with support at Home.”
You can learn more about Raya’s present doula work at
https://profoundlypeacefulmama.com/
COSTS
PEP Route (all phases and NARM EXAM) $2,100
Books $1,000
Bridge Program $4,800
Additional ways to donate
Cash App - $RayaFord
Zelle - [email redacted]
Venmo - @RayaFord
Shaquan’s story
Shaquan is “A Magnificent Force of Black Doula Love” (www.thepeoplesdoula.com) and Certified Lactation Consultant who is now on the path to becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife after the many hoops and barriers toward her original dream of becoming a Certified Professional Midwife, rendered it inaccessible to her.* She says that the bright side of her transition to CNM is that she will be more accessible to Black families, which is one of the main reasons she chooses this work. She is also the founder of Chicago Black Doula Alliance, co-host of the Birthworker Baes podcast, and a second time Mama to be!
*The CPM path Shaquan was originally created a ton of hoops that made it inaccessible: 1) The CPM program prohibited her from working as a private doula and required she be employed by an agency with at least a $100,000 insurance policy. 2) She was slated to take clinical exams in spring 2020, which would have required an out of state trip that relied on her to pay for all travel and lodging expenses. Meanwhile she was to be on call 24/7 during that entire trip while also expected to complete the tasks required for clinicals.
3) As she contributes to her own household financially, these obstacles made the program a non-option for her, and is such for many other Black prospective CPM students.
COSTS
Tuition for Frontier $39,552
Books $1500
NCLEX Exam $200
AMCB Exam $500
Additional ways to donate
Venmo - @ Shaquan-Dupart
Cash App - $shaquandupart
3) As she contributes to her own household financially, these obstacles made the program a non-option for her, and is such for many other Black prospective CPM students.
COSTS
Tuition for Frontier $39,552
Books $1500
NCLEX Exam $200
AMCB Exam $500
Additional ways to donate
Venmo - @ Shaquan-Dupart
Cash App - $shaquandupart
Organizer and beneficiary
Leah Whiteman
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Shaquan Dupart
Beneficiary