Restoring Birth Equity

Kay'La Mumford is a Full Spectrum Holistic Doula, Doula Trainer, CHW, and birth educator.Kay'La has been certified as a Doula for several years but has been in birth work for far longer. She has completed several doula certification courses, placenta encapsulation, postpartum doula training, lactation specialist training, and childbirth education. She founded her organization Birth & Embrace Communities Inc in 2021 and has trained close to 50 Doulas. Kay'La focuses on providing equity and education to bridge gaps in maternal health.  In 2020, she led the development of a project to support other Doulas and families during the pandemic.  Not only has she learned about birth through her profession but she has also conquered birth as a mother of 3. She has experienced home, hospital, and an unassisted birth and has lots of experience and wisdom to share with everyone. Her mission is to provide community expansion in under marginalized communities and collectively work to redefine infant/maternal health in our country.

Lakeeta is the founding Executive Director of Essentially Empowered, Inc, an organization based in Milwaukee that services multiple counties in Southeast Wisconsin, Essentially Empowered provides youth development opportunities, resource and referral services, trauma-informed programming, and youth doula support. Lakeeta is a Certified Community Health Worker, Full Spectrum Holistic Doula, and Certified Lactation Specialist, and student midwife. Lakeeta aims to reduce health disparities experienced by people of color through trauma-informed care, advocacy, and policy change.

Teresina Simmons is the Founder and Executive Director of Regal Family Services and Founder and CEO of Regal Aspire, LLC.  She is a Registered Nurse, RN Consultant, Doula and Doula trainer, Perinatal Educator, CHW Instructor, CPR Instructor, health and wellness educator, and student midwife.  She has assisted in a number of pilots and community sessions within the community surrounding such topics as COVID/ vaccine hesitancy, health literacy, patient advocacy, Doula work and parenting.  She has provided assistance and mentorship to individuals and community organizations to create and/or streamline processes and programs.  She is also currently working at the Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care as the Regional Support Specialist where her role is to develop and support the levels of care designation process, contribute to the educational programming, and create and implement a program of collaboration and support for hospitals and perinatal care providers following level of care designation.