Sacred Seeds Black Doula Collective • Soul 2 Soul Sisters

Sacred Seeds Black Doula Collective of Colorado

Black Doulas are Saving Black Lives

What is a doula?

Sacred Seeds doulas are highly trained and skilled non-medical professionals who provide physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and informational support. Our doulas are equipped to provide clients with culturally relevant, holistic care and advocacy. The expertise of our doulas includes fertility, prenatal, labor/birth, postpartum, nutrition, energy work, lactation counseling, massage therapy, maternal mental health, bereavement, abortion, and end of life care.

Our Focus

Objectives

Black Breastfeeding - The HEALTHY Chocolate Milk

Abortion: My Body, My Sacred Decision

Objectives

Through the Sacred Seeds Black Doula Collective of Colorado, doulas:

Connect with Black families who seek doula care.
Share culturally reflective information and approaches with Black families to increase Black Breastfeeding, honor and save Black lives, and end the disparities in Black maternal and infant mortality.
Increase community awareness regarding the realities of Black parents, infants, and families.
Receive support in accessing and completing continuing education opportunities aligned with holistic approaches to the reproductive health needs of Black birthing people.
Cultivate a network of communal support while receiving opportunities to prioritize their own healing and well-being.

Black Breastfeeding - The HEALTHY Chocolate Milk

A core component of our work is increasing Black breastfeeding rates via education, advocacy, and representation. Through the “Black Breastfeeding – The HEALTHY Chocolate Milk” program, doulas support Black Womxn through the full spectrum of the breastfeeding experience – the questions, fears, joys, stress, celebration, peace, health and wellness for birthing person and baby. Our breastfeeding work includes:

Social media campaigns.
Promotional “Black Breastfeeding – The HEALTHY Chocolate Milk” apparel (sold in our online store).
Lactation professional development for doulas.
Educational efforts i.e. virtual panel discussions promoting Black breastfeeding.
Brochures promoting Black breastfeeding.

Abortion: My Body, My Sacred Decision

Inspired by reproductive justice framework, we affirm that Black Womxn’s health care must protect our right to raise children in safe and healthy environments, affirm our pleasure and sexuality, honor the decision not to become a parent, and support planned and healthy pregnancies.

Specifically, our work includes:

Journeying with Black Womxn who are deciding whether to have an abortion.
Working with state legislators to develop legislation that expands Black.
Womxn’s access to reproductive health care including abortion.
Engaging in relationship-building conversations in Black communities toward ending stigma and shame concerning abortion.

Do you need to secure doula care? Do you have questions for us?

Please email Sacred Seeds Black Doula Collective of Colorado at blackdoulas@soul2soulsisters.org

DOULA TEAM

Village Coordinator

Marpessa Allen

Read Marpessa's Bio

Marpessa Allen is a Colorado native and a mother of four. Her unique gifting in community activism and policy inform her true calling as a Doula. She joined Sacred Seeds Doula Collective because it is a blessing to journey through life with other committed birth workers. She has discovered how profound the strength of a people are when we authentically show up for one another.

Her background is a tapestry of motherhood, community organizing, and family policy initiatives. What truly makes her heart sing is ushering in a new chapter of a mother’s life. It’s her belief that we all have the same thing in common within the first minute of being born. We learned to take our first breath. She loves smiling, dreaming and thriving.

(she, her, hers)

Olivia Bright

Read Olivia's Bio

Olivia is a doula with a background in mental health and a love for dance. Olivia began her career in mental health with a passion for supporting others while studying psychology in school. After earning a B.S in Psychology she went on to support youth and adults in mental health programs. After the birth of her first child, Olivia’s passion for supporting individuals and families grew to include doula work. She trained as a birth doula in 2016 and volunteered with the Denver Health Doula Program and Prenatal Plus Doulas. Olivia continues to pursue new knowledge and skills to support each family in their unique journey.

(she, her, hers)

Kendra Carter

Read Kendra's Bio

Kendra is a woman of faith arising from African Diaspora and born and raised in Denver, CO. She is a certified Doula, holds an Associates in Business Administration and is pursuing a B.S. in Pre-Midwifery at Metropolitan State University in Denver Colorado. She previously worked with women using Hydrotherapy, Herbal therapy, and Lifestyle coaching in many states across the nation including Georgia and Michigan. She also had the opportunity to serve women overseas in Ghana and Togo. She loves music, reading, and cultures and she is passionate about making systemic changes to oppressive systems.

With a growing passion for health and wellness, she’s incorporating that into her daily life by taking time to do the things she loves. When she has the chance, she absolutely loves music, dancing, spoken word, art, and enjoy cooking and feeding people! With Love, Inner Peace, and Hair Grease ???? Ase'

(she, her, hers)

Jasmine N. Ellington

Read Jasmine's Bio

I am a Colorado native, and I love it here!

Azalia’s Way LLC was birthed in honor of my daughter Azalia after her passing in October of 2018. I am a Full Spectrum High Risk Doula. I specialize in everything from pre-conception needs, to bereavement care for families in need of it. My word of advice would be: “KNOW THE DOCTORS INVOLVED IN YOUR CARE, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!”

People will often say that a picture is worth a thousand words but i disagree with that because i believe that pictures are moments captured in time and it’s that time that you will never get back. There are so many stages of grief that people go through, but what i learned was that grief changes you forever. I teach people how to “debrief their grief!”. I am often asked what I can give to families that I wasn’t given, and my answer is SUPPORT! I needed a strong support system and I did not have one. Being a Doula allows me to help families build a strong unshakable foundation for the lives that are getting ready to be brought earth-side! This is a lifestyle for me. I’m here to help you establish your brand new, lifelong village for your children, and family. I’m predominantly in Colorado Springs but I do travel as well! I’m here for women of color, and I will try to meet your needs as best as I can! Azalia’s Way LLC is healing and saving lives one birth at a time!

Village Coordinator

Birdie Johnson

Read Birdie's Bio

Birdie was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She takes great pride and joy in her three children and is an avid reader and swimmer when she is not doing healing work and Doula support. She has been a doula for over three years and is a labor, postpartum, and infant care doula. Her favorite part of the job is postpartum doula support. Her passion for postpartum support is evident in the families she works with. Whether she is soothing a fussy baby or guiding parents through their baby's first bath at home, Birdie is, without a doubt, a baby whisperer. In addition to doula, support Birdie takes great pride in being the owner of Tru Love Wellness in Denver, where she is a healing practitioner. She focuses on meditation, massage therapy, and energy healing work. Her mission is to awaken your full healing potential and support balance to your mind, body, and spirit. She is committed to providing practical tools and soulful guidance for people to improve their physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.

(she, her, hers)

Nyia Milton

Read Nyia's Bio

Nyia IsRa Iman is a holistic Shamaness, freelancing herbalist, and full spectrum Doula originating from Denver, Colorado. She has her Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology and minor in Nutrition. Nyia IsRa has experience in prenatal and postnatal nutrition guidance, prenatal and postnatal exercise, and energetic practices. She is led in her work by her ancestral knowledge, intuitiveness, healing, and support. Nyia is passionate about supporting Womban in their uplifting, healing, spiritual, and nurturing journey.

(she, her, hers)

Shelby Irvin

Read Shelby's Bio

Shelby Irvin is a natural, breastfeeding, home birthing, babywearing mama of 4 who believes birth is just as much spiritual as it is physical! Through her personal experiences and trainings with ALPP, DONA, and CAPPA, Shelby has vowed to help other mamas find their rhythm as they transition through the many phases of mamahood. As a Certified Lactation Counselor, Childbirth Educator and Prenatal, Labor/Birth, and Postpartum Doula, Shelby strives to create a safe place for mamas of color to be who they are without having to explain their mere essence with her practice known as The Soulful Mama. She resides and works in Colorado Springs.

(she, her, hers)

Ndeye Ndao

Read Ndeye's Bio

Ndeye Ndao is a native of Senegal who has a passion for community work and women empowerment. She currently works with asylees to help them get connected with resettlement agencies for services. Ndeye received her labor/birth doula training from the Rocky Mountain Doula and established her practice to support women during labor and birth fully. Because of her passion for helping women, Ndeye plans on taking her doula skills to Senegal shortly to support women. Healing, sisterhood and women empowerment led Ndeye to doula work a year ago, and she plans on continuing to learn and grow.

Mama Mentor

Celeste Rios

Read Celeste's Bio

Celeste Ma'at comes from an ancestral lineage of healers, birth workers and medicine women that manifest through her work in Light as a Feather. She received her BA in Wellness for Marginalized Communities and focuses that degree on women's holistic healing. Celeste is a certified Reiki Master, Yoni Steam Practitioner, Full Spectrum Doula, Yoga Teacher and Wellness Coach. She is currently taking clients for Prenatal Coaching, Postpartum Support and New Mother Coaching.

(She, Her, Hers)

Dezel Shallenberg

Read Dezel's Bio

My name is Dez, and as a mom of two awesome kids, I know first-hand what a wild ride the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience can be. In 2012, once both of my children had started school, I became a Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki practitioner and eventually opened my private practice, Black Lotus Healing Arts. Somewhere along the way, I made the happy discovery that I LOVE working on pregnant and post-partum people. This, along with my unconditional love for babies, made getting trained as a Doula an obvious choice for me.

Doula Collective Manager (she, her, hers)

Briana Simmons

Read Briana's Bio

Briana Simmons shows up to her doula work as a Black queer woman with a niche for writing and a background in human rights. Currently, she serves as the Black Maternal, Health, Healing & Joy Coordinator for Soul 2 Soul Sisters. After training with the International Center for Traditional Childbearing as a full circle doula, she established her own practice known as Unearthing Tradition. As a prenatal, labor/birth, postpartum, bereavement, and end of life doula in training, Briana is fueled by the desire to create dignified spaces for families to transition between life and death. Curiosity, vision, and a deep knowing led Briana to doula work almost 4 years ago and she plans to continue on this path until midwifery pulls her in a new direction.

(she, her, elle)

Sagine Taluy

Read Sagine's Bio

My current field is being a mom but before that I was working as a community organizer for a local Miami non-profit. Much of my work was based around ensuring Miami resident's housing equity as the city is being rapidly gentrified by outside investors. In 2019, I led a group of activists, non-profits, and Miami residents in a rally to stand up against housing inequity. I also dedicated much time to attempting to change policy at the local level with Miami commissioners, developers, and attorneys in order to ensure the preservation of these historic neighborhoods.I have fought relentlessly on the local and federal level to ensure Haitian immigrants protection and have advocated on their behalf for legal pathways to residency which included rallies at South Florida detention centers and The White House. As a mother and doula here in Colorado, I help support black mothers through their pregnancy and post-partum with specific care garnered to the 4th trimester.

Communications Boss

Jahala Walker

Read Jahala's Bio

Jahala is a Denver native, massage therapist, and certified birth doula aiming to bring holistic health and wellness to the forefront of the black community. She offers her services in-home, at Urban Sanctuary in the historic Five Points neighborhood, and during special events. Jahala was an Early Childhood Educator and nanny for 12 years before going into advising and massage, and my tools just keep on growing! As a licensed massage therapist for about 3 years, she is currently building her private practice. Jahala runs the communications on the board for my non-profit Yaa's Beautifully Equipped Scholarship.

🕊Our Sister Kinyata LaCreshia Jackson is an Ancestor Now

It is with immense shock and profound grief that we share the passing of our dear sister, Kinyata LaCreshia Jackson on September 2, 2021. 🕊💙

Kinyata is forever 35-years-old, a wife, mother - her youngest child is 8-months-old - a community organizer, doula with Soul 2 Soul Sisters' Sacred Seeds Black Doula Collective of Colorado, creator of decadent gift baskets named after her daughter Eden, a business owner of Remembrance Wellness & Yoga, and so much more. She embodies a lifelong commitment to social justice and community healing through loving-kindness and service.

Kinyata, or “Yata” as she is affectionately known by many, exemplified love in every way. If you were blessed with the opportunity to know her, Kinyata was certain to leave you with a presence that commanded joy, honor, and respect. With a smile so divine and contagious, her style super fly, and her energy absolutely unmatched, Kinyata will be missed forever and cherished by Soul 2 Soul Sisters and the Colorado community.

Kinyata's beloved family - her mother, Yolanda McCloud, sisters, Kendal and Kenadi Jackson, husband, Ernest Jackson, children, Keegan Lamaj Alan Reid, Eden Khylynn Mercedes Jackson, and Elohim Khylsn Jackson, and Kinyata's community of extended family, friends, mentors and mentees ... please lift all in loving thoughts/prayer/energy as we are in shock and grieving deeply. If you are able, please continue to support her family by donating and/or sharing her fundraiser. We thank you in advance.

Sacred Seeds Black Doula Collective of Colorado

What is a doula?

Our Focus

Do you need to secure doula care? Do you have questions for us?

DOULA TEAM

Village Coordinator

Marpessa Allen

(she, her, hers)

Olivia Bright

(she, her, hers)

Kendra Carter

(she, her, hers)

Jasmine N. Ellington

Village Coordinator

Birdie Johnson

(she, her, hers)

Nyia Milton

(she, her, hers)

Shelby Irvin

(she, her, hers)

Ndeye Ndao

Mama Mentor

Celeste Rios

(She, Her, Hers)

Dezel Shallenberg

Doula Collective Manager (she, her, hers)

Briana Simmons

(she, her, elle)

Sagine Taluy

Communications Boss

Jahala Walker

🕊Our Sister Kinyata LaCreshia Jackson is an Ancestor Now

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