Category Archives: Coalitions/Organizations

Who encourages you? Saying ‘Goodbye’ to a Black Breastfeeding Shero!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Posted by in Coalitions/Organizations, IBCLC, MISSISSIPPI, public speaking, Uncategorized

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Terry Curtis 1951-2104. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, who also worked at a milk bank in Indiana. Here, she is working on part of the process of pasteurizing human milk.

Terry Curtis 1951-2104. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, who also worked at a milk bank in Indiana. Here, she is working on part of the process of pasteurizing human milk.

I gave a 1-hour presentation on Black breastfeeding to about 160 students in an intro to medical anthropology course on Tuesday. The day before that, I received heartbreaking news that the founder of the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition, Terry Curtis, had transitioned in her sleep just the day before.

If Terry were some celebrity or movie or pop star, the news would spread like wildfire and everyone who believed they were intersted in that person would speak kind thoughts. But often times people who have made an actual impact on others go unnamed to larger populations. My presentation was complete but I made an additional slide of Terry which I shared before I got started, because I wanted to tell the students how she impacted me and my work. In fact, in the very beginning she would read my blog, comment, made me a member of her coalition and really encouraged me to keep going, despite me facing all of the obstacles from being ‘unqualified’ because I had never breastfed and so there were many areas where organizations and such didn’t really allow me to help out. In fact, I don’t know where I would be in my own breastfeeding endeavor without the support she gave me about being involved, despite these challenges. I wonder if I would have even continued.

We had quite a bit in common, including both being from Mississippi. She never really told me all about everything she went through growing up down there, but she would say she could tell me stories for days about the racism she faced. I was hoping that one day over a hot cup of tea we’d sit down and I’d hear all about this part of her life. I’ve talked to her about my stuff — about withdrawing from breastfeeding conferences because of racial politics, and even about school and she knew all about the stuff that’s gone on and gave me advice on that.

This is what I told the students about her:

‘Before I start, I just want to take a moment to talk about Terry Jo Curtis who just passed away this past Sunday (Mother’s Day, 2014). Terry Jo Curtis is the founder of the IBBC, an organization based in Indianapolis to challenge the disparities in Black breastfeeding, and to get more Black babies to breastfeed. For a time she was the only Black International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) it the state.

When I was just starting out out on my breastfeeding journey I was frustrated and discouraged because NO ONE would allow me to participate in various activities and venues because I was this weird chick who wanted to work in breastfeeding but had never done it. She really took me under her wing and encouraged me and introduced me to her people and we’ve been pretty tight ever since. I don’t think I would be here were it not for the encouragement she gave me back then and now, even as I just talked to her recently. I was hoping to see her again in July should I attend the ROSE Black breastfeeding conference in Atlanta, and just talked to her recently about this.

I won’t ask for a moment of silence but as you go about your day today I encourage you to take some time and reflect on who encouraged YOU in whatever journey you’re on or have been on and, in turn, who will you or HOW can you encourage another in theirs.’

The Black breastfeeding world just won’t be the same. But we know she left a legacy that will continue living long after she has not. I have another presentation tomorrow, and I plan on telling my audience the same thing. My feelings have been really hurt over her passing. I’ve been listening to this song. It reminds me of growing up, and I have used the words as a means of comfort for me right now. I really miss her already, and I know that I will continue to do so.

Inequity in Breastfeeding Support Summit Registration Now Open!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Posted by in Coalitions/Organizations, public speaking, Summits & Conferences, whiteness

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Registration is live for the breastfeeding summit, focusing on ‘The impact of institutional racism, power and white privilege on breastfeeding rates and maternal-infant health.’ This summit is happening on June 21-22, 2013, at the Brockey Conference Center South Seattle Community College in Seattle, WA, and is ‘A collaboration of the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, Mahogany Moms Breastfeeding Coalition, Native American Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, and Community Breastfeeding Activists.’

There’s a pretty cool line-up of speakers, including Kathi Barber — author of The Black Woman’s Guide to Breastfeeding, Midwife Shafia M. Monroe, founder of the International Center for Traditional Childbearing, where I joined as a member and also trained as a Full-Circle Doula.

The purpose of this conference is to collaborate, educate and act together as a community of breastfeeding supporters to learn about and counter institutional racism and social injustice in perinatal support services. 

Below is the rest of the info I copied from the event page, with a bit about the speakers, and you can click here to register:

Goals:

Raise awareness in the breastfeeding support community and other perinatal support fields, of significant health disparities between women of color and white women and the impact of racism, injustice, and white privilege on maternal-infant health services and outcomes.Facilitate the development of an action plan to address these disparities and identify actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can take, in line with the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.

Objectives:

Educate health care providers, breastfeeding counselors, childcare providers, employers and community members on how to counter institutional racism in their communities and organizations.Facilitate a dynamic cross-exchange of culturally competent breastfeeding information and best-practice support strategies for women of all ethnicities.Facilitate collaborative discourse to develop an action plan to address current disparities in both breastfeeding rates and access to breastfeeding services.

Confirmed Speakers:

Kathi Barber, CLC, Founder of the African American Breastfeeding Alliance and author of The Black Woman’s Guide to Breastfeeding

Sheila Capestany, MPH, MSW, Executive Director of Open Arms Perinatal Services

Shafia Monroe, Midwife, President and CEO of International Center for Traditional Childbearing

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS, IBCLC, RLC, CATSM

Joan E. Dodgson, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN

Jeanette McCulloch, IBCLC, LLL & Wendy Gordon, LM, CPM, MPH

Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka, MSEd & Jeanine Valrie, MPH

Inga Aaron, BA, Community Breastfeeding Activist

Sherry Payne, MSN, RN, CNE, IBCLC, Executive Director Uzazi Village

Camie Jae Goldhammer, MSW, CLE, Postpartum Doula, Founder and Chair of the Native American Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington

If you have any other questions, let me know. Or you can email the committee. Hope to see you.

I just became a member of the International Center for Traditional Childbearing

Thursday, October 25, 2012

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I just became a member of the International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC)! ICTC was founded by Shafia Monroe, and is a ‘infant mortality prevention, breastfeeding promotion, midwife and doula training non-profit organization,’ that aims to increase the amount of midwives of color, and is based in nearby Portland, OR.

Lately, I have been interested in learning more about birth practices among women of color. I believe my desire to examine this area comes from an eagerness to go deeper with breastfeeding advocacy, and to increase my knowledge by exploring the social, cultural and political links that support barriers that exist in birth and breastfeeding traditions. I’m really interested in learning more about Black lay midwifery, and have already been adding ‘must read’ texts to my wishlist. Some of those can be seen here. I think this is a start to beginning that search.

Even though becoming a member of ICTC is not required, because I really value their outlook and mission, and because they’re close enough for me to travel to, this is also where I have decided to pursue the Full Circle Doula Training to become a postpartum doula —  I am hoping to sign up for December’s course. I’m happy to be more connected with this organization and community of people who emphasize decreasing the maternal and infant mortality rate by increasing the breastfeeding and birth rates among Black women. And I’m happy I’m one step closer to becoming a doula.

Breastfeeding and Anti-Racism? Yes, please!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

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I just joined an anti-racism committee, organized by the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington. I was sent some information along with an invitation to join this group, whose primary goal is to “Learn about and look at how privilege and institutionalized racism impact breastfeeding promotion, support in hospitals, primary care, worksites and within our own coalition, and determine how we can incorporate equity issues into the work we are already doing.” Needless to say there wasn’t much hesitation on my part to accept the offer.

More and more as I continue to venture on this lactation journey, the reasons the universe drew me here are becoming more and more clear. It is wonderful to see people committed to social justice work, and to know there are those out there who want to have a hand at proactively engaging in discourse to find ways to end racism and the damaging effects it causes in breastfeeding outcomes. I’m happy to be doing the work that I do. And I’m thrilled that when people think of anti-racism, justice and equality I come to mind.

Who has two thumbs, became a member of another coalition and is going to Atlanta, Georgia to give a workshop on ending breastfeeding disparities among Black women?

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Posted by in Coalitions/Organizations, public speaking, Summits & Conferences

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Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), has coordinated an event aimed at ending breastfeeding disparities among Black women, in a conference called Reclaiming Our Breastfeeding Experience, and I am excited about this for a number of reasons.

The coalition, whose founder Kim Bugg just made me a member, has a vision to “Empower African American women to embrace breastfeeding as a cultural and social norm throughout the US,” and to enhance the overall mental and physical health of African American women, babies, and their families,” since the disparities associated with the low rate are significant. This is also why this conference aims to bring together Black women from across the country who have dedicated their time and effort to ending these imbalances through their personal and professional work as MDs, breastfeeding advocates, IBCLCs, nutrition experts and others, in one place. I can only see great things come of this.

Even though I was not selected to speak at the ILCA’s Annual Meeting when I applied last year, this almost reaffirms my belief that indeed things do happen for a reason. Had I been chosen, according to their guidelines, participants are prohibited from speaking at other engagements for two months before they present at their conferences, believing the appearance has the potential to negatively affect the outcome of their audience. Had I been selected, I would not be able to speak here in July, since the ROSE workshop happens just six days before. But I am thrilled to be taking part in something that deals exclusively with ways to positively impact Black women — an area I have dedicated countless hours, vying for greater personal, cultural and social change. Yes indeed, things do work out. And I’m so happy they do.

 

The Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington: I’m In!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

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Babies were born to be breastfed

I met with a representative from the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington (BCW) yesterday! Finally! I say finally because we’ve been trying to meet for months, without success. So this was a great transition directly after the Target nurse-in, and over a hot cup of tea, discussed the coalition, public health, advocacy, and other topics. And I love the pen she gave me!

Before the meeting’s end I was made a member of this coalition and was overjoyed at the moment! This is my second coalition, the first being the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition (IBBC), which I am still thrilled to be a part of.

I was asked a question yesterday during this meeting that has been in my mind since. “What is the answer to ending disparities?” Among communities Of Color, which is the reason I’m involved in this arena. I would love to have the answer to this one, and the only thing I could think of so far is to promote literacy and critical thinking, which I believe is a start to being able to make truly informed decisions. Of course it goes deeper than that, and we must take into consideration other factors as well — racism, sexism, classism, which all work together, and must ensure we are not strictly making these issues for women to deal with. I don’t have all of the answers.

I believe coalitions are such a great way to bring individuals and groups together to see the differences also, while recognizing we are inevitably working towards a common goal, while listening to and understanding each and learning the culture of these groups. I get more and more excited at the thought. I anticipate working with others.

Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition: My First Breastfeeding Coalition

Thursday, July 21, 2011

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Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition

Last Thursday, I was made a member of the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition, and I am ecstatic! This is the first breastfeeding coalition for me. Actually, this is the first coalition I’ve ever been a part of  in any area, so it makes it all the more exciting! The Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition is the only Black breastfeeding coalition in the state of Indiana and was founded in 2007 to “Encourage the African American community to support women in their breastfeeding choice and efforts.”

The founder, Terry Jo Curtis, has phenomenal and extensive breastfeeding knowledge, history, education and personal experience, including being an International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She is also a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Pasteurize Technician for the Indiana Milk Bank — making banked milk safe for babies, is a Lactation Teacher, is Certified to teach lactation in the workplace, teaches breastfeeding at A.M.E. Zion Church, teaches breastfeeding at health clinics, studied mammals and breastfeeding at Sea World, works as an associate in a pregnant woman’s store, speaks on breastfeeding at churches, schools, events, and health fairs, founded the first [Black] Fathers Supporting Breastfeeding group in the state of Indiana, is a recipient of the “2009 Indiana Perinatal Network Most Valuable Player Award for her work in the breastfeeding community,” and has two children of her own with two very different breastfeeding stories. She also has a very interesting story of how she became interested in breastfeeding — through her grandmother’s job as a wet nurse. So I hope you understand my high level of excitement.

This is such a great step towards working with breastfeeding among Black women, Women Of Color, and all women. And even though I have no idea exactly what I’m doing just yet, I know I will soon begin learning information to help assist mothers in various ways with infant feeding, and this is just the beginning. Building bridges and raising awareness — paving the way to more success and empowerment in the fight against disparities. I am honored to be a part of this.