Hey loves <3 Let me spill the tea about me… Let’s see, I’m a single momma of two brilliant, outgoing, and creative beautifully melanated girls. MiniBoo is my eldest and Tinkers is my youngest. They are my world and our experiences influenced my entry into the world of birthwork.
My experience with giving birth is like many Black women. I was neglected, ignored, and disbelieved by my medical providers based on my race. I had a traumatic postpartum experience with MiniBoo and a traumatic birth experience with Tinkers.
I made it my mission to make sure that other Black birthers would not experience the same. So, I developed a website to connect young BIPOC mothers to community based resources and organizations, but I was missing direct interactions and I wanted to do more. It wasn’t until a great friend of mine stepped forward to support me as my postpartum doula that I discovered that this would be the path for me. So begins my journey as a Black birth worker.
I pulled money out from my 401k to invest in my education and training in birth work, and even received a NAPS and BADT scholarships. As you can see from the list of completed trainings listed below (which doesn't include the required reading lists), I took the start to my journey very seriously (and very much continue to). It has become my mission to develop a practice which has yet to be developed in the Puget Sound Community.
The name...
Music helps me think. My daughters have learned that music playing either means we're about to clean house or mommy is working. While, I was thinking of a name, Keep Ya Head Up by Tupac came on. The line "Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots" stood out to me and I got the name BLACKBERRY. I spell it B L K B R Y, take out the vowels (and a R). I name my practice this way because there is so much missing in Black maternal and Black infant healthcare.
What type of practice do I run?...
BLKBRY, llc is grounded in advocacy, decolonizing support care, trauma-informed care, gender-affirming care, and resourcefulness. I sought out trainings that would assist in the structure of a full spectrum practice that promotes, supports, and strengthens access to culturally congruent care, continuity of care, and practiced evidence based support. I have stepped into the birth work world wholeheartedly and I am embracing every moment of the journey. I believe this work saves lives and I believe the purpose of this work is to create empowering success stories for all that are interested or in need.
In addition, I trust in my clients’ ability to make the decisions that are right for them, their body, and their family from a place of informed consent, and I will support my clients with no judgement. I am creating a brave space where BIPOC folx and families can receive the support they need, and where the level of melanin in your skin, your income, your sexual orientation, or previous life events are not a barrier in receiving the support that you need. I also strive for collaborative care. Working with your provider to help make sure that they follow your plan and I check any implicit bias that may try to come out.
I come to you with the strength of my ancestors. I am passionate about supporting you in your journey and have the honor of calling y’all tribe.
Rebyrth Wellness: PMADs Crash Course, December 2020
Echeri International: MX Birth Technologies + Rebozo History + Uses, November 2020
PAILAdvocate Training by Nneka Hall, November 2020
La Matriz Birth: Postpatrtum Belly Binding, September 2020
NAPS Continuing Ed: Vaginal Steaming with Ebony Dixon-Padilla, September 2020
Lactation for Doulas, The Village Circle, September 2020
Birthing Advocacy Doula Training
Certified Lactation Educator through Evergreen Perinatal Education, June 2020
Shafia Monroe Consulting Full Circle Doula Birth Companion Training, June 2020
Washington State Food Handler's Permit, May 2020
Completed Washington State Background Check, May 2020
Certified PALS Birth Doula, April 2020
Cornerstone Certifications:
Certified Oh Crap! Potty Training by Jamie Glowacki, April 2020
Let it Be Birth: Pandemic Response Doula Training, April 2020
La Leche League (LLL) of Kirkland - Online Breast/Chestfeeding Class for Birth Professionals, April 2020
Simkin Center at Bastyr University, Seattle - Postpartum Doula, February 2020
Diaper Stork: Cloth Diapering for Doulas, January 2020
Labor Support Doula Meetup, October 2020
Simkin Center at Bastyr University, Seattle - Guest Lecture Speaker for Postpartum Doula Training, October 2020
Tideway Creative - Black Owned Seattle, August 2020
NAPS NASE (NAPS Alliance for Social Equity) Committee Lead, July 2020 - January 2021
Rainier Valley Midwives - Contracted Full Spectrum Doula, June 2020
Birth & Breastfeeding Post-Pandemic: The Silver Linings Playbook hosted by Kimberly Seals Allers, June 2020
Doulas For All Washington State Coalition, June 2020
Doulas For All Lobby Day, February 2020
Greater Seattle Business Administration - Ready for Business Grant, September 2020
Able to assist you in applying for:
WIC
SNAP/TANF
Medicaid/CHIP
Childcare Voucher
Utility Discount Program
Address Confidentiality Program
Copyright © 2020 BLKBRY, llc - All Rights Reserved. BLKBRY is a trademark of BLKBRY, llc.
Logo Designed by Chinelle Rojas, The BLK Creative
Serving Seattle and King County