A Bit About Me

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 kids. MiniBoo is my eldest and Tinkers is my youngest. They are my world and our experiences influenced my entry into the world of birth work and reproductive support.

 

My experience with giving birth is like many Black and Indigenous birthing people. 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 folks exploring their reproductive options 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 kids 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 BLKBRY, with letters missing for reason. It's on purpose and intentional. It is spelled way to acknowledge that there is much missing in Black reproductive, perinatal, and Black infant healthcare, and BLKBRY strives to fill in the gaps.

 

What type of practice do I run?...

BLKBRY® is grounded in advocacy, decolonizing support care, trauma-informed care, gender-affirming care, size and disability inclusivity, 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 ancestral holistic care. 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 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, gender identity, your sexual orientation, abilities, family structure, 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.