Join us for a transformative and empowering event, Our Voices, Our Stories: BIPOC Breastfeeding Brunch, on August 31st from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Eatonville Library.
Hosted by The Central Florida Birth Network, this brunch is a celebration of Black and Brown women and birth parents, fostering a sense of community, education, and connectedness. Nestled in the historic city of Eatonville, the oldest Black-incorporated municipality in the United States, this event will highlight the rich heritage and vibrant culture of our community.
What to Expect:
-Inspiring Stories: Hear from mothers, birth professionals, and community leaders as they share their breastfeeding or lactation journeys and the impact of community support on their health and wellbeing.
- Expert Panels: Engage with healthcare professionals and experts in maternal and infant health who will provide valuable insights and answer your questions.
- Delicious Brunch: Enjoy a brunch with a variety of delicious, nutritious dishes designed to nourish both body and soul.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals, build lasting relationships, and expand your support network.
Why Attend?
This event is not just a brunch; it's a movement to celebrate and support Black and Brown families. By attending, you will be part of a community effort to uplift and empower, promoting breastfeeding and lactation, maternal infant health, and overall wellbeing.
Mark your calendars for August 31st from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and join us at the Eatonville Library for a day of celebration, connection, and inspiration. We look forward to seeing you there!
At Trap Baby & Me early childhood development happens a little outside the box— the boombox, that is! Tapping into genres like Trap, R&B, Afrobeats, and Gospel, not only do we utilize music that children can learn to, it’s also music that parents can vibe to.
Led by Dr. Celina Dozier, Trap Baby & Me classes utilize music, instruments, and nursery rhymes that represent the diversity of the African Diaspora. Through research-based curricula, classes at Trap Baby & Me are designed to facilitate your child’s growth and development with the assistance of music, nursery rhymes, and movement.
Sabrina Barber is a Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Childbirth Doula and Certified Infant Massage Instructor. She is the owner of Motherly Love Lactation Services and Co-Founder of Baby BLISS Feeding Collaborative of Central Florida, LLC. She provides lactation support that empowers families with unique abilities and provides education to fellow providers to help them serve families with confidence!
Sabrina has a background in Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Postpartum care. She is the Education Chair for the Board of Directors of Florida Lactation Consultant Association. Sabrina is an international speaker and has presented for FLCA, USLCA, ILCA, NZLCA. Sabrina is active in her community and has participated in the Black Doula Tour in 2022, Black Breastfeeding Week 2023, and events within her local health department and organizations.
Sabrina’s professional experience was put into practice when she had two little ones of her own. She is the mother of two children with whom she has overcome many breastfeeding challenges such as: tongue ties, oral motor difficulty, severe food allergies, and more. Her oldest is autistic and has special needs. This has shaped the way she cares for families with unique differences. Providing collaborative care with her team at Baby BLISS for infants with complex medical histories is Sabrina’s specialty. Sabrina’s mission is to provide unbiased, culturally competent, and compassionate care for every family.
After the loss of her son Xander, Xaviera "Zay" Bell became a passionate advocate for maternal health. She is the creator and founder of two impactful nonprofits, Zeal of Xander, Inc. and The Black Birth Institute, Inc. She is dedicated to addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by black women and families in her community.
Zay holds a Master of Science, certifications as a doula, and has completed specialized training in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Adult Mental Health First Aid. She is also a certified life coach with a focus on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This combination of skills enables her to provide holistic support, addressing not only the physical aspects of maternal health but also the emotional and mental well-being of her clients. Zay offers a safe space for healing, providing guidance and resources to navigate the complex emotions and challenges that arise during this vulnerable time.
Xaviera "Zay" Bell is honored to serve her community and make a positive impact on the lives of women and families. Through her dedication and expertise, she strives to create a more inclusive and a supportive environment for all individuals during their maternal health journey.
Nicolle Maldonado Arendt, LM (she/her/ella) is a Puerto Rican Florida Licensed Midwife that has been attending births since 2018 across both coasts of Central Florida.
Nicolle serves as the Clinical Consultant of the Central Florida Birth Network, providing guidance for CFBN initiatives from the clinical perspective while navigating professional and collaborative approaches to tackling intersectional issues with attaining equitable healthcare.
Nicolle passionately serves her community through her home birth practice, Mother of Thousands Midwifery. The philosophy behind Mother of Thousands Midwifery is to, "leave a little love everywhere you go," by using education along with unwavering support to help families uncover and unleash their power as they explore the world of growing a baby and becoming parents.
Nicolle's path to midwifery began at 5 years old when her mother achieved her successful VBAC with the birth of her younger sister, but she began walking in midwifery many years later after witnessing a close friend and doula client receive neglectful care during her childbirth experience that resulted in her almost losing her life due to racial bias. Nicolle has since relied on the intuition instilled within her lineage as the great-great-granddaughter of a Puerto Rican traditional midwife and the knowledge passed onto her from each midwife she has learned from, to advocate for each family she serves through informed decision making to maintain a safe and inclusive birth experience.
Nicolle spends her free time enjoying her family, gardening, hiking, learning new things, traveling, and participating as an active member of Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Incorporated.
Tamiqua Torres is an IBCLC and Postpartum Doula serving areas of Central Florida where she resides with her husband and children for the last five years. Tamiqua believes in meeting families where they are and working alongside them until they are where they want to be. She believes that all lactating people deserve access to good quality lactation support.
In order to make sure there is an opportunity she started “Community Lactation Care Days” where families without insurance or insurances who do not cover these services are able to get lactation care and support. She hosts a FREE weekly support group at Tree of Life Birth Center that is open to anyone. She stands in the gap for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to obtain lactation support.