Executive Director
Executive Director
Stevie Merino
Håfa Adai, Stevie Merino (Sol and Roots) is a proud queer indigenous islander woman (CHamoru & Boricua) raised in the diaspora of the LBC. She wears many different hats as a: cultural practitioner, community organizer, anthropologist, birthworker, IBCLC, speaker, and trainer. She has been a doula since 2015. Stevie has been a community organizer & activist since 14 years old, her politics shape the way she approaches life & this work. She is a mami to a 7 year old. Stevie is the Executive Director, and co-founder of the Birthworkers of Color Collective and doula of Color training
Board of Directors
Board Member
Natalie Shovlin-Bankole
Natalie Shovlin-Bankole, M.D. is a current Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) resident at the bustling Magee Women’s Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh and researcher investigating the delivery of care
for birthing people in the U.S. Natalie is committed to upholding the highest standards of respect and support for birthing people. She envisions a future where interprofesisonal teams of birth workers (midwives, doulas, nurses and physicians) work harmoniously towards the comprehensive care of their client. She was introduced to the BWOCC as a member of cohort 7 of BWOCC doula training and is now proud to serve as Chair of the BWOCC Board of Directors.
Board Member
Maria G. Lozano
Maria helps madres navigate an ocean of emotions while living through identity shifting life experiences. Basing her approach of care through layered lenses of mental health, community and connection, and reclamation of self. Maria is passionate and committed to supporting birthing and lactating parents by accompanying them through a journey of learning, preparing, and envisioning a healthy and supported postpartum period. Madres and their families have reconnected to their innate power, connected and gained community support. Maria has witnessed mujeres reactivate their power to reach their optimum healing vision.
Board Member
Emerita Bustos
In her work as a Career Technical Educator, Emerita Bustos primarily teaches business and technology foundations to students. Known for her accessibility and ability to empower her students, the California native graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree and teaching credential in Career Technical Education (CTE). With over 18 years in education, she has returned to school to earn her degree in Ethnic Studies with a concentration in Gender and Sexualities in Communities of Color at CSU East Bay in order to prepare for the growing demand for ethnic studies educators in California. Presently, Ms.Bustos serves as the Department chair representing her colleagues in the CTE department during meetings of the Instructional Leadership Team. Additionally, she chairs the School Site Council, which oversees
the allocation and spending of Title I funds.
As part of her community work, Emerita is a full spectrum doula and community herbalist. Emerita considers herself to have always been an herbalist. As far back as she can remember, medicinal herbs have always been an important part of her life. Her work with herbs comes naturally to her which she now recognizes that this is a part of the Indigenous practices of her people. In her view, herbalism is a spiritual practice that connects her to the earth, the creator, and her ancestors. When it comes to her doula practice, she was inspired after attending a health education teacher conference that discussed the birth disparities that exist in Black communities. In 2018, Emerita completed her doula training with Birthworkers of Color. Since then, she has been an active member of Birthworkers of Color Collective, participating in workshops, training, and in fundraising efforts. In addition, she has served as a birth doula and postpartum doula to women of color in her area. Some of her dreams and goals are to assist with educating the next generation of birthworkers, and to create spaces where young people of color, as well as LGBTQ+ folks, can be advocates and leaders of the future.
Advisory to the Board
Academic Advisory
Alexandrina Agloro
Alexandrina Agloro (Indigenous Chicana/Filipina) is an ancestral technologist whose work spans the intersection of media art, community-based research, and birthwork. She is an Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Innovation in the Borderlands at the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and a Senior Global Futures Scientist at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University. Dr. Agloro’s work lingers on how decolonization is deeper than a set of values, and anticipates how land, water, body, and internet sovereignty can move us from the imaginary into collective action. She is a Director of Situated Critical Race and Media (SCRAM), a multiverse collaborative feminist technology organization, and is the Futurist for the Latinx Pacific Archive. She is also part of the advisory circle for Parteras de Maíz, an Indigenous and traditional midwifery advocacy organization.
Medical Advisory
Jadah Parks Chatterjee
Jadah Parks Chatterjee is a maternal child health Registered Nurse & International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. Jadah values evidence-based, quality care, that is collaborative, compassionate and shared with love.
Jadah assists families during the prenatal period by providing safe infant feeding education to empower and implement informed decisions during the postpartum journey. As a Registered Nurse, Jadah supports families during the postpartum period at a local hospital in Los Angeles .
A graduate of Louisiana State University and Mount Saint Mary’s Nursing School. Jadah co-authored, "Sticky, A Germ’s Story".
Jadah is a badass #rockmom, born and raised in Louisiana, residing in Los Angeles. She works full time, raises a young brown boy, loves being #wifey, and passionate about improving the maternal and infant mortality rates for her community.