Our Team
Kenda Sutton-El
FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kenda’s greatest pleasure as a reproductive healthcare worker has been watching women become confident and excited about the birth and early parenting of their children. She firmly believes in the power of redirecting your fears and anxieties into finding new, empowering ways to experience birth and parenting.
Kenda Sutton-EL is the esteemed Founder and Executive Director of Birth In Color, an organization at the forefront of advancing Reproductive Sexual Justice, Birth Justice, and Black Maternal Health. A native of rural Virginia, Kenda is dedicated to addressing Structural Racism and advocating for incarcerated pregnant individuals, actively working to combat human rights violations.
An influential activist, Kenda specializes in training individuals of color to become doulas and conducts racial bias training for healthcare systems and professionals. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science, Kenda is also a Doula Trainer, Diversity Equity Inclusion Consultant, and Policy Analyst, showcasing her multidimensional expertise.
Kenda Sutton-EL emerged as a trailblazing leader in Virginia, initiating awareness campaigns and impactful initiatives for Black Maternal Health. As the Chair of the Virginia Doula Taskforce, Chair of the Greater Richmond Regional Maternal Child Health Taskforce, and a member of the Virginia Maternal and Data Outcomes Taskforce, she plays a pivotal role in shaping maternal healthcare policies.
In recognition of her contributions, Kenda had the honor of participating in Vice President Kamala Harris's roundtable discussion on Reproductive Health. She co-founded "Black Maternal Health Week" in 2019 and spearheaded the campaign for Doula Medicaid Reimbursement in Virginia.
Kenda's dedication to reproductive justice extends to numerous accolades and acknowledgments. Notably, she was a 2019 Gamechanger Nominee, creator of "Herstory" in partnership with Urban One Radio in 2020, and received the "Women of the Year" ACHI Magazine Award, Urban One Hometown Hero Award, and recognition by RTD for Visionary Black History Month in 2021. In 2023, she was a nominee for 804 Woman Making History and Small Deeds, Big Impact. In 2024, Kenda Sutton-EL was honored with the Health Equity Advocate of the Year award by Families USA, underscoring her impactful contributions to the field of maternal health.
Maternal and Reproductive Justice Advocate
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Sequoi Phipps-Hawkins
Director of Communications & Marketing
Sequoi is passionate about providing doula care and quality maternal healthcare to women of color, as well as helping advance all of the efforts in the fight for reproductive justice. She believes that though we are making strides to improve maternal and reproductive healthcare in the US, we still have a lot of work to do and she is adamant about being a part of that work.
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Galina Varchena
Director of Policy
Galina has a vast background in working on developing policies and legislation centering reproductive rights in Virginia. She has also served as an attorney in her own Private Practice. Galina is passionate about policy and is a tireless advocate for reproductive rights and justice.
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Tyanna Haynes
Administrative Assistant
Tyanna is deeply passionate about maternal health and reproductive rights, believing in the fundamental right of every individual to make informed choices about their bodies and reproductive futures. With a background in administrative support and a strong commitment to social justice causes, she is excited to contribute to Birth In Color in its mission to empower and support individuals in navigating their reproductive journeys in all areas.
Birth in Color RVA
Birth in Color RVA
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Ashley Shaw
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Dana Williams
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Car Seat Technician
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
Placenta Encapsulation
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Alexis Jackson
Full Spectrum Doula
Car Seat Technician
Placental Encapsulation
LCSW
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Indee Jordan
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Khalyson Mcduffie
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Car Seat Technician
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Amber Heiskill
Birth and Postpartum Doula, BSW
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Tameka Parker
Birth and Postpartum Doula, RN
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Chelsi Watson
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Ebony Allen
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Ashley Gopaul
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Sequoi Phipps-Hawkins
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Kadijah Scott
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Latifah Crenshaw
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Alem Zahai
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Toccara Wilson
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Maliqua White
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Ashley Bullock
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Chelsea Bolling
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Danielle Adams
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Darneshia Beavers
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Keisha Tolliver
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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LaToya Barnes
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Letia Bishop
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Tonya Howe
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Tyanna Haynes
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Zaria Christmas-Jackson
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Cherelle Lewis Seals
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Diamond Quarels
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Krystal Pinckney
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Sheevah Amen
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Unitha Cherry
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Bilingual: English/Spanish
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Shanteny Jackson
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Bilingual: English/Spanish
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Ashle Page
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Christen Pierre
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Courtney Maldonado
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Bilingual: English/Spanish
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Cydney Koger
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Dominique Eborn
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Khoredia Thiam
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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L. Nicole Ervin
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Makita Harper- Byrd
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Marquisha Saunders- Jenkins
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Milan Burton
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Queen Lee-Mayes
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Robyn Howell
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Shamel Green
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Xadia Haskell
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Mikaela Smith
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Alexis Hudson
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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April Olivera
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Ashley Figueroa
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Ebony Waterman
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Fantasia Brown
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Hadiah Rahim
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Jasmine Samuels
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Kiara Morris
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Kris Coop
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Krystal Hicks
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Lauryn Walker
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Michon Phillips
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Riqia Taylor
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Roxanna Epps
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Shayla Covile
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Taylor Davenport
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Angeles Giles
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Bilingual Spanish/English
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Belinda Brito
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Bilingual Spanish/English
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Claudia Artero
Birth and Postpartum
Bilingual Spanish/ English
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Dayana Camacho
Birth and Postpartum
Bilingual Spanish/ English
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Jenny Tabora
Birth and Postpartum
Bilingual Spanish/ English
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Maria Delgado
Birth and Postpartum
Bilingual Spanish/ English
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Nelkis Oquendo
Birth and Postpartum
Bilingual Spanish/ English
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Karen Chacon
Birth and Postpartum
Bilingual Spanish/ English
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Yesi Cruz
Birth and Postpartum
Bilingual Spanish/ English
Birth in Color LYH & Farmville
Birth in Color LYH & Farmville
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Megan Gomez
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Devonda Chilton
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Brandy Witcher
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Travina Cobbs
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Vanessa Williams
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Jackie Green-August
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Farmville
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LaJordan Hamlin
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Farmville
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Tiante Preston
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Farmville
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Tamara Hamlett
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Farmville
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Sheryl Wade
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Lynchburg
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Aja Rhodes
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Zel Farrow
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Nina Polley
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Kamika Wright
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Kelly Word
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Birth in Color Hampton Roads
Birth in Color Hampton Roads
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Nataki Hill
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Imani Glenn
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Malika Traynham
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Ashlee Eley
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Nicole Jones
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Kezia Freeman
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Charmaine Henry
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Alexis Patterson
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Kelly Petties
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Danielle Tigs
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Tahjanek Deloatch
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Precious Flowers
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Ashanti Wilson Hale
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Donna Watkins
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Hope Strachan
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Sherain David
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Jamylah Boone
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Justice Edwards
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Adia Holland
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Donica Miller
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Iyana Powel
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Nicole Collins
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Swanteshiaya Wilson
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Vania Duncan
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Amelia Miller
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Tanya Corprew
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Birth in Color Eastern Shore
Birth in Color Eastern Shore
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Inez Byrd
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Jamaya Jones
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Yves Gregoire
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Latasha Matthews
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Birth in Color DMV
Birth in Color DMV
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Hanna Teklu
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Isis Findley
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Breonna Riddick
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Dion Trent
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Jdody Misidor
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Staci Geen
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist
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Shayna Marlowe
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Jazmine Williams
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Kenniesha Bethea
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Reteek Barnes
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Dominique Garrett-Jones
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Venette Pierre
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Malikah Mara
Birth and Postpartum Doua
Birth in Color Roanoke
Birth in Color Roanoke
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Latonya Bolden
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Paiton Wainwright
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Derishia McCray
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Krystal Lawson
Birth and Postpartum Doula
Birth in Color SWVA
Birth in Color SWVA
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Alexis Gravely
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Christle Fallen
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Juanita Kincy
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Keiondra Neely
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Latisha Inge
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Tamika Tali
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Ayzia Kee
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Latoya Matthews
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Sheryl Wade
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Tereka Greene
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Lashawn Farmer
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Lakeisha King
Birth and Postpartum Doula
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Jennifer Canada
Birth and Postpartum Doula