Our newest CHAMPion of the Week wears many hats: Stevie Merino, IBCLC, is a birth worker, lactation professional, cultural practitioner, community organizer, and anthropologist. She is also the Executive Director and co-founder of the Birthworkers of Color Collective and Doula of Color Training, a p

Stephanne R. Rupnicki, CLC, is a recognized member of the Kickapoo tribe of Kansas and a mother of six residing on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation. Her enthusiasm and passion for breastfeeding are evident: Stephanne is co-founder of the Prairie Band

Lauren J. Turner is a mother, artist, and doula. She is incredibly passionate about Black maternal health and uses her art to advocate for birth and lactation and celebrate the moments of parenthood. [caption id="attachment_5805" align="aligncenter" width="977"]Read More

The team at Singing River Pascagoula Hospital is dedicated, hardworking – and amazing hosts! Last week, we held CHAMPS’ new Read More

After holding our weekly Grow Clinic near Thiba Refugee Camp, north of Athens, Greece, our international team is hot, thirsty, and in need of a bathroom! Lucky for us, Black Sheep Street Coffee is on the way back to Athens. From day

Dr. Lorimar Ortiz, MD, DABFM, CLE, IBCLC, works to improve access to and the quality of health care for families in her home, Puerto Rico. She is a family physician and certified lactation consultant, dedicated to providing comprehensive primary care, postpartum care, and lactation support to famili

Shenell Ford’s passion for lactation began when she had her first child. Motivated by a lack of systemic support for lactation, Shenell was inspired to become a Breastfeeding Peer Support Counselor with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – and fell

Rickeshia Williams, CLS, CLC, began her career as a breastfeeding peer counselor at the Calhoun County Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) office in Michigan. Her experiences as a counselor and mother of color fueled her passion for breastfeeding and concern

This week CHEER honors two of our own as CHAMPions. Kathryn (Kat) Pollack-Hinds and Mariah Banks graduated with their Master of Public Health degrees in May 2023 from Boston University School of Public Health and completed their student internships with CHEER. Both were promptly hired into the CHE

CHEERing’s work wouldn’t be possible without women like Amina Koto. Amina arrived in Greece nearly four years ago after fleeing war in Syria. Now, she works as a Grow Clinic translator for our international partner in Athens. Each week, CHEERing holds Grow Cl