Arise Black Midwife

Arise Black Midwife To Honor, Inspire & Promote The Rising of The Black/BIPOC Midwife

What began as a future black midwife commitment ceremony has revamped to honor the unique journeys of aspiring black midwives all over the country and the diaspora. Our Intentions are to empower future black midwives with national visibility, strategic programming & tools to successfully arise as the next black midwives.

The Initiative is launching her sister affair to be inclusive of all people of color.Founded by Rising Black Midwife Ke...
03/18/2026

The Initiative is launching her sister affair to be inclusive of all people of color.

Founded by Rising Black Midwife Keyawna Scruggs Matthews , Arise BIPOC Midwife is a Pinning Ceremony for Black, Indigenous and People of Color that spans across all genres of midwifery and across all academic and training programs. Arise BIPOC Midwife seeks to diversify midwifery by improving the retention of BIPOC students, as many face significant barriers due to lack of connection during the learning experience. Elder & Guiding BIPOC Midwives lead the ceremony and engage in several altruistic ways.

The next hybrid affair will accommodate both in-person and virtual participation and will be held during the Fall of 2026. Learn more at www.arisebipocmidwife.org and

Because Founder Taiwo Ikeoluwa Adeloye-Ajao (Tia Ajao) has been a student for every Cohort this far, she returns to rec...
03/16/2026

Because Founder Taiwo Ikeoluwa Adeloye-Ajao (Tia Ajao) has been a student for every Cohort this far, she returns to recommit in the presence of all her Midwife Elders & Guides at This will be her last one as a participant. 👏🏾✨💜

Meet Tia Ajao

She has an MPH, is a certified RN, and serves her community as a doula, birth educator & IBCLC

Tenant: Akoma

"I found the word Akoma when I was looking for a term that means like the patience of the Community Midwives that I worked with as an RN birth assistant at birth center & homebirths. ✨🤲🏾✨

is an Adinkra symbol from Ghana that means "The Core" and includes endurance, love, patience, longsuffering, tolerance, and goodwill. This one symbol makes me think of all of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 and every description of Love in I Corinthians 13. In Greek & Albanian languages, the word Akoma means "Still Yet". Akoma speaks deeply to my journey and defines who I desire to be as a future provider 🤎

Lord please let AK♡MA arise in me 🙏🏾"

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜Meet Uchenna Jones BSN, RNCLC- Certified Lactation Counselor CD-HVD...
03/16/2026

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜

Meet Uchenna Jones BSN, RN

CLC- Certified Lactation Counselor
CD-HVD, CD-DTD- Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula
CPE-MMCI- Certified Perinatal Educator

Tenant: Determination

"I do not know how to take “no” for an answer. When my naysayers said I couldn’t achieve something, I doubled down, I worked hard, and I accomplished it. Being on this midwifery journey, I have come to realize that this is who I am meant to be."

Rising Midwife Kaila Mathews is from the 2023 Cohort but returns today to recommit in the physical presence of all her M...
03/15/2026

Rising Midwife Kaila Mathews is from the 2023 Cohort but returns today to recommit in the physical presence of all her Midwife Elders & Guides at 👏🏾✨💜

Kaila is a Doula, Doula Trainer, Childbirth Educator, Student Midwife, Lactation Education Counselor, Certified Spinning Babies Parent Educator, MS Ed. Higher Education, , NBMA Finance

Tenant: Optimistic

"I believe effort improves my future and outcomes and that directly impacts the families I pour into and walk with. Together we find a way or make one."

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜Meet Kiana Powell, SNM, BSN, RNLabor & Delivery Registered Nurse Pl...
03/15/2026

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜

Meet Kiana Powell, SNM, BSN, RN
Labor & Delivery Registered Nurse 
Planned Parenthood Registered Nurse

Tenant: Consistency

"My tenant is consistency as my journey has been shaped by perseverance through education, motherhood, and life’s transitions, which have strengthened my commitment to compassionate care for women and families through the most transformative moments of their lives."

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜Meet Ekiya Alexis KnightEkiya's accolades include:Student midwife, ...
03/15/2026

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜

Meet Ekiya Alexis Knight

Ekiya's accolades include:

Student midwife, labor and postpartum doula.

Facilitator of healing Spaces. SMC Doula. BLS Certified, NRP Certified 

Tenant: Shalom 

"My midwifery journey has reflected the process of birth itself. A simple idea of holding space has expanded into something deeper and more transformative. At times, the journey has felt like being in an unfamiliar yet familiar place—like a baby developing in the womb, surrounded by water and learning to grow in a protected space.

There have been moments where experiences mirrored waves — challenges rising and falling, much like the rhythm of contractions. Yet even through those moments, I have felt supported and guided, as if hearing the steady voice and heartbeat of encouragement around me—similar to how a baby is nurtured within the womb. Along the way, I have been given the knowledge, mentorship, and nourishment needed to continue growing and developing as a student midwife.

I know there are still many phases ahead in this journey. Right now, I feel as though I am in the laboring phase—pushing through the hard work, learning through discomfort, and relying on my support system to remind me to keep going when things feel difficult. I am reminded that just as in birth, the intensity of labor leads to something beautiful on the other side."

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜Meet Micknai ArefaineStudent Midwife, Doula, CLC, MASome of her wor...
03/15/2026

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜

Meet Micknai Arefaine
Student Midwife, Doula, CLC, MA
Some of her work includes
Za Gualay Consulting
www.zagualay.com

Habesha Flavor
habeshaflavor.coop

Quality Maternal and Newborn Care Research Alliance
qmnc.org

Tenant: Za Gualay

The Tigrinya term, Za Gualay, translates directly to “my daughter” and is a term of endearment used by elders for younger woman. It is a blessing and praise all in one.

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜Meet Carla Creech-Maye, Clinical LMT, CD, CPTI am a Clinical Lic Ma...
03/15/2026

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜

Meet Carla Creech-Maye, Clinical LMT, CD, CPT

I am a Clinical Lic Massage Therapist with Soul Therapy Massage Birth & Wellness, LLC
Balanced Therapy
Midwife Assistant since 2024
Birth & Postpartum Doula for 23 years
Childbirth Educator
Womb Advocate
Pelvic Floor Specialist
Pilates Instructor

Tenant: Soulfully Committed

" I am moving towards my journey of CPM. As rsing Midwife Carla, I am deeply committed to uplifting the community with love & compassion. The soul's essence is connected to work of the heart. I will pour my heart and soul into this work, my community, body, mind and spirit. It's a radical act of soul work for me."

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜Meet Alazay Destaffino SNM, BSN, RNTenant: Serenity Serenity is a c...
03/15/2026

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜

Meet Alazay Destaffino SNM, BSN, RN

Tenant: Serenity

Serenity is a calm and peaceful environment created in the birth space. A space where I get to selflessly serve and allow the body to do what is intended. This shapes my midwifery journey as I can bring this into a space when needed to uplift and encourage the birth person without being overwhelming. A soothing energy sometimes soothes others."

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜Meet Jillian Williams, RN, BSN, C-EFMStudent Nurse MidwifeTrainings...
03/15/2026

Introducing The 2026 cohort presented at the 👏🏾✨💜

Meet Jillian Williams, RN, BSN, C-EFM

Student Nurse Midwife
Trainings-ALSO, STABLE, BLS/NRP

Tenant- Phoenix Rising

PHOENIX RISING-The phoenix is a powerful, enduring mythical symbol of resurrection, renewal, and immortality, representing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Rising from its own ashes, it embodies resilience, transformation, and the ability to overcome adversity.

"This journey often involves moments of deep exhaustion or feeling "burned out" (the ashes). Like the phoenix, I’ve had to shed old patterns and recover from intense emotional, physical, and soul-level fatigue to return to my practice with renewed passion.

Phoenix Rising is an intentional rebirth.
Rising from the ashes represents a move from silence or doubt into a position of strength, advocacy, and leadership. It is the process of shedding the limitations of a previous role and taking on a more powerful, transformative role, I am continually evolving to be the Midwife I was called to Be."

Address

Baltimore, MD

Website

https://ariseblackmidwife.blogspot.com/

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