Sumi's Touch, Oakland, CA (2026)

12/19/2025

I grew up with 5 grandmas…when people hear this they are usually shocked. They each shaped me into who I am today. I literally grew up sitting at their feet.

Elders are essential. They hold the insights and wisdom that only come with time.

One of the pillars of traditional midwifery is the honoring of elders. It is our duty to pass along the medicine…so sitting at the feet of those who come before us is a crucial aspect in how the knowledge is passed down.

Not just skills, recipes, and protocols but also how we move, how we release, how we hold ourselves.

Each cohort gets better and better and this coming year will be no different! We will be sitting at the feet of those whose shoulders we stand.

The babies are held
The partners/men are held
We are held!

We can’t walk this path alone we must bring our entire family with us!

This is transformative experience for the entire family!

What’s your relationship with the elders? Do you know elders? What missing link do you think were bypassing as a collective?

Only 12 days left to save $$$$ use code EARLYBIRD if you want to join the traditional birth worker training cohort 2026!!! COMMENT “ready” and I’ll swing the link over to you…

Mexico 6/25-7/5
Bay Area 8/1-9
Ghana 12/10-20

12/17/2025

It’s 11:50pm here in Ghana…I can hear the waves crashing in the most melodic sequence. What a song to be lulled by…

We’re on day 6 of the 10 day immersion and there sooooo much for me to share, for me to unpack, for me to chew on.

What’s abundantly clear is that whatever is calling you…LISTEN! Listen to that little small voice..it’s like a compass leading you directly to your joy.

Tomorrow we will visit a clinic and meet with nurse midwives and then have lunch with a sole traditional midwives. Once we return we will do a closing for a Mama all together.

These immersion just keep getting better and better. Just when I think we hit the max…we’re so divinely guided to take it to the next level!

I’ll share more in my stories!!

Next year we will have a men’s retreat alongside the traditional birth worker immersion for both Mexico and Ghana 🙌🏿

This is full family healing journey. Comment “2026” if you’re ready to join us next year!!

Mexico June 25- July 5
Bay Area Aug 1-9
Ghana Dec 10-20

P.s. Save the dates for Jan 31 & Feb 1 for a weekend deep dive with me exploring burn out and compassion fatigue at a beautiful location in the Bay Area. Seats are limited. Registration opens next week!

12/04/2025

Wow do yall remember this?

I’m not surprised but what the actual f**k?????? Can we dig into this a bit together?

The medical industrial complex has crafted its procedures and stances based on the exploitation and experimentation of Black and indigenous bodies. This case doesn’t exist in a vacuum but rather is aligned with exactly how they “research”. There are so many levels of ethical and human right violations here. They will assert that the fetus deserved to live and that they are pro life…but the truth of the matter is the life of Adriana was seen as disposable. She was ignored and her symptoms were diminished….this led to her death. She was only 9 weeks pregnant and they kept her on life support for months as an incubator. does this sound familiar (the two laboring women that went viral who were denied care). Do you see how this is alllllll connected? The anti Black racism and discrimination is systemic not individualized. So no one person or even group of people can overturn such heinous acts!!

There isn’t any gutting the system from the inside out. There no optimizing the system. There’s no infiltration that will ever stop cases like these from happening….

We must create NEW systems, NEW networks of support, NEW beliefs and have our priorities reevaluated as a collective.

What say youuuuuuuuu???

—————————————————————————————

Want to become a birth worker? Comment “training”. Only $99/ month until 12/31

Want to sit at me and my teachers feet in 2026 and learn the way of traditional birth work? Comment “Ready” and I’ll send you the link to put down your deposit today!! Save $1,000 until 12/31 !!

11/30/2025

Ima hold your hand and look you deep in your eyes when I say this..

What is for you can not miss you…ever! With that being said you must also ACT on the desires of your heart.

Something that’s been so transformative about the immersions is how it invokes us all to tap into our FAITH!!

Inviting you to claim your seat for immersions 2026. This will be cohort 8, 9, and 10 🫶🏿🙌🏿😍

You don’t have to have all the kinks and deets worked out..you just gotta be willing. So proud of this Ghana cohort and all the ways they have made it possible for themselves!!!

Comment “info” and I’ll send you the link to join us this morning for our info session at 10 am pst or 1pm est.

If you already got the yes in ya chest hen secure your deposit before all the seats fill up . Comment “2026” and I’ll slide in your DMs…

11/24/2025

Trust 👏🏿 Black 👏🏿 Women 👏🏿

For those who do not know, or may need to be reminded, many Black women and bipoc we’re calling out “Free birth society” on the harm they we’re inflicting onto them and others (bipoc or not) for yearrrsszzzzz.

This week, an investigative journalism piece produced by The Gaurdian was published. This piece highlighted the stories of women who were impacted by the guidance, teachings, and mentorship by the founders and leaders of FBS.

Read it.

Last week two videos went viral of two different Black women who we’re obviously in full blown active labor being denied care when coming to admit themeselves in. In both cases the babies we’re born moments after being neglected..one on the side of the road!

What do these cases all have in common?

They are the result of the white delusion capitalist racist vile medical industrial complex…

Black women are harmed the most within this system.

Free birth exist in juxiposition to the heinous treatment and the harm inflicted by the Medical system. It exist within a capitalist society that purposely wiped out the midwifery model of care to put profit over everything. It exist in a world where their is a midwifery dessert…

What we are witnessing are the consequences of the removal of the Midwife and midwifery model of care.

Even it it’s two extremes it’s one in the same.

The exploitation and sadistic treatment of women…where Black women are continously harmed the most.

Loosing a life isn’t enough for this level of greed and power. Everything truly is everything…

Did you read the article? Have you been witnessing these videos go viral? What’s coming up for you?

—————————————————————————————
Join me for the info session for 2026 in person traditional birth worker immersions

11/30 at 8am pst / 11am est

Early bird sale happening NOW until 12/31. Use code early bird to save $1000!!!

Comment “2026” for the link to secure your deposit

Comment “info” for the link to the info session

11/15/2025

Medical racism at its finest.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….the system isn’t broken. It’s THRIVING. The medical system is inherently racist.

When I see this Mama in labor I see our collective ancestors deep in the waves of labor but being forced to work…

I see the millions of Black women being neglected by providers who assume we don’t feel pain, our skin is thicker, our bones are denser, and that we are dramatic.

Do you see this nurses body language? She isn’t moved AT ALL by this Mama very obviously being moments away from delivery.

You can’t teach her how to care. You can’t teach her how to listen. You can’t teach her how to ensure the safety of this mama and baby.

Black womenfolk and birthing people have the worst outcomes because of racism neglectful care. Dragging their feet, ignoring us, not believing us….is the cause for our outcomes.

So what’s the solution? What do you imagine it will take to optimize our outcomes?

—————————————————————————————
Here are some resources:

12 month traditional birth worker virtual training comment “training”

Advanced skills in person training comment “2026”

11/10/2025

🙌🏿The matriarchy is rising 🙌🏿

Matriarchy is a group or society led by women and where women’s needs are centered in every aspect. It’s not anti man, it’s not patriarchy flipped on its head, it’s not oppressive, it’s not “feminism”. It’s where the social power, the lineage, the resources are all derived from women.

Elephants are a matriarchal species. Is this why they center birth as sacred? Is this why the entire herd stops what they are doing to support and protect the mother? Is this why the entire herd slows down and accommodates integrating the new member for as long as needed?

We could learn so much from Elephants.

What would you imagine could be sustainable for those in your family, community, or society to support and protect mamas and babies?

What could it look like for everyone to slow down?

Which roles need to be fulfilled?

How do you imagine having care for mamas and babies would impact the family, community, society? Even for those who cannot or choose not to give birth/ be parents?

—————————————————————————————

🚪The doors are officially open 🚪

In person immersion 2026:

Mexico, Yucatán 6/25-7/5

Bay Area, Ca 8/1-9

Ghana 12/10-20

Comment “2026” and I’ll send you the details to secure your seat to join us!

11/04/2025

Most things I do terrified, unclear as to how it will happen, and a bit overwhelmed by the weight of holding it all. I often don’t think about just how much it will require me to expand until I’m knee deep in it. At some point I have a moment where it all is coming together and I’m affirmed that it was so so so worth it.

Then after it’s all said and done I’m astonished at how much I grew, who aligned on my path to bring it to fruition, the greater and deeper impact.

I’m addicted to this growth pattern. And I’m inviting you in to join me. All of my students manifest their way to join me. This years Ghana cohort is no different. Calling it iiiinnnnnnn. The alignment has been mind blowing….the traditional midwives who we will be connecting with, the care takers for the children, the locations we will be staying in, the food we will be eating…and of course all of us coming together 😍🥰.

If you’re feeling called to join us, claim it and come! Are you gonna think your way out of following what you feel….or make it happen?

Comment or dm me “Ghana” and we can schedule a 1 on 1 to discuss details!!

A few students just bought round trip tickets for less than $1,000!! See you theeerreeee!!!

Next years dates are live!!!!

Yucatan, Mexico 6/25-7/5/ 2026

Bay Area, Ca 8/1-9/2026

Ghana 12/10-20/2026

Leenk en mi bio to give your deposit now!!

10/29/2025

I was born today….and it’s also the first day post hosting the Black midwives Fellowship. This inaugural cohort was over a decade in the making…good things take time. Sooooooo much life has transpired this last decade. With the culmination of such a dream come true and understanding this is just the beginning I’m swimming deep in the waters of gratitude and inspiration today.

Tell me something you love about me belowwwwww!! I’m in full receptive mode 🤲🏿. If you want to send some extra love:
$SumayyahFranklin (cashapp)
-Franklin (Venmo)

Next offering: Ghana traditional birth worker immersion 🙌🏿 we have a few more seats available. Comment “Ghana” if you ready!! Custom payment plans are available to make it as accessible as possible for you. Don’t worry each year our last 2-3 siblings join us within the last few weeks…is that you 🫣

09/20/2025

Bringing a vision to fruition isnt easy….

Anyone who tries to sale you the notion that making your dreams come true is easy…is literally trying to sale to you. What i will say is that it’s so so so worth it!! This is such a dream come true and I’ve been giving it my ALL!!!

It’s been over a decade since i first visited . I was at a point in my journey where i was so close to being a midwife but had no clue how to get there. I had been in an apprenticeship with a homebirth midwife for a few years, had spent a year studying at a birth center in Ghana, and was a busy and the experienced Doula at this time. But I needed more to truly birth me into the midwife i was called to be…

I walked away with more than i could ever imagined. The midwife i am today is thanks to my time spent at .

Fast forward 10+ years and I am a traditional midwife. Living and working interantionally with various organizations that are deeply aligned with my purpose….to preserve and uplift traditional midwifery as an antidote to the maternal health crisis.

We are just 7 days away from gathering to raise the last bit of funds for the inaugural cohort of the Black Midwives Fellowship!!!!

October 13th-28th we will be in Uganda to visit MHI 🫶🏿🤩🥰 I am bringing 6 Black birth workers along with me!!! We need to sale 32 more tickets to make it happen!!!

Today me and my sis will be in conversation and you for sure don’t want to miss it!! Join us at 1pm pst/4pm est live on here!!!!

Then tomorrow my comadre and I will be cutting up on live. She is one of the fellows and is a dynamic healer, Mama, and birthworker.

If we speaking your language then come hear us talk dat s**t!!!

09/19/2025

I have the immense honor to go live today with our beloved elder midwife 5pm pst/8pmest

The Black Midwives Fellowship intends to bring an elder midwife with us for each cohort. We desire to remove barriers by covering her flight, accommodations, food, and giving the midwives at an equitable pay for hosting her along with all of us.

We have gathered our resources (remember I put on an entire virtual festival to raise funds!!!!) but we still need to call in our community to fill in the gap!!

Let us put into you while you pour into us!!

We only need to sale 35 more seats to make our goal!!

“Sitting at her feet”

September 27th & 28th

9-4pm pst!!!

Mama Tioma will be hosting a VIP Q&A to cover the cost of her flight!!! We have only 13 more seats a single for this exclusive gathering!!

Tell us about how has impacted your life!!! Or tell us about another elder in your life and what she means to you!!!

09/11/2025

The Ego 🗣️The Shadow 🕳️The Mirror 🪞

This Sunday at 10am pst we’ll be going all the way there.

The first BIPOC full spectrum traditional birth worker training!!

12 months of being held in the most connected community. I have a way of making the screens melt away and the distance between us barely felt as we meet for powerful live sessions, study group, master classes, simulations, role play, and mentorship circle!

If you’re ready to step into your most confident and competent birth worker self then join us!!

Did you know I offer a bundle for my virtual training and the in person immersion?

The in person immersion is my advanced skills in person hands on training. This year we’re headed to Ghana for 10 days to sit at my feet and other traditional midwives from Ghana!! Only two slots available…so you betta secure your seat now before this opportunity slips right past you.

Comment “Training” and I’ll send you the link to join the 12 month virtual foundational training

Comment “Ghana” and we can set up a 1-on-1 call to get you signed up to join us in December!!

Sumi's Touch

12/19/2025

12/17/2025

12/04/2025

11/30/2025

11/24/2025

11/15/2025

11/10/2025

11/04/2025

10/29/2025

09/20/2025

09/19/2025

09/11/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share