Akirah believes that each woman is born with an innate power that transcends beyond what we can articulate in words. It’s what makes us magical. As a doula, Akirah is only a shepherd to people as they journey into parenthood and she believes the experience should be as beautiful and empowering as possible. ​Akirah believes childbearing people are the experts of their own lives and have the right and the freedom to have a birthing experience that reflects that. Akirah hopes to support each person on their unique and individual spiritual journey to parenthood in a way that enables them to realize their deepest strengths. I invite you to tap into your power and believe in your intuition.                                       

Akirah is a proud native of Newark, NJ. She was trained as a doula through Ancient Song Doula Services in Brooklyn, NY. Outside of doula work Akirah enjoys learning about herbs, traveling, cooking delicious plant based recipes and spending time with family and friends.

Originating from Borikén, Puerto Rico, a full-spectrum doula and childbirth educator dedicates their career to serving the Hispanic community with a deep-seated passion for equitable access to pregnancy support, education, and care. Embodying more than just a profession, their work represents a fervent advocacy for holistic, culturally sensitive perinatal health, deeply rooted in the rich cultural of her heritage.

This commitment stems from a personal understanding of the diverse needs of expectant and new parents, fueled by their own experiences as a parent of two. They skillfully combine traditional practices with modern techniques, providing comprehensive, compassionate care. At the heart of their practice is an unyielding dedication to creating a nurturing, inclusive environment that respects and integrates the unique cultural perspectives and traditions of pregnancy and childbirth.

Recognized as a catalyst for change and a beacon of hope in the community, they empower families to embrace their heritage and confidently navigate the complexities of pregnancy and birth. Their mission is to dismantle barriers to doula care, ensuring that every expectant parent, irrespective of background, receives the necessary support. As an integral part of a movement towards accessible, culturally attuned perinatal care, they are committed to shaping a more inclusive future for perinatal health.

Proudly representing their Puerto Rican identity, they honor their role in this transformative endeavor, striving to make a lasting impact in the community they serve.

Briani is a certified birth and postpartum doula (Ancient Song), certified lactation counselor, placenta encapsulator and soon-to-be mom.

She is the proud owner of Shepherding Lions Doula Services LLC. She also has her Masters in Maternal Child Health Systems from Bastyr University.

Briani began her doula journey over a decade ago as an undergraduate at Swarthmore College. She has been supporting families for over eight years and is humbled by every opportunity that she is given to do so. She enjoys discussing birth options and preparing for the postpartum period. She strives to help families feel seen and empowered in their birth and parenting journeys.

Charline is a School Counselor, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS), and Full Spectrum Doula.

She is the owner of Supporting Our Mothers Initiative, LLC based in Queens, NY. (Find her on Instagram at: @birthbyqueens.)

Supporting Our Mothers Initiative, LLC addresses the needs of birthing and breastfeeding individuals in Queens. Her future goals include starting a nonprofit benefiting breastfeeding individuals and establishing a Birth Center in Queens, NY.

Charline is most proud to be a mother of an exclusively breastfed baby born during a globall pandemic.

Erica is a postpartum-centered full-spectrum doula, educator, facilitator, and maternal health strategist with more than a decade of experience supporting families, doulas, and healthcare communities.

Since 2013, she has supported more than 1,000 families across pregnancy, birth, and the long arc of postpartum, while mentoring hundreds of doulas through justice-rooted education and community care.

At JustBirth Space, Erica serves as Director of Perinatal Education and Accountability, where she leads transformative learning experiences, trauma-informed healing spaces, and accountability pathways that support survivors of birth trauma while helping shift systems of care toward greater justice and repair. Her work bridges reproductive justice, provider education, storytelling, and community-based healing.

Erica is also the co-founder of Birdsong Doulas, where she develops postpartum-centered trainings, mentorship spaces, and resources for doulas and growing families. She regularly shares educational
resources, postpartum planning tools, and birth justice reflections through her Instagram: @birdsongdoulas.

Before entering birth work, she spent 20 years in the New York theater community, and she still brings creativity, humor, and deep witnessing
into every room she facilitates. She is also a clinically trained herbalist and breathwork practitioner.

A proud parent of two spirited children, Erica finds joy in cooking, crafting herbal medicines, roller skating, laughing until she snorts, and getting her hands in the garden. She believes healing happens in community and that postpartum care is foundational to how families, and ultimately societies, thrive.

Mariana is an Indigenous full spectrum doula and multidisciplinary artist from Borikén (Puerto Rico).

She was inspired to become a doula by her grandmother who was a natural healer, doula and poet back home. Mariana completed her full spectrum doula training with Ancient Song Doula Services, and has a Reiki certification from her island. She is currently studying Kemetic natural healing at The Earth Center M’Tam School of Traditional African Philosophy and Spirituality. Her decolonizing work consists of using music, energetic healing, sound meditation, aromatherapy and other natural indigenous tools to help combat postcolonial trauma.

It is an honor for her to be of service to women who are the backbone of society and the portals of life before, during, and after pregnancy. She works from a reproductive justice framework, advocates for everyone’s right to make choices about their own bodies and lives, and understands the importance of bodily autonomy. Her objective is to give people the guidance they need to get to know and understand their own strength and power.

Noemí is a doula and massage therapist whose work centers on embracing ancestral medicine.

She was initiated into caring for pregnant and birthing people by traditional midwives, and her work has since expanded outward to supporting people through many stages of life as a massage therapist. Noemí has cared for birthing families throughout California. She believes that healing can only happen in community, and that is why her practice is grounded in reciprocity and relationship-building. 

Zaza Reece is a communications and digital strategy professional who supports JustBirth Space by connecting families, providers, and communities through storytelling, content, and online engagement.

Her work centers on making information accessible, relatable, and grounded in care—helping to bridge the gap between resources, education, and lived experience.

With a background in social media management and mission-driven communications, Zaza plays a key role in shaping how JustBirth Space shows up in the digital space. Through thoughtful messaging, she helps foster connection and amplify resources, ensuring that people feel seen, informed, and supported throughout pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.

While not a practicing doula, Zaza’s work is deeply rooted in supporting families—translating care into connection and creating pathways for people to access the support they need in real time. In many ways, she serves as a bridge between the work happening behind the scenes and the communities it is designed to reach.

Zaza joined JustBirth Space at eight months pregnant—an experience that reflects the organization’s commitment to not only advocating for families externally, but also supporting and empowering them internally. As a mother of two young children, her lived experiences continue to shape her perspective and deepen her connection to this work.

She is passionate about storytelling as a tool for connection, representation, and change.