Dear Boston Breastfeeding Coalition community,
The health and safety of the community is our first priority. Due to recent developments related to COVID-19 (coronavirus) breastfeeding groups and cafes are not open at this time. We are working to develop virtual, tele-lactation options. Updates to follow soon.
The Vital Village has moved to a fully remote office for an indefinite period. Please know we are accessible and we remain hard at work. We aim to continue to share important resources on how to promote wellbeing and social connections while minimizing risk. Please see these
important updates on COVID-19 for breastfeeding women from the CDC
.
COVID-19 has highlighted our deep social inequities. We invite you to join with us to generate strategies to see us through this time.
This communications shares resources, updates, and invitations to generate strategies to promote wellbeing in our communities.
Please note that in this newsletter we share many virtual opportunities and several in-person events.
Due to COVID-19 in-person events listed in this newsletter may be postponed, please contact the organizer prior to attending.
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Congratulations ROSE 2020 Community Transformers!
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On February 28th,
17 Scholars
completed the
ROSE 2020 Community Transformer training.
This month, they will be joining our breastfeeding support groups across Greater Boston to provide lactation support to families in their communities.
Welcome and congratulations to our newest cohort of Community Transformer Breastfeeding Peer Counselors! Learn more about our amazing support group volunteers
here
and be sure to stop by one of our 10 free drop-in groups throughout the week!
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This past February, Andrea Serano and Tenesha Sellers from
Reaching our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE)
, facilitated another successful and transformative training experience for our Scholars this past February.
Check out Andrea's
blog post
and listen to her interview in the latest
podcast
from the
In the Arena with NOW
series!
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March Coalition Meeting Recap:
Extending Learning and Advocacy Impact
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The meeting began with a warm welcome to our newest ROSE Community Transformer Peer Scholars who joined us both in-person and virtually!
DaVan Johnson
shared about her business,
Divine Revelation
, which seeks to leverage holistic health approaches to achieve maternal wellness. DaVan highlighted her social entrepreneurship and vision for promoting equity and social justice in maternal wellness.
Thank you to all of our guest speakers for sharing updates and highlights from their work, and thank you to
Jessie Colbert
(Exec. Director of
Mass PPD Fund
) for championing the topic of NICU family support for this month's Coalition meeting!
Check out the meeting minutes
here
for more details, resources, and upcoming events!
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Community Leadership and Civic Engagement
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Boston Breastfeeding Coalition members at the NMC 2020 Breastfeeding Conference. Top row (left to right): Waetie Sanaa Cooper Burnette, Aysia Wanner, & Chelli Keshavan. Bottom row (left to right): Shennell Ford (Springfield Breastfeeding Community Action Coalition), Melody Lopez, Dominique Bellegarde, & She-Tara Smith.
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Boston Breastfeeding Coalition members took on leadership roles to support the success of the 2020 conference.
Peer Scholar and Executive Director of BACE, Chelli Keshavan played a key role in forging this partnership with Vital Village and creating opportunities for collaboration and leadership with BACE.
Coming soon - blog post by Scholars about leadership with BACE and NMC!
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Supporting Pathways for Breastfeeding Scholars
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Our January Scholar Support Night featured a podcast listening session followed by a discussion of questions around supporting families in the NICU. Listen to the podcast episode
here
and catch up on the discussion
here
!
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Tuesday March 31, 6-8PM, Join Virtually
Join us for Part 2 of our learning series on supporting families of infants with complex needs.
Guest facilitators Paulina Erices
and
Barbara Deloian
of
Special Kids, Special Care Inc
will lead a discussion around roles and strategies for lactation professionals to support families who have experienced a NICU stay with their baby.
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Do you have a Scholar Support Night topic or guest facilitator in mind?
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Are you a Breastfeeding Scholar who is looking to connect with other Scholars?
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Continuing Education & L-CERP Opportunities
Learn more about the latest information on COVID-19 during pregnancy and early infancy and what health care professionals can do to protect themselves, their clients, and their businesses.
Register here!
Join GOLD Lactation for an hour of practice changing information about the clinical presentation of conditions frequently seen in lactating parents, such as mastitis, vasospasm, eczema and more, in clients with non-white skin tones.
Register here!
Breastfeeding advocacy is about building systems and consistently leading cultural changes to more deeply reinforce human feeding as the norm.Want to normalize lactation? Join this interactive session and become the leader who can make extraordinary lactation things happen in your community.
Register here
!
P
ara acceder a la versión en español,
visite esta pagina
.
Raeanne Madison, MPH | 1 L-CERP | Online
In this webinar, Anishinaabe doula and community educator Raeanne Madison will introduce you to traditional postpartum recovery practices and make connections between postpartum care and successful lactation. Participants will be tasked with creating a vision of supportive postpartum care for families in their local areas.
Available until February 18, 2021 -
Register here
!
Peter Williams, BPA, CLC | 1 L-CERP | Online
In this presentation, we will discuss men and breastfeeding and methods to engage their support for their breastfeeding partners. We will discuss how engaging men is made easier when we understand what motivates them as parents.
Register here!
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Leadership & Engagement
United Way Community Baby Shower - Resource Table
The Boston Breastfeeding Coalition will be hosting a resource table at the 10th Annual United Way Community Baby Shower to connect families with the supports, resources, and opportunities offered by our coalition.
If you are interested in tabling, contact
bostonbreastfeeding@bmc.org
or 617-414-3730!
Black Breastfeeding Week Planning Committee
Black Breastfeeding Week occurs on the last week of August and is dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the stories of Black breastfeeding families. Interested in helping shape the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition's Black Breastfeeding Week programming for 2020?
Sign up to join the planning committee by emailing
bostonbreastfeeding@bmc.org
!
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Pilot NICU Peer Counselor Program:
Boston Medical Center NICU Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
The Boston Breastfeeding Coalition is exploring a new partnership with the Boston Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to expand breastfeeding peer support for families with babies in the NICU. Interested in gaining lactation counseling experience in a clinical setting under the guidance of an IBCLC mentor? We are seeking peer counselors who have had experience in the NICU as a parent to participate in a pilot NICU peer counselor program.
Contact
bostonbreastfeeding@bmc.org
or 617-414-3730 if you are interested!
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Job Opportunities:
Birth Sisters
is an innovative multi-cultural community doula service that offers women support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum period. Birth Sisters is seeking a Program Coordinator to oversee their team of doulas.
Click here to learn more and apply!
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Conferences & Networking Events
**Please confirm with event contacts that events are still occurring ahead of attending**
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Conference Dates: March 30 - June 1
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CERPS available!
Every year, the GOLD Lactation Online Conference invites hand-selected researchers and clinicians in the field of Lactation to present on current and emerging evidence-based education. All talks are presented live during set times, with recordings of each session being available throughout the conference period.
Check out the conference website for a list of topics and to register!
Reserve your
free seat
for the keynote presentation
here
!
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Conference Dates: May 26 - June 24
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CERPS available!
The GOLD Neonatal Online Conference is perfect for anyone working in the neonatal field, including NICU nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, neonatologists, medical and nursing students, occupational therapists, dietitians, speech and language pathologists, respiratory therapists and anyone else working with premature or ill newborn infants.
Early Bird Registration available from March 16-May 15 -
visit
the event website to learn more and register!
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June 2, 8:00am-5:00pm @
1125 Boston-Providence Turnpike Route 1, Norwood, MA
The Partners in Perinatal Health Conference aims to: examine current health issues that impact infant survival and women's health; identify cultural issues affecting perinatal health care; share knowledge and exchange information among health professionals about perinatal health; and examine model programs addressing the many conditions that put mothers and children at risk.
Learn more and register here!
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Maternal & Infant Health Community Events
**Please confirm with event contacts that events are still occurring ahead of attending**
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March 20, 6:00-7:30pm @ 1544 Columbus Ave, Roxbury
So you've heard of yoni steaming and want to learn more? DaVan Johnson (Divine Revelations) is hosting an informational event on yoni steaming.
All are welcome to attend; participants will not be turned away if unable to pay the fee. Check out and share the flyer
here
. Contact Davan at davan34@gmail.com or
774-473-9881 for updates.
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April 29, 5:00-8:00pm @ Reggie Lewis Track Center (1350 Tremont St, Roxbury)
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Please note the following events have been postponed or cancelled until further notice:
Join Representative Liz Miranda for an open and honest discussion about Postpartum Mental Illness. There will be opportunities to speak with physicians, providers, survivors, and clinicians with extensive experience caring for women with postpartum depression. Event details on
Eventbrite
.
The 3rd Annual Black Maternal Health Conference will bring together members of the community, health care professionals, and students that are dedicated to ending the adverse maternal health outcomes faced by Black women in the U.S.
Visit the event page to learn more and register!
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Other News & Happenings
**Please confirm with event contacts that events are still occurring ahead of attending**
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Journey to Wholeness
Every Tuesday beginning March 10th
5:30-7:30pm
Mattapan Community Health Center
1575 Blue Hill Ave, Mattapan, MA
Are you stressed?
Do you need a safe space?
Do you understand trauma?
Join your neighbors and friends for 12 weeks in a group discussion on everyday life issues.
For more information, please call 617-858-7800.
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March 18th, 12-12:30pm - Join online or by phone
Join us this Wednesday for our second Virtual Café for Breastfeeding groups to discuss telehealth (telelactation) options for supporting families.
Check out this article from
National Institute for Children's Health Quality
on how lactation support providers are expanding their reach through telemedicine technology. Leveraging a variety of digital and online communication platforms, providers are able to reach more mothers - in both rural and urban settings - who would otherwise have difficulty finding support.
Read on to learn more!
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Vital Village Network's Boston Breastfeeding Coalition is committed to improving access to breastfeeding support for every parent in Boston, promoting connections between individuals and organizations that engage in breastfeeding advocacy, and supporting pathways for professional lactation counselors.
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