Birth Justice
Our work of reclaiming the village begins with birth justice. The Red Birth Green Doula Collective and our lactation support professionals are here to support the growing families of our community through pregnancy, labor and birth, and postpartum. We build client relationships based on trust and work to eliminate barriers to care. We believe everyone who wants a doula deserves one, regardless of background or ability to pay.
Birth Justice programming includes workshops and meetups for young families – like free, drop-in, professional breastfeeding support at the Baby Café and our popular Village Playdates.
Support for young families is crucial for building community and reclaiming the village. Check our program calendar for more information.
Red Birth Green (RBG) was founded as the Rootead Doula Collective in 2016 as a way to address Black infant mortality with community care and principles of traditional healing practices. Equitable access and care for all is and has always been our driving mission.
We believe in the principle of Sankofa, which teaches us that we must remember our past to move forward in the future. Our birthwork philosophy combines traditional healing practices and collectivism with a modern standard of care.
We meet our clients where they are, without judgment or opinion. Your lived experiences are important and valuable, and we will always trust your judgment. This is your body and your birth; our goal is to empower all families to advocate for themselves through shared knowledge and connections.
- Provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period.
- Help families make informed decisions by offering evidence-based education, resources, and guidance while honoring each family’s values and birth preferences.
- Help clients advocate for respectful, culturally responsive care by empowering clients to communicate with their healthcare team and navigate the healthcare system with confidence.
- Offer comfort measures and practical support, including labor positioning, breathing techniques, relaxation strategies, and postpartum recovery guidance.
- Connect families with community resources such as childbirth education, breastfeeding support, mental health services, home visiting programs, and other local resources to promote healthy outcomes for parents and babies.
Red Birth Green
We believe in the principle of Sankofa, which teaches us that we must remember our past to move forward in the future. Our birthwork philosophy combines traditional healing practices and collectivism with a modern standard of care.
We meet our clients where they are, without judgment or opinion. Your lived experiences are important and valuable, and we will always trust your judgment. This is your body and your birth; our goal is to empower all families to advocate for themselves through shared knowledge and connections.
What Do RBG Doulas Do?
• Call, text, and meet with you to get to know you, find out how you’re doing, and answer your questions.
• Make themselves available for the month around your due date so they can come to your birth to support you.
• Stay in touch with you postpartum to help you access support you deserve.
• Remind you of your strengths so you can overcome the trials of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood.
• Remain nonjudgmental and unbiased in every interaction so you feel safe and truly cared for.
Meet Our Doulas
Stephanie
Hello, my name is Stephanie. I am a birth and postpartum doula at Rootead and facilitate workshops throughout the community on topics relating to Maternal Child Health. While I love being in the homes of clients & promoting their rest and recovery, my passion for education, birth justice, and self-advocacy skills is weaved throughout everything I do. I have been a part of the birth world for the past 5 years and hope to be for many more years as I continue my education to be a Certified Professional Midwife.
Lauren
Hi, my name is Lauren. I’m a DONA trained birth doula at Rootead. I love serving my community and helping families. I’m passionate about Birth Justice and advocating for my client’s needs. I’m honored that I can be part of such a special moment.
Jamara
Hi, my name is Jamara. I am both a birth and postpartum doula at Rootead. I have a passion for supporting and advocating for expecting mothers’ and their families. My work is rooted in compassion, education, and empowerment, ensuring each family feels seen, respected, and fully supported throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I strive to create calm, safe, and informed experiences where mothers can trust their bodies, their choices, and their support team. My purpose is to stand beside families during one of life’s most meaningful transitions, helping them feel confident, prepared, and cared for every step of the way.
Cyndy
Hello, my name is Cyndy Margarita García-Weyandt. I am a Community-Based Doula (CBD) trained through Rootead in Kalamazoo, Michigan, providing support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. I offer advocacy, evidence-informed guidance, and resource support to birthing people and their families. As a mother and educator, I bring a holistic and culturally grounded approach to my work, informed by traditional healing practices. I hold certifications in alternative practices, aromatherapy, and Mexican herbalism, and I am currently completing a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) certificate to better serve families across diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds in topics related to lactation. I am fully bilingual in Spanish and English, with conversational proficiency in Portuguese, and my commitment to education, self-advocacy, and community care is woven throughout all aspects of my practice.
Vonika
Hi, I’m Vonika, a certified doula and the heart behind Open Heart Doula. I’m passionate about supporting mothers through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with compassion, education, and real support. I especially love working with teen moms and women who are expecting, helping them feel confident, informed, and never alone on their journey. I believe every mother deserves a safe space, an open heart, and someone in her corner.
Jamara
Hi, my name is Jamara. I am both a birth and postpartum doula at Rootead. I have a passion for supporting and advocating for expecting mothers’ and their families. My work is rooted in compassion, education, and empowerment, ensuring each family feels seen, respected, and fully supported throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I strive to create calm, safe, and informed experiences where mothers can trust their bodies, their choices, and their support team. My purpose is to stand beside families during one of life’s most meaningful transitions, helping them feel confident, prepared, and cared for every step of the way.
Kalamazoo Baby Café at Rootead
Rootead’s Baby Café provides free, judgment-free lactation support for pregnant and postpartum families, whether you’re breastfeeding, chestfeeding, pumping, combination feeding, or simply have questions about infant feeding. Families receive support from trained lactation professionals in a welcoming, supportive environment while connecting with other families.
Baby Café is available by appointment at Rootead, and we also offer in-home lactation visits for families who are unable to come to our office.
This free service is available in partnership with Bronson Health Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
We also offer Baby Café services at two community locations:
El Concilio, where families can receive Spanish-language lactation support, community connection, breastfeeding supplies and more
Interfaith Homes, bringing lactation support directly to families in their community.
Through our partnership with the Bronson Milk Bank, Rootead is proud to help families access safe, pasteurized donor human milk when additional feeding support is needed. Black and Brown families often face significant disparities in breastfeeding support and access to lactation resources due to longstanding systemic inequities. By increasing access to donor milk, we aim to help reduce these barriers and ensure more babies receive the benefits of human milk during a critical stage of development. Families who need to supplement can request 8-ounce bottles of donor milk, available for weekly pickup at Rootead or home delivery, based on availability. Our goal is to help ensure babies receive the nourishment they need while supporting families on their infant feeding journey.
Blossom Babies includes several education classes for parents:
- Childbirth Education Classes are designed to help expectant parents prepare for birth with confidence through evidence-based, culturally responsive education. Whether you’re a first-time parent or welcoming another baby, our classes provide practical information and hands-on learning to help you understand your options and feel empowered throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the early postpartum period.Topics include the stages of labor, comfort measures, pain management options, medical interventions, birth planning, partner support, newborn care, and what to expect during the postpartum recovery period.Our goal is to equip families with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions and advocate for the birth experience that is right for them.
- Postpartum Support Education Classes. The postpartum period is a time of tremendous physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. Our Blossom Babies Postpartum Support Education class helps families prepare for life after birth by providing practical tools, education, and resources to support a healthy transition into parenthood.Topics include physical recovery, emotional well-being, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, newborn adjustment, partner and family relationships, self-care, community resources, and when to seek additional support.By preparing for the postpartum period before your baby arrives, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the challenges of early parenting with confidence and build a strong support system for your growing family.
- Breastfeeding Education Class provides expectant and new parents with the knowledge and confidence to begin their infant feeding journey. Led by experienced lactation professionals, this class offers evidence-based information in a supportive, judgment-free environment to help families meet their feeding goals.Topics include the benefits of human milk, how breastfeeding works, achieving a comfortable latch, recognizing feeding cues, building and maintaining milk supply, pumping and milk storage, common challenges, and knowing when and where to seek additional support. Families will also learn about the lactation resources available through Rootead, including Baby Café, home lactation visits, and our partnership with the Bronson Milk Bank. Whether you plan to exclusively breastfeed, pump, combination feed, or are still exploring your options, this class is designed to help you make informed decisions and feel supported every step of the way.
Interested in becoming a Doula?
Now accepting applications for our next Community Based Doula Training cohort!
Thank you for your interest in Rootead’s Doula Program. Please fill out the application below to be considered for the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 cohort. We estimate it will take 10-20 minutes to complete this application.
Please note this application will close July 31st, you will get a response from Rootead the week of August 25th for the cohort starting September 13th.
Upcoming Birth Justice Events
Events
List of events in Photo View
Rootead is proud to be a Perinatal Safe Spot!
A Perinatal Safe Spot is a physical or virtual space, or both – a place where women and families can safely connect and find support.
A Perinatal Safe Spot is also a place to utilize the four tenets of The JJ Way® model of care which enable ANYBODY who cares to make a positive difference in a pregnant or parenting woman’s life.
The tenets are to provide ACCESS, CONNECTIONS, KNOWLEDGE and EMPOWERMENT in order to increase the opportunities for a positive birth outcome.
Obodo (Oh-Bow-Doe) is a revolutionary initiative in perinatal care. Based in the heart of Kalamazoo, we use a culturally-relevant, communal approach to providing the access, connections, and knowledge that allow our clients to feel empowered in their reproductive choices.
Services
- Pregnancy Testing
- Fertility Education
- Lactation Counseling
- Full-Spectrum Doula Care
- Pregnancy Release Care
- Perinatal Health Assessments
- Nurse Consultations
- Community Resource Hub
- Parenting Groups
- Natural Living Education
- Early Childhood Enrichment