Collective Staff

Amina Mirza (she/her) is a full-spectrum doula, parent, henna artist, and midwife to be. She was born and raised in greater Los Angeles and currently resides in Orange, CA. She is a mixed-race, queer Muslim woman, her mother migrated from India with her British and Indian parents. Amina's father carries both Ashkenazi Jewish and Muslim Indian heritage.

Amina’s passion for birthwork began in 2017 after the birth of her son and the loss of her mother. She believes in the significance of trauma-informed care, culturally and religiously sensitive care, and the crucial role played by midwives and doulas in addressing the escalating maternal mortality rates and birth trauma in the United States. Dedicated to serving all marginalized groups, she is committed to comprehending the intersectionality within birthing people and their families.

She is most inspired by the strong and confident women in her life, including her grandmothers, mother, sisters, and aunts. They encouraged her to speak up for those who cannot, stand firm in her beliefs, and love unconditionally. Activism has been instilled into Amina from a young age. As a birth worker, Amina is compelled to take a stand against injustices, refusing to remain passive when I witness disparities around me. Her commitment to activism extends beyond personal battles; she is dedicated to uplifting and supporting others, recognizing the collective responsibility we share in creating a more just and equitable society.

In her free time, Amina enjoys karaoke with her sisters, exploring new restaurants with her partner, and attending live music events.

Andrea Howard (she/her) is a full-spectrum birthworker, parent, placenta encapsulator, and budding herbalist. She was raised and still currently resides in so-called Long Beach. She grew up in this area and built a life surrounded by the people she holds dear. She identifies as a queer Black woman. 

Having navigated her challenges with the medical system and understanding the importance of advocacy, Andrea trained with Birth Workers of Color in 2020, focusing on birth work as activism and providing trauma-informed care. Building meaningful connections with the communities she has worked with is a privilege, and she's truly honored to be a part of their journeys.

You'll often find her dancing with friends, experimenting with new recipes, or diving into DIY projects when she's not supporting families. Exploring and discovering new things brings joy and adventure to her life, and she believes life is a grand adventure full of excitement and possibilities.

Celeste is a Queer Afro Indigenous member of the Birth Workers of Color Collective. She is a multifaceted individual with a deep passion for nurturing and empowering others. At the core of her identity, she proudly embraces the roles of a mother, birth worker, and yoga teacher. These profound experiences have not only shaped Celeste personal journey but have also inspired her mission to support and guide individuals through transformative life moments.

As a certified Kundalini Reiki Practitioner, Celeste channels the universal life force energy to facilitate healing on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Her connection to the ancient wisdom of Shamanic practices further enhances Celestes' ability to guide individuals through their unique paths of self-discovery and healing.

At the heart of her approach is the belief that community is a powerful force for growth and well-being. Celeste integrates this philosophy into her work, fostering a sense of unity and support among those she serves. Whether guiding expectant parents through the journey of childbirth or leading prenatal yoga sessions, creating spaces where individuals can connect, heal, and flourish together.

Additionally, her commitment to community is reflected in her role as a Certified Lactation Education Specialist (CLES), where advocating for and providing essential education on breast/chestfeeding and maternal health. Through this advocacy, aiming to contribute to the well-being of both parents and their infants is her goal.

In every aspect of Celeste work, she is dedicated to creating a harmonious balance between ancient wisdom and modern understanding. Inviting you to join her on this holistic journey towards self-discovery, healing, and the creation of a supportive community that nourishes the mind, body, and soul.

Christina Lares (she/her) is a Queer Chicana Mexicana Birthworker, Sexologist, Pole Dancer, Autism Mama, Writer, and Entrepreneur. She believes Otro Mundo es Posible and it is rooted in pleasure, joy, and community. Christina followed her passion of sexual and reproductive health education to San Diego State University where she studied public health and became an active community organizer on and off campus. In December 2015, she graduated with her MPH in Health Promotion and MA in Latin American Studies and now specializes in pleasure justice advocacy, lactation education, and holistic reproductive health.

At the height of the pandemic, Christina gave birth to her first child and shortly after completed full spectrum doula training with Birthworkers of Color Collective (BWOCC). In 2023, Christina was hired as the first full-time staff of BWOCC to lead their new Abortion Doula Program. More recently she was promoted to Programs Manager where she supports all of BWOCC’s programming. When Christina is not mentoring doulas or organizing with BWOCC, she is creating pleasure justice and sensual dance offerings through her business Flowtanica LLC. She loves creating music playlists, watching 90’s cult classic movies, playing backgammon, and is obsessed with Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

Nakia (They/She) is a Black, Queer Birthworker and student Midwife in Phase 2 at the Midwives College of Utah. Throughout the past decade, they have become well acquainted with reproductive justice with an emphasis on strategies necessary to chip away at the barriers to adequate reproductive and sexual health care. As reproductive justice advocate, they are committed to the betterment of birthing people, young folks, and other marginalized communities. Originally from San Diego, Nakia has been thriving in the Bay area for over a decade. In their spare time, they love to read trashy books, interact with all things Harry Potter, and constantly change their social media accounts from private to public. Nakia would not be able to engage in this work without the support from their loving partner, family, and friends.

Shondriane is a dynamic Software Engineer who leverages her business management background to deliver innovative solutions that drive company value and empower the community. With experience leading global teams, she helps businesses scale and achieve growth by aligning technology with strategic goals through effective communication and stakeholder collaboration. Shondriane is deeply committed to social justice, actively volunteering for nonprofits that empower marginalized communities and leverage technology for social good. When she's not coding, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, and exploring the world around her. Shondriane is excited to bring her unique skills and perspective to the Birthworkers of Color Collective to advance health equity and contribute to meaningful change.

Håfa Adai, Stevie Merino (Sol and Roots) is a proud queer indigenous islander woman (CHamoru & Boricua) raised in the diaspora of the LBC. She wears many different hats as a: cultural practitioner, community organizer, anthropologist, birthworker, IBCLC, speaker, and trainer. She has been a doula since 2015. Stevie has been a community organizer & activist since 14 years old, her politics shape the way she approaches life & this work. She is a mami to a 7 year old. Stevie is the Executive Director, and co-founder of the Birthworkers of Color Collective and doula of Color training.