OUR EDUCATORS

Educate.Embrace. Empower.

Peace on earth begins with birth


What if I told you that there was someone who would support your birth choices, provide you evidence-based information, and teach you how to advocate for yourself and your baby all while comforting you physically, emotionally, mentally, and educationally? Hi, I'm Ashley and I'm that someone.

Birth rights are human rights and incredible things happen when a birthing person is treated with the care and compassion they deserve.

EVERYONE deserves to be educated, supported, and encouraged during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

It's more evident than ever that the world is full of barriers. One way I can do my part is to level the playing field and make birth education and support accessible, regardless of social stature, race, sexual preference/identity, or religion.

I am a Certified Birth Doula and a Postpartum Doula and a Lamaze-Certified Childbirth Educator. Additionally, I have the distinct privilege in working as the Doula Coordinator at Everyday Miracles!

Outside of birth work, I am a professional classical singer. I have had the unique opportunity to share my music all around the world, including Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Additionally, I sing all around the Twin Cities with several professional choral groups, as well as at The Basilica, St. Olaf, and Holy Cross. I am born and bred in Minneapolis. I live with my husband and our two beautiful babies. We are a goofy, multicultural, and close-knit family that get strange stares when people can't figure out why we don't all look alike. Sometimes, challenging the system is as easy as walking out the door!

We love to travel, dance, spend time at the lake, and try new food. Most importantly, we love to laugh!

Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me and remember, you are capable of great things!

Ashley

-Newborn Basics

-Birth Toolbox


Carolin

-VBAC Basics

As part of Hennepin Healthcare's on-call doula program, I strive to provide support, encouragement, and information to birthing families as they navigate the path of their birth journey. It is always an absolute honor to come alongside them in this beautifully challenging and unpredictable time, guiding them through various twists and turns as they work hard to welcome their baby.

I became a doula in 2006 and certified with DONA Intl and then Childbirth International. One of my passions as a doula is supporting VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), and I also teach the VBAC Basics class at Everyday Miracles.

Outside of doula work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, 3 kids, and 2 rescue dogs! I love trying out new recipes in the kitchen and being outdoors in nature.


Serving families during their journey through pregnancy, birth and early postpartum is one my deepest joys and honors. I have passionately been providing pregnancy and parenting support to families since 2005 as an in-home social worker and prenatal educator. I transitioned to birth doula work in 2015 when I trained and certified with DONA International. I then certified with UC San Diego as a lactation educator/counselor and finally, as a Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator in 2018.

I live with my three Spanish-speaking children and my spouse in a vibrant neighborhood and intentional community home in Minneapolis. I love exploring the world with my family, hiking and backpacking, reading, playing games and working to make this world a more just place for all.

I believe that all birthing people deserve to feel strong, educated, supported and empowered as they give birth. I look forward to seeing you in class or serving you as your doula!

Erin

-Spinning Babies


Holly

-Breath and Birth

I’m Holly. A mother, birth doula and childbirth educator. I began my breathwork journey around the same time that I attended my first birth which was over 20 years ago. While attending births over the years, I kept hearing and seeing the same things in regard to breath and using it during birth, and I knew there was a better way. Your breath is one of the most powerful, and under-utilized tools that we have in our birth toolbox. I began to study breath and how it could be utilized in everyday life, and how it could impact the birth experience. I was hooked. It is important to me that everyone has the birth that they desire, and that they feel that they have the tools that will help them achieve this. I am passionate about birth and teaching people how to utilize their breath with their core to positively impact birth. I feel strongly that people should not be learning a new skill during their birth but know how to use their breath before they embark on their labor and delivery journey.


Hello! My name is Kay Yang. I am Hmong, Christian, and excited to be with you on your journey! A little about me, my husband and I reside in the Twin Cities. We have two kiddos who are a huge blessing. Whether it is your first child or second, third, etc I want to help make your birthing journey less stressful and more enjoyable and memorable. I want to be able to help you answer questions you don't even know you have yet and be your advocate for however you want your birthing process to be.

Kay

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Kayla

-Labor & Birth 1

-Labor & Birth 2

Hi! My name is Kayla, and I had the amazing opportunity to become a certified doula through Everyday Miracles. It is such an honor to be apart of this birth community. The support is tremendous and allows for that support to extend through doulas right to the clients we serve.


With the amazing opportunity of becoming a doula, I have also been able to take on the role of educator with Everyday Miracles. Along with being an educator in this community, I am also currently set to graduate with a childbirth education certification with BADT spring 2024. Education is surely a passion of mine and one I intend to seek out repeatedly throughout my lifetime.


I teach Labor & Birth 1:2. It has been so fun connecting with families through childbirth education. As a lifelong learner, it brings me such joy to be able to teach, especially something I am so passionate about. I love bringing forward the education surrounding birth and giving that knowledge to families. I believe that being informed is the greatest gift we can receive in life. With knowledge comes power and I hope to provide that power to numerous families for years to come!


When I am not learning or teaching, you will find me spending quality time with my three children, reading, writing, participating in my hobby of photography and spending time outdoors, either hiking or foraging. I love to connect myself back to our roots in nature and bring that love of mine to my children, so they too will fall in love with that connection.


I look forward to seeing you in class!


Hi, I'm Kristen! I'm a certified birth doula, public health professional, lactation advocate, childbirth educator, and the owner of Allora Birth & Wellness. I am so honored to support the Everyday Miracles community!

I provide non-judgmental, individualized support that is specific and culturally relevant to each person’s birth and postpartum preferences. Every birth is unique, and I believe every person should be given the opportunity to have the labor and birth experience they desire, whatever that looks like! I am committed to listening, empowering, and helping families advocate to achieve a satisfying birth experience, and I serve as their coach and cheerleader along the way.

I am a true people-person, and I love developing meaningful connections with my clients and their families. My background in Maternal and Child Public Health has helped me become an advocate for social justice, address barriers, and promote health equity in the birth space. I am also certified to provide (and teach) Infant and Adult CPR & First Aid.

Outside of birth work, you'll find me sipping local coffee, exploring my Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood, or hiking with my goldendoodle, Lucy. For those of you into personality typing, I’m an Enneagram 6w7, Aquarius, and ENFJ. Being welcomed into your birth space is truly a gift to me. I look forward to getting to know you!

Kristen

-Infant First Aid and CPR for Caregivers


Liza

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Liza is a Birth, postpartum doula/educator and Lactation peer counselor in Northern Minnesota (Duluth). She decided this was her calling for life after having her own bundle and not being supported as she hoped. She really would have loved to have a doula and preferably someone who looked like her in the delivery room but two things 1 none of the doulas in my area looked like me and 2 none of the doulas took insurance so she needed to pay out of pocket. She has spent a large chunk of her life caring for friends and family during pregnancy and birth not knowing what a doula was.When she is not in the delivery room she is teaching,chasing behind her 2 year old son or pouring intention candles. She loves all things natural and holistic and loves learning about astrology. She works in her community as a young mom educator and works with Minnesota prison doula program.She hopes with this path in life to be able to encourage, empower and educate the women of color in her community to have the best pregnancy, birth and postpartum.


My name is Mary, and I am honored to serve as both a birth doula and a childbirth educator. I am certified through Doulas of North America (DONA), and have additional training through HypnoBirthing and with Gail Tully of Spinning Babies. I am also trained as a childbirth educator through Lamaze International.

As a birth doula, it is a privilege to support birthing families as they discover their strength and capacity to love. I am the mother of three (mostly) grown children. Being the mother of older children gives me the freedom to fully engage in birth work, and it also gives me a valuable perspective on birth and parenting.

I love connecting with families when teaching childbirth education. I like to lead casual, informative and entertaining discussions. I value all voices and perspectives as we explore evidence-based information.

Mary

-Labor & Birth 1

-Labor & Birth 2

-When Birth Becomes Complicated


Melissa

-Mindful Birth Basics

-Planning an Unmedicated Birth

-Mind Body Birth Flow

I am in awe of birth and pregnancy, and humbled by the sacred opportunity to witness people bringing their babies into the world! A health and wellness professional since 2005, I am a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) with over 500 hours of additional training in supporting prenatal and postpartum people. I am a Certified Birth Doula through Childbirth International, a Mindfulness Based Childbirth Educator through the Mindful Birthing Academy, and a Spinning Babies® Parent Educator.

With deep gratitude, I count my work with Everyday Miracles among the most meaningful in my life. I served as the Doula and Education Coordinator for over five years, and have been a part of the Core and On-Call Doula teams. I'm now thrilled to be an Educator, and to connect with families as they prepare to meet their babies and their new selves. I continue to learn so much, and to be humbled by the courage, beauty and resilience I see people exhibit through pregnancy and birth and beyond. The opportunity to witness their paths to and through parenthood and life — and to help cultivate a loving and supportive community in which they can thrive — is a true privilege.

I live with my husband of over twenty five years in the Northeast Minneapolis area. We are the parents of three amazing grown-up humans, the thankful bonus parents to some other beautiful souls who have enriched our lives and kindly allowed us to care for them along their journeys, and pup parents to a demanding, adorable Cavapoo named Metta.


Rhonda

-Planning your Best Birth

Every child deserves to be loved and every mother deserves the birth experience she desires! A DONA-trained doula with over 18 years of working youth and families in the non-profit realm, I’m so happy to be part of Everyday Miracles.

I love helping moms realize their strength and ability. I truly believe children are a gift from God and the birthing process is nothing short of a miracle. I believe I am created for this beautiful work.

I have spent almost two decades working to support healthy families. My career has included working as an after-school program director, healthy relationships/sexual health educator, community connector for an elementary school, homeless shelter co-facilitator and leading teen mission trips.

Originally from Cleveland, OH, I moved to Minneapolis in 2014. I enjoy spending time with others, watching TV /movies, eating good food and relaxing on the beach. My favorite things in life revolve around relationships with others!


Peace I am Sierra Leone'. Full Spectrum Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, Yoga Instructor and Childbirth Educator. I am a mother of six beautiful children whom I love with every bone in my body. My passion is working with diverse populations of women, children and families.

I enjoy collaborating with community organizations to help develop ways to support the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being of every person I work with.

Birth is sacred and should be surrounded by positive affirming people. Excited to support you and your growing family.

Sierra

-Prenatal Yoga

-Postpartum Basics

-Lactation 101

-Lactation Beyond the Basics

-Pumping Basics


Yaa

-Lactation 101

I’m Yaa. My doula career began early and unofficially – I was there for my baby sister’s birth, from the time my mom’s water broke till she was born eight hours later. My mother jokingly told people that I was her doula … I guess I really was!

That experience was only the beginning. It sparked a passion for birth and supporting women that continues today. I strongly believe that every woman, regardless of her circumstance, needs support especially during childbirth. This belief guides the work I do at Everyday Miracles.

A Certified Doula through DONA, I did my doula training with Liz Abbene as part of the Doula Access Project. I have also worked as a breastfeeding counselor for the Hennepin County WIC program since 2009.

A wife and mother of four energetic sons, I have also worked as an elementary school teacher and a radio presenter. As a busy working mom, I enjoy the simple pleasures of life, including 45 minutes of time to myself!