Trainers and Mentors

Are you seeking guidance? Meet our NBDA® Approved Doulas. They have thriving Doula practices and collectively, they have supported hundreds of families.

Please Note The NBDA® Trainers & Mentors facilitate their own mentorship programs. No payments are made to the NBDA®. 

Ashley Davis

  • Ashley is passionate about the needs and goals of her clients, and specialize in bringing peace of mind to her families. Ashley Davis is trusted and epitomizes integrity, energy, hard work and creative services. ashley is a Mother of 4 beautiful Children 3 sons and 1 daughter. After the births of Ashley's three sons (Aidan, Alexander & Andrew) she had an, epiphany which gave birth to a transformative life experience.Helping expectant parents navigate pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding after the birth of her first son has been her passion. With over a decade of experience in customer service and birth support she transitioned to working hands-on and serving families as a Full Spectrum Doula. She calmly and confidently guide expectant parents and new doulas on their beautiful Journey's.

Brandie Bishop

  • I'm Brandie Bishop (She/Her), a passionate and courageous advocate for families during their most vulnerable times. Proudly raised in Inkster, Michigan, I now call Georgia home. My journey began at 14, working at a homeless center and launching my first business. I earned a degree in Family Child Development, focusing on supporting pregnant refugee women, which reshaped my understanding of pregnancy and postpartum experiences.

    With nearly a decade of experience, I've supported over 150 families from 45 countries as a Birth Work Professional. As the Owner and CEO of the National Black Doulas Association, I’m dedicated to empowering BIOPC Births and Birth Work Businesses while striving to reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate in our country. Let’s connect and create change together!

Daneé Haynes

  • Daneé is the proud owner of My Sweet Cadence Doula Services, serving families in the Cleveland, OH area. Inspired by her own journey through pregnancy, loss, and birth, she found her calling in birth work as a way to empower and uplift others. She is a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula and a skilled Placenta Encapsulator, providing compassionate and personalized care to every family she supports. With a mission to educate and empower, Daneé walks alongside families through their pregnancy journey, offering guidance, support, and advocacy. As a passionate trainer and mentor, she is committed to equipping aspiring doulas with the knowledge and skills they need to create meaningful change in the birthing community, fostering empowerment and equity in maternal care.

I’man Boykin

  • Iman Boykin, owner of Sacred Beginnings, is a sacred full-spectrum birth keeper with over a decade of experience. Feeling called to this work since childhood, she dedicates her life to transforming the birthing experience with love and empowerment. Starting her parenting journey at 18, Iman especially supports young mothers and emphasizes the importance of fathers in the birthing process, viewing birth work as a form of ancestral healing. Alongside her partner, she founded "Nurturing Love Seeds," a nonprofit that serves the community through gardening, seed distribution, and birth services. As an energy healer and medicine woman, Iman advocates for community wellness, reminding individuals of their inherent greatness. Together, they run Anahata Wholeness, an online wellness store focused on reconnecting with the land and ancestral wisdom while promoting holistic health and love.

Kaila Matthews

  • Kaila Matthews is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, a wife, and a mother of two. With over 10 years of experience as an educator, she is the owner of WhatTheDoula, LLC. As a certified Doula, Kaila raises awareness about maternal healthcare, focusing on minority women and their unique birthing experiences through Birth, Postpartum, and Lactation support. She is also a certified yoga instructor, using her knowledge of movement and breath to help birthing people relax and manage pain effectively. Currently a student Midwife, Kaila has certified and cross-trained to enhance her skills in both medical and non-medical aspects of birth. In her free time, she enjoys mentoring local college students, making custom hair bows, and taking dance classes to stay fit and active.

Michelle Gabrielle-Caldwell

  • Michelle Gabriel-Caldwell, PhD, CD, CBE, and DFB, is the founder of Baby, Please Birth Services Agency LLC™, serving NJ, NY, PA, MD, FL, and GA with a team of over 20 doulas. She is a thrice-certified Birth Doula (Bradley, NBDA, DONA), a certified Fertility and Postpartum Doula, and a Childbirth Educator teaching the Bradley Method® and her own BPBS Holistic Childbirth Course. As a Certified Lactation Educator with CAPPA, she supports breastfeeding and recently became a certified instructor for Dancing for Birth®. Michelle is also a National Black Doula Association Licensed Doula Instructor and Board Chairperson of The Perinatal Health Equity Initiative. Since 2005, she has assisted over 530 families, trained 350+ birth professionals, and empowered 2300+ families as a childbirth educator.

Yolanda Walker

  • My name is Yolanda Walker, NBDA®-CD (Certified Birth Doula), and I specialize in birth and postpartum care, supporting families through the early months of infancy. With over 20 years of experience, I am passionate about helping women feel supported, rested, and empowered during their transition into parenthood. I received my training through the National Black Doulas Association and am a proud mother of five.

    I believe birth is a sacred process that requires strength, courage, and compassionate support. As a trainer and mentor with NBDA, I am honored to empower families and birth workers while contributing to improved care and outcomes in our communities.

Ashli Rodriguez

  • Ashli Crew Rodriguez is a certified full-spectrum doula and maternal wellness advocate serving families in the Philadelphia area through A Village Doula. She supports pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with a focus on informed consent and physiological birth. A mother of three, she also brings decades of family childcare experience and uses creative media to amplify birth education and advocacy.

Chanel Jones

  • Chanel is the founder of Chanel’s Comforting Doula Care, providing birthing and labor support as well as childbirth education services since 2018. She received her doula certification through the Long Island Doula Association (LIDA) and is actively involved with the Black Maternity Wellness Collective (BMWC) and the Community Support Fund (CSF). Chanel briefly worked as a birthing assistant with One Love Midwifery and holds certifications in Birth Emergency Skills Training (BEST) and the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). As a maternal mental health advocate for the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, she was honored as Volunteer of the Year in 2023. Chanel also participates in various initiatives, including the BFREE initiative and the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. A dedicated single mother to her 16-year-old daughter, she is passionate about improving maternal healthcare outcomes and training the next generation of empowered doulas.

Imani Byers-Quarterman

  • Daneé is the proud owner of My Sweet Cadence Doula Services, serving families in the Cleveland, OH area. Inspired by her own journey through pregnancy, loss, and birth, she found her calling in birth work as a way to empower and uplift others. She is a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula and a skilled Placenta Encapsulator, providing compassionate and personalized care to every family she supports. With a mission to educate and empower, Daneé walks alongside families through their pregnancy journey, offering guidance, support, and advocacy. As a passionate trainer and mentor, she is committed to equipping aspiring doulas with the knowledge and skills they need to create meaningful change in the birthing community, fostering empowerment and equity in maternal care.

Jazzmine Brooks

  • I am Jazzmine "Rural Black Doula" Brooks (She/Her/They), a full-spectrum doula and somatic yoga instructor based in Central Iowa. I offer services throughout the Midwest, Caribbean, and West Coast, with options for travel and virtual support. My vibrant approach is rooted in culture and community, bringing a wealth of knowledge as a full-service doula who has developed collaborative Title V doula programs for both for-profit and non-profit organizations. As a mentor, I empower aspiring doulas and birthworkers with the tools to support families authentically and inclusively while prioritizing self-care. As a Certified Trainer with the National Black Doula Association, I train birthworkers to create connections, amplify voices, and transform the perinatal and reproductive care landscape for diverse communities and beyond.

Keshia Jenkins

  • Keshia Jenkins supports families through the perinatal journey with compassionate, culturally responsive care. With nearly 20 years in maternal health and early childhood, she is a Certified Full Spectrum and Community Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Maternal Mental Health Support Specialist. Founder of Birthing Brilliance Collective, she leads doulas in Tallahassee, FL and advocates nationwide.

Olivia N. Atley

  • Hello! My name is Olivia N. Atley, the DoulaBÿ. I joyfully serve as a Full Spectrum Doula in Central Ohio, collaborating with many courageous women in the area. I have trained with several organizations, including the National Black Doulas Association®. My mission is to provide high-quality, mindful, and inclusive birthing support to new and expecting families at every stage of their journey to welcome new life into the world. I am dedicated to ensuring that every family feels supported and empowered throughout their experience. I look forward to bringing this same energy to each doula training I lead and to the doulas I mentor, empowering them to create a positive impact in their communities and transform the birthing experience for those they serve.

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