Co-sponsored with Indigenous Birth
Wednesday, September 18 at 2:00 pm ET / 1:00pm pm CT / 11:00am PT (90 min)
Are you an Indigenous person dreaming of leading a birth center? Curious about the pathways of Indigenous birth center leaders? Join in for storytelling from Indigenous birth center leaders in diverse communities across the country. This session is designed to inspire and inform!
Moderator: Marinah V. Farrell, Indigenous Birth
Panelists
Glenna Belin Marcus, Breath of My Heart, Espanola, New Mexico
Marianna Holland, New Phase of the Birth Nest, Glendale, AZ
Tara Lawal, Rainier Valley, Seattle, Washington
Vanessa Calderi, Centro MAM, San Juan, PR
Terah Lara, Foothills Midwifery, Enumclaw, Washington
Register for the event here.
Se proporciona interpretación en español para todas las sesiones.
Closed caption provided for all BCW sessions.
Speaker Bios
Glenna Belin
Glenna Belin is a licensed midwife who apprenticed strictly in a home birth setting, lending to traditional midwifery passed down from generation to generation. Belin became licensed in 2018, and is humbled to accept the role of clinical director at Breath of My Heart Birth Center. She is dedicated to supporting BIPOC families in the Espanola Valley, as a tribal member of Ohkay Owingeh pueblo she is attuned to working with the local indigenous population. Belin embraces the opportunities and challenges that will come with her position. As a birthworker, her foremost belief is that Midwifery is a means of empowerment, autonomy, and reproductive liberation.
Marianna Holland
Marianna Holland is a certified nurse midwife and owner of New Phase at the Birth Nest in Glendale, Arizona; the only birth center in Arizona currently owned and led by midwives of color. She is a provider of full scope midwifery services to the community in home, birth center, and hospital and an advocate for midwifery education and life-long learning. She is assistant clinical faculty at the University of Arizona’s doctoral program with a focus on midwifery education. Marianna is also a preceptor to several midwifery programs and active in the local midwifery organizations working to support midwifery collaboration. Her most important and primary role is as a wife and mother to two young people.
Vanessa Caldari, BSN, CPM, LM
Vanessa Caldari, BSN, CPM, LM, brings a wealth of experience spanning over 25 years to the field of midwifery, seamlessly blending the art and science of her craft. Her professional journey began with studies at Maternidad La Luz in 1996-1997, followed by invaluable hands-on experiences alongside various midwives in New Mexico. In 1997, she returned to Puerto Rico, actively contributing to and expanding her expertise through collaboration with local midwives.
Over the years, Vanessa has pursued continuous education, refining her skills with courses in Emergency Medical Technique and Massage Therapy.
Holding a bachelor's degree in nursing sciences, she furthered her knowledge by delving into Nursing Midwife Theory and Practice, as well as Public Health at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus.
In 2007, Vanessa founded Mujeres Ayudando Madres (MAM), emerging as a transformative force for change and empowerment in childbirth in Puerto Rico. For over a decade, MAM has provided crucial midwifery, doula, education, and perinatal direct assistance services. Serving as a training hub, MAM significantly contributed to the evolution of childbirth and midwifery options on the island, fostering the development of numerous doulas and midwives. In 2023, MAM transitioned from a community care center to become a community clinic and center, reflecting its continued commitment to community care.
Residing in California from 2017-2018, Vanessa worked at Pacifica Family Maternity Center, enhancing her knowledge in managing and operating a Birth Center. She is currently a licensed midwife in the state of California and a Certified Professional Midwife with the North American Registry of Midwives.
