Wednesday, September 18 at 12:00pm ET / 11:00am CT / 9:00am PT (90 min)
Are you a person who speaks Spanish as your first language and dreams of being a midwife in a birth center? Are you curious about the paths of other Latine midwives in the US? Join the stories of Latine midwives from diverse communities across the country. This session is designed to inspire and inform!
Presenters:
Zulgeil Ruiz Gines, Commonsense Childbirth School of Midwifery
Lina Garcia, Luna y Tierra Birth Center, El Paso, Texas
Vanessa Calderi, MAM Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Juanita Ahuehuetzin Montoya, recently graduated midwife, Illinois
Register for the event here.
Se proporciona interpretación en español para todas las sesiones.
Closed caption provided for all BCW sessions.
Speaker Bios
Lina Garcia
Lina Garcia (Xicana Indigena/Caxcan) brings over a decade of dedicated service to the field of birth and reproductive justice care,grounded in a social justice framework that centers BIPOC communities. As the co-founder of Luna Tierra Casa de Partos in El Paso, TX, and a licensed midwife across Texas,New Mexico, and Arizona, Lina is committed to empowering individuals throughout their reproductive journeys. With a Bachelor's degree in Xican@ Studies From the University of Arizona, Lina'seducational background aligns seamlessly with her passion for serving marginalized communities. Currently, she shares her wealth of knowledge and experience as a midwifery teacher, nurturing the next generation of compassionate birth workers.
Lina's dedication to social change extends beyond her work in birth and reproductive justice. Hailing from Los Angeles, she has been an active participant in political and social movements for over 25 years. Her involvement in political music groups like Subsistencia, Tragatelo, and Cihuatl Tonali reflects her commitment to using various mediums to advocate for meaningful change. Additionally, as a co-founder of Tierra Y Libertad Organization in Tucson, AZ, Lina spent over six years as a youth organizer, working with young people to engage in activism and community building.
Juanita Ahuehuetzin (she/they/ella)
Juanita Ahuehuetzin (she/they/ella) is a 2024 graduate of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College with an associate degree in Direct Entry Midwifery. Juanita is also a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), who has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and is qualifies to provide the Midwives Model of Care. Juanita has over 10 years of experience providing labor and birth support to families across IL and WI as a traditional birthworker. Juanita’s wealth of knowledge is informed by her dedication and commitment to continuous learning. Her certifications/trainings include a BA in Cultural Anthropologist, LMT, traditional sobadora/bodyworker, Certified Parent Educator for Spinning Babies, Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner/Breech Balancing, Childbirth Educator, Yoni Steam Facilitator, and craniosacral therapist. Juanita’s experience goes beyond the birth room as she is also a dedicated provider and keeper of traditional cuarentena- postpartum care and birth rituals.
As a traditional partera- holistic midwife, Juanita’s approach to prenatal and postpartum care is inclusive of the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of pregnant individuals and their families, reflecting a balance between ancestral wisdom and evidence-based midwifery care. She offers education, shared-decision making and physical awareness aimed at supporting families achieve a more empowering experience. Juanita’s work is also guided by her passion and commitment to equity and reproductive justice.
