Lakisa Muhammad, Michelle Ponce, & United Birthworkers, part one

Lakisa Muhammad

Michelle Ivette Ponce

In Part One of this community based podcast, Lakisa Muhammad and Michelle Ponce join the podcast to talk about their experience in the United Birthworkers of Color, AZ, a prototype envisioning resilient partnerships for the reproductive health of their communities.

Under the direction of The New School and Social Movements + Innovations, three Arizona-based organizations came together as part of a cohort of prototyping labs working on re-imagining sustainable leadership and organization while testing disruptive and creative ways to challenge white dominant culture. Lakisa and Michelle are the co-founders of Arizona Birthworkers of Color.

"Arizona Birthworkers of Color (AZBOC), founded in 2016, is a collective group of people of color who offer services that support families before, during, and after childbirth. We are also advocates, stakeholders, business owners, and leaders within the field of birthwork locally and nationally. The overreaching intention of AZBOC is to uplift , support, and create space for connection among Birthworkers of Color in Arizona."

Michelle Ivette Ponce is a multi-disciplinary artist, celebrant, and spiritual life coach. Her passion is in healing and building coalition while incorporating ancestral wisdom and clarity as we build our future collectively. Michelle is the owner of Sana Pueblo Healing.

Motivated by a passion to help pregnancy families experience safe and healthy births, Lakisa Muhammad serves as a community midwife. Using her knowledge and training, she works to address and debunk myths and misconceptions replacing them with facts and timeless traditions that lead to better decision making and better outcomes for birthing families at her practice, A Mother's Worth Birth Services.


How to network with the Arizona Birthworkers of Color:
@Arizona Birthworkers of Color email
@Arizona Birthworkers of Color Facebook
@Michelle's Twitter
@Michelle's Email
@Lakisa's practice, A Mother's Worth Birth Services
@Lakisa's Email
@A Mother's Worth FB

People, places and things mentioned on the podcast:
Homebirth Cesarean
Cihuapactli Collective
Amber Rose Isaac, death of a NY Mother
The Nap Ministry