“This is what happens when we fund community care and support networks for parents”
Watch the full interview with CommUnity Doulas Project Director, Jordyn Gibson.
Why are Black women, parents and their babies more likely to experience negative health outcomes during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum? When Jordyn Gibson started CommUnity Doulas in 2022, she didn’t want to put her energy solely into research on the issue. She wanted to get resources on the ground and employ quick, effective, and intentional ways to support Black families across the Greater Toronto Area.
CommUnity Doulas has continued to flourish since we last spoke – the recent success of their pilot program truly shows what happens when community-led solutions are prioritized and funded. A few months after receiving a grant from MakeWay, the Shared Platform project was able to quickly provide impactful support to five Black families in late-pregnancy and postpartum. The program connects participants with one-on-one doula support, monthly care packages of nutritious meals and self-care gifts for parents, and most importantly: a strong, deeply connected community.
“The goal of this program is to really connect with community and provide that intentional long-term support. It also serves as a vehicle to bring attention and awareness to Black maternal health disparities,” Jordyn explained. “These disparities impact families, irrespective of socioeconomic status – which is not the determining factor for participation in the program. Rather, you are selected based on your connections. We have families who are newcomers and they are the only people in their family who are in Canada.”
Postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms are common concerns for new parents, and those experiencing isolation are particularly vulnerable. This is why both the one-on-one doula support and community connection that CommUnity Doulas provides is so vital. Doulas bring in holistic care: monitoring for signs of poor mental health, giving evidence-based advice around birth and parenting, providing companionship, helping with household management, and so much more. The CommUnity Doulas initiative connects participants with a network of other parents and birth workers, and that helps prevent isolation and other negative health outcomes that new parents experience. Program participants report feeling deeply fulfilled and emotionally nourished during their time in the program, working with their assigned doula and sharing space with other parents.
“It’s such a simple initiative, and our people are ready to go to war for it,” said Jordyn. “This is what happens when we fund community care and support networks for parents. We get put into this expectation that you should be able to do [birthing and parenting] yourself. You do everything else yourself – why would you need help doing this? And that’s just not true. It’s not true for us, culturally. I don’t think it’s true for us collectively – even outside of communities of African descent. This is reminding us of that basic human need of connection that got lost, unfortunately.”
This work has a deeply rooted history, and CommUnity Doulas is an example of how the legacy of Black birth work is carried out today to make a difference in families’ lives. When we pour resources into community-led initiatives who truly understand the issues they face and have already put in time and energy to set up networks of support – the impact and potential for transformative solutions are immeasurable. “This is a turnkey solution. We know the impact, and it’s only going to be better, deeper, and stronger with more support.”
Learn more about CommUnity Doulas’ work and how you can support! CommUnity Doulas is part of MakeWay’s Shared Platform, which provides charitable expertise and operational support to a mission-aligned community of environmental and social initiatives, so that they can focus on building strong, vibrant, just communities and a healthier planet.
