9. Two Black Midwives Build a Birth Center with Allegra Hill & Kimberly Durdin

“Systemic racism is attached to every aspect of our society.” - Kimberly Durdin

Allegra Hill & Kimberly Durdin are two black midwives who have embarked on the journey of starting their own birth center. In this episode, they share what called each of them to midwifery as well as what inspired them to the arduous task of starting a birth center. They help us understand the need for Black owned and operated birthing centers and the racial inequities faced by BIPOC birthing people, especially Black birthing parents and babies. Systemic racism impacts every industry. We have an open discussion about how it affects the birth world.

Today's wisdom comes from:

Kimberly Durdin IBCLC, Doula & Senior Student Midwife

Allegra Hill LM, CPM, Doula/Monitrice & IBCLC

Read all about my guests on their website.

Topics we discuss on this episode:

• Their personal journeys to becoming midwives
  
• The difference between midwifery care and working with an OB
  
• Starting a birth center in South LA
  
• The transformative process of opening a birth center
  
• Roadblocks and racism as a birth professional
  

Episode Resources:
Kindred Space LA www.kindredspacela.com
Follow Kindred Space on Instagram @kindredspacela
Support Kindred Space LA through Venmo: @ProjectMotherPath (note: Kindred Space LA)
Donate to Kindred Space LA through GoFundMe.com

Episode Mentions:
Heather Schwarz https://www.montereybirthcenter.com/our-story
Shafia Monroe https://shafiamonroe.com/
Sara Howard https://www.horizonmidwifery.com/
Tioma Allison https://tiomamidwife.wordpress.com/about/
Juliana Fehr, CNM, PhD, FACNM https://www.su.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/juliana-fehr-phd-cnm-rn/
Aleks Evanguelidi LM http://www.aleksevanguelidi.com/
Nikki Helms San Diego Birth Center GoFundMe

Episode Credits:
Produced by Aleksa Mara
Edited by Veronica Gruba
Hosted & Created by Britta Bushnell, PHD