Hello Ladies!

 

Hope everyone is well. Our recent AABA meeting was held at The Birth Place on Tuesday April 4, 2006 - Jennie, Devita, Tanita, Malika, Ayanna, Eva, Akeila, Tishauna and Hazel were present along with two beautiful nursing babies. What a blessing to see such a cross-section of women represented at the meeting; from a 14 year old full-term pregnant mom, one newly pregnant teen, two pregnant but experienced breast feeders, two currently nursing moms with babies at breast and three “mature” supporters - it was a powerful mix! (By the way, Akeila, who is 14, delivered last week in 6 hours, no epidural, 7lbs 2oz baby and YES she is breast feeding!!! Yeah!)

 

Topics Discussed

 

Our core group is actively planning our first event. June 10, 2006 will be our AABA Picnic in the Park at Orlo Vista. This event will be held to raise awareness about breastfeeding in the African American community, infant mortality and racial disparities. Our purpose is to gather families together and create a photo montage which will include a group of Black Breastfeeding Moms and Babies, Dads and kids, and happy, healthy families in general. We plan to use the photos for media promotion of breastfeeding and to have available for public education campaigns. We all agree that photos can be very meaningful in portraying a positive message about breastfeeding in black families. So, to that end please save the date, watch for more information and start inviting families. We are looking for women of color who are nursing and would be willing to be in the photo. Please forward their names, emails, numbers and invite them to our meetings as well.
Special thanks to the worker bees on this project: Tanita, Sybil, Nicky, Malika. Please e-mail to Tanita at tligons@cfl.rr.com.

 

General Support

 

Ideas were flowing thick and fast as the discussion ranged from tips and techniques through concerns and frustrations. The experienced nursers were able to support and encourage the younger women and we discussed at length how things have changed through the generations as far as breast feeding practices, ideas and taboos have existed in the Black community. Our Orlando Chapter is already becoming a meeting to ‘look forward to’ and for that I am very grateful. For moms who might need breast feeding phone support please have them call The Birth Place at 407 656 6938 email info@thebirthplace.org or WIC at 407 836 2623. Those of you that can’t attend meetings in person – please remember to encourage friends, family and clients to come to the meetings, every first Tuesday at noon at The Birth Place (www.thebirthplac.org for directions).

 

Education

 

We are starting to work on creating a brochure or flyer to be added to ‘new moms’ packages which we would like to see being distributed by the hospitals and lactation consultants. Currently we are gathering materials for review so please submit or bring anything that you would like to be considered for package inserts, to be discussed at the May meeting. We have missed the opportunity to be at the annual Sisters Take Charge event but can start to plan ahead for other upcoming health fairs. Please consider volunteering for health fair ‘table duty’ as they become available.

 

 

 

Orange County Healthy Start

 

Once again, Orange County Healthy Start is actively supporting work in our community that focuses on racial disparities. On Friday April 14, 2006 I will be making a short presentation to their Board of Directors about AABA and our Chapter. We are currently the only Florida and South Eastern chapter. I will outline our mission and update them on where we are and where we want to go. Linda Sutherland and Ellen Geiger have been enthusiastic supporters of us getting this group up and running.

 

FUNDING

 

As we begin to pick up speed we are looking at the need for funding our Chapter. Please keep us in mind for any in-kind, donations, give-a-ways and grants. We aim to reach women of African descent in the tri-county area and are not currently funded. Jennie’s Commonsense Childbirth Inc. is our non-profit umbrella (501 c3) and provides space, snacks etc at this time.

 

So to recap.

 

               1: Remember to promote the AABA group meetings. Next meeting is Tuesday May 2, 2006 at noon at The Birth Place 407 656 6938

 

         2: Save the date – June 10, 2006 for AABA Picnic in the Park at Orlo Vista

 

        3: Give feedback to the group via the forum at Nubian Health Network. www.nubianhealthnetwork.org

 

        4: Forward any literature/ resources/ web links to Jennie at jennie@nubianhealthnetwork.org or Tanita at tligons@cfl.rr.org

 

 

 

 

In the meantime then - keep supporting breastfeeding, our babies need you!
PEACE.

 

Jennie

 

 

 

Jennie Joseph
The Birth Place
1150 E.Plant St. Suite F
Winter Garden, FL. 34787
407 656 6938 tel/407 656-9161 fax
www.thebirthplace.org
www.nubianhealthnetwork.org
jennie@nubianhealthnetwork.org