Marya Axner was has spent the past 30 years as an activist working against oppression of all kinds and also working as parent educator. She speaks and leads workshops on the topic of anti-Semitism and racism on college campuses, at social justices organizations, and at worker organizations. Fifteen years ago she was the Director of a parents program in the Somerville Public Schools, supporting parents to be involved in their children’s education. She has worked as a Multicultural Consultant for collaborative of schools near Boston. She has also worked for the non-profit, Everyday Democracy, which encourages people to have small group discussions that lead to lasting change. Marya also worked in the Education Department of the Jewish Women’s Archive where she wrote curricula about Jewish women’s history More recently, she was the Director of the New England Jewish Labor Committee, where she organized the Jewish Community to stand up with workers for their rights.

Marya Axner has taught listening skills through Re-evaluation Counseling for many years. Axner has also been active in United to End Racism (UER) is a project of Re-valuation Counseling. United to End Racism is group of people of all backgrounds in many countries who are dedicated to eliminating racism in the world. UER does this by teaching people to listen to each other, thereby undoing the damage done to people through racism and thus enabling people to speak out about racism, interrupt it when it happens, make deep friendships with people of different races, and take leadership in removing racism from society’s institutions

She was the Regional Director of the New England Jewish Labor Committee (NE JLC) for 12 years. She is currently working with the Jewish Climate Action Network, working on legislation that will support the transition away from fossil fuels. She is also active in Fix the Grid, which wants the Independent Systems Operator of New England (ISO NE) to become more democratic in its governance of our electric grid, which is mostly energized by fossil fuels at this time.

Marya Axner

Jessica Gonzales, LM, CPM, co-founder and midwife at Heart of Houston Birth and Wellness Center in central Houston and Paige Hopkins, Doula and Program Director for the Whole Heart Collective at the Heart of Houston. Hear all about the collective options and see how Houston benefits from this work which greatly contributes to changing our birth and parenting community.

Jessica Gonzales, LM, CPM and Paige Hopkins, Doula

Dr. Esther N. Amagoh, PT, DPT, is a highly specialized expert in Women’s Health and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation. With a passion for empowering individuals through education and tailored care, Dr. Amagoh’s journey in physical therapy began with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education and Physical Exercise Science from Virginia Commonwealth University. She then earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Howard University, followed by a residency in Women’s Health and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation.

Dr. Amagoh played a key role in establishing a pelvic rehabilitation practice in Virginia before relocating to Houston, Texas in 2016. There, she served as a Physical Therapy Specialist at The Women’s Hospital of Texas, managing one of their satellite office locations. Driven by a desire to provide personalized care, she founded The Pelvic Place Physical Therapy.

As a specialist, Dr. Amagoh focuses on a broad range of pelvic health concerns, including sexual dysfunction, pregnancy and postpartum pain, bladder and bowel issues, and musculoskeletal conditions. She is an active member of leading professional societies in pelvic pain and sexual medicine and has shared her expertise as a keynote speaker at universities and pelvic health conferences around the world. Dr. Amagoh is deeply committed to education, community service, and helping individuals navigate and overcome pelvic health challenges, ensuring they can live their lives with confidence and comfort.

Dr. Esther N. Amagoh, PT, DPT

Mike Loomis is a nurse, a father, and the founder of OB1Health, a startup focused on developing applications to achieve better outcomes for patients and families. With over 18 years of experience as a registered nurse in maternal-child health, Mike has supported and empowered families during some of life’s most transformative moments. After witnessing firsthand the unique challenges and gaps in resources faced by new fathers, he decided to create Call of Dad Duty to provide guidance and support alongside humor and experience.

Mike Loomis, Nurse, OB1Health

BIRTH Fair is coming up on October 5, at United Way, 50 Waugh Drive, from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Please be sure to listen to this show and learn what the 20th annual BIRTH Fair can do for our community!!!!

We hope you’ll attend our free event. See you there!

Christine Diaz, Co-Executive Manager
Shay Wallace, Marketing/Publicity/Community Outreach Coordinator
JacQue Colson-Smith, Family Area Coordinator
Kiwis Apeh, Volunteer Coordinator
Debbie Hull, Doula, Speaker Coordinator
Jackie Griggs, CNM, RN, Midwifery Liaison
Natalie Guzman, Fashion Show Coordinator
Randy Holmes, DC, logistics coordinator

BIRTH Fair 2024

Kathleen Wilson is a founding member of TLC Doula Group, owner of Labor Enabler Doula Services and Co-Owner of Rebel Birth Education and Resource Haven. She has been a doula since 2003. She has not only taken several doula trainings, but is the founder of the Labor Enabler Doula Apprenticeship Program. She spends her time teaching and volunteering within the reproductive community. Kathleen loves working in all environments and with all care providers to ensure her clients have their best possible birth. Kathleen was married in 1997 to her very supportive spouse. She has four amazing children. She loves to cook and travel. She is one of the luckiest people in the world.

Kathleen Wilson, Doula

Melissa Nealy, CPM, IBCLC, has been a part of the out of hospital birth community for the last decade and found her love for midwifery 14 years ago prior to the birth of her oldest daughter. She has presented at local and national conferences on the topic of lactation complications for midwives. Spending 5 years as an IBCLC she is thrilled to be able to exclusively be a midwife for the last two years. She is a homeschooling mother of 3 stunning and bright children, husband to the most supportive man (you have to be supportive if you’re married to a midwife) and the family hosts 11 mammal and reptile friends in their home. (cats, dogs, mice and snakes). She is always thrilled to speak more about her passions

Melissa Nealy, CPM, IBCLC

Whole Mother continues the conversation about the layoff of the midwives of Women’s Specialists of Houston at Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women. Dr. Ginger Breedlove discusses the economic realities that do not point to financial reasons for the layoffs, despite Texas Children’s Hospital’s official position.

Dr. Ginger Breedlove, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN of Grow Midwives

We at Whole Mother are saddened and outraged at the loss of the midwifery portion of the Women’s Specialists of Houston at Texas Children’s Hospital. Listen to the voices of our community speaking against this closing and of the impact the practice has had on the families in our community.

Midwifery closure of Women’s Specialists of Houston at Texas Children’s Hospital

Taylor Lee is a new midwife in the Beaumont area. She is married to my husband, Matt, and they have two children, Reid, and Mila, who are almost 10 and 6. Taylor has been in birth work for about 7 years and she has a passion for educating about birth, babies, and breastfeeding. She teaches group childbirth education, do in-home lactation counseling, and she runs a co-ed Facebook group for families desiring an out of hospital birth in the Southeast Texas Area.

Taylor Lee, CPM