Founding Member & Doula of Program Coordination & Development

Deidre is a mother of three, Childbirth & Health Educator, and Doula Trainer. For more than 15 years, she has worked to assemble a network of support for families and birthworkers alike.

As the Lead Coordinator of the Doula Access Program, a partnership between IEHP and Riverside Community Health Foundation (RCHF), she championed the pilot aimed at providing community-based doula care at no-cost to medi-cal members. Since January 2020, more than 40 doulas have provided support services to more than 500 families in San Bernardino & Riverside County.

She is the Co-Founder of Grounded Beginnings Birth, a community-based doula training organization, she facilitates culturally congruent and spirit-centered doula trainings. Deidre is completed her M.S. in Healthcare Administration and Interprofessional Leadership.

Founding Member & Doula of Community Engagement

Devona is a mother of three, Community Activist, and has provided family support services in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties for more than 15 years.

As a Doula and Lactation Consultant, she founded Vona’s Front Porch—a gathering place for the black birthing community. For five years she served on the board of the California Breastfeeding Coalition. There she worked to support, protect, and promote breastfeeding for individuals throughout California.

Along with her work with birthing families, Devona is also the Parent Organizer at C.O.P.E. and President of the San Bernardino City Unified School District African American Advisory Council. In these roles, she advocates for #schoolsnotprisons, education reform, civic engagement, health access, and justice reform for black families within the Inland Empire.

Founding Member & Doula of Program Training and Management

Dr. Sayida Peprah-Wilson is a mother of two, a Psychologist, and Full Spectrum Doula, with over 15 years of experience in both fields.  

She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Diversity Uplifts, Inc. a direct service, consulting, and training 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to improve the well-being of women, birthing people, children, and families.

As an advocate for human rights in childbirth, she is a Movement Partner with Black Mamas Matter Alliance. She also serves on several advisory committees aimed at reducing disparities and improving perinatal health including the SoCal Maternal Mortality Review Committee, Prenatal Equity Initiative Committees of San Bernardino and Riverside County and the DCHS Medi-cal Doula Stakeholder Workgroup. 

Doula of Operations

Chantel is a mother of four, The Doula for Doers and Dreamers, and has walked with birthing families for the last 15 years. She is committed to seeing the Inland Empire thrive.

She currently facilitates operations for the Sankofa Community Doula Program for San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Chantel also provides strategic planning and consulting at The Chaun Collective and serves on the board for the Urban Youth Workers Institute. She is also a co-owner of Raincross High Performance, a human performance & wellness company.