Learn, Lactate, Grow

Learn Lactate Grow: Breastfeeding Village is an organization dedicated to reclaiming village support that centers Black and brown families who have been historically and currently marginalized by systems of oppression. We serve Oakland County with an infinite focus on the Greater Pontiac Area. We have charged ourselves with ensuring birthing families have access to the services necessary to birth and breastfeed safely. As an active member of the community, we are knowledgeable about the issues that impact birthing and parenting families and our care reflects their direct needs. Learn Lactate Grow does this work alongside families and community members. It is our desire to assist our community in learning, lactating, and growing to achieve empowerment in their parenting while strengthening our local communities.

Mission: Learn Lactate Grow knows and understands the importance of support and places special emphasis on minorities, prioritizing mental health in breastfeeding and birthing as well as partner inclusivity in all aspects of parenting.

Service model: Centering Black and brown families in birth and breastfeeding care that is culturally relevant and evidence-based, regardless of age, education, or income level. Learn Lactate Grow currently offers the following childbirth, lactation, and postpartum support services:

Birthing classes/Lamaze services
Birth/postpartum doula services
Lactation classes/counseling
Mama’latte – support group dedicated to Black and brown pregnant and parenting persons
Java Jam – father centered support group with mental health services
Lactate Café – space in which families and friends can come together to learn how to best be of support to birthing and parenting families
Monthly coalition meeting
Safe sleep/parenting counseling
Child Care
Early childhood enrichment
Young Parent Support
Generational Educating
Celebrating lactation Milestones

Successes to date:

Member of the 2021 CORE Cohort
Racial Equity Young Parents and Child Care Fund Awardee
Bed of Mine Bundles to promote safe sleep practices
Planning committee Member for Bridging the Breastfeeding Gap 2020 and 2021

Leadership:

Leadership represents residents of the greater Pontiac area including a wide range of birth justice advocates. Lori W. CCHW, IBCLC, Birth/Postpartum Doula is an active birth and breastfeeding worker within Oakland County, a child care provider, a community health worker, International Board Certified Lactation Counselor (IBCLC), and birth/postpartum doula. Lori is a trusted provider who has worked consistently within her community, centering Black families as both a small business owner and an advocate for those she cares for and serves.

Partners:

Michigan Breastfeeding Network
Oakland County Breastfeeding Coalition
Black and Indigenous Leaders of the CORE Cohort
Birth Detroit
Jonathan Walker Southfield Firefighter/EMT/CPR Instructor

Our Vision for the Future:

Creating a safe space for Black and brown families to dialogue, make community connections, and become equipped with the knowledge to reclaim the right to birth safely and breastfeed unapologetically
Building villages of community for Black and brown fathers to support them through their parenting journey
Combating high infant sleep mortality rates in Pontiac through parenting and safe sleep counseling that centers families through knowledge not fear
Generational Education and Support