Cihuapahtli Matriarch Council: Rai­ces Birthworker Education & Mentorship Program

About this Project

The Raíces Birthworker Education & Mentorship Program is a 12-month program for 12 bilingual and Spanish-speaking community members in New York City. Participants begin with three months of weekly doula training covering pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, traditional practices, and client support. They are then paired with a mentor for twice-monthly check-ins, attend monthly professional development sessions on building a practice and Medicaid doula pathways, and meet monthly as a cohort for peer support. Each quarter, the cohort gathers in person to learn ancestral and traditional practices from experienced community birth workers. Grant funding provides full scholarships, so participants leave with a mentor, a professional network, and the tools to build sustainable careers serving their own communities.