Get involved! Info@tnbreastfeeds.org “Like” and Follow us @tnbreastfeeds
Mission: The Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition is here to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in Memphis, TN and Shelby County through the assistance of the medical profession, the public health system, and the community. We help families like yours get breastfeeding off to the best start possible and strive to support you each step of the way.
www.shelbycountybreastfeeding.org “Like” and Follow Us @shelbycountybreastfeeding
Our Mission : To protect, promote, and improve the health and well-being of all people in Tennessee. Our Vision : Healthy People, Healthy Communities, Healthy Tennessee
Our Values : Trust. Compassion. Service. Excellence
www.tn.gov/health “Like” and Follow Us @TNDeptofHealth
Mission To Empower Communities to Support Optimal Health For All and to Eliminate Disparities for Racial, Ethnic and Under-Served Populations. Vision To Serve As a Statewide Leader, Recognizing and Addressing Health Disparities and Health Equity, Through Meaningful Collaboration and Engagement.
www.tn.gov/health “Like” and Follow Us @TNDeptofHealth
As Always…This is Still A Breastfeeding,
Breast Pumping Friendly Event!
*If you are in need of nursing on camera, stepping away, or going off camera, please feel free. You are our inspiration!
Continuing Education Information
The Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition has applied for IBLCE CERPs recognition.
Objectives 1. Enhance Understanding and Support for Breastfeeding Practices : Educate participants on evidence-based practices and community engagement strategies that promote, protect, and support breastfeeding, with a particular focus on addressing disparities faced by women of color. 2. Empower Healthcare Providers and Community Leaders : Equip attendees with knowledge and tools to advocate for and implement equitable access to prenatal and breastfeeding education, emphasizing the role of evidence-based home visitation programs and peer support networks. 3. Highlight Successes and Challenges in Maternal and Child Health : Discuss successes and ongoing challenges in maternal and child health, particularly in urban settings like Shelby County, TN, and explore how initiatives like the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and NICU practices impact outcomes. 4. Promote Holistic Support for Breastfeeding Families : Integrate mental health considerations into lactation practice, focusing on identifying and addressing mental health issues, and emphasize the role of doulas and peer counselors in providing culturally competent support. 5. Foster Collaboration and Action : Facilitate discussions on actionable strategies that participants can implement in their communities and workplaces to improve breastfeeding support, utilizing research data and innovative interventions to advocate for equitable access and care. 6. Inspire and Educate Through Shared Experiences : Share personal anecdotes and experiences to illuminate the challenges and successes in breastfeeding support, encouraging participants to reflect on and apply new insights gained from the conference.
Welcome to the Tennessee Breastfeeding Symposium – 2025 Virtually!
Greetings Esteemed Breastfeeding Advocates, On behalf of the Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition, along with some support from the Tennessee Department of Health, and our supportive sponsors, we would like to welcome you to our 9th Tennessee Breastfeeding Symposium! In years past we have been able to move around our great state building strategic partnerships with our neighbors. As we still adapt to our new normal, we have found ourselves oddly prepared for this moment. We need each other more than ever! We are delighted that you have chosen to spend the next two days with us virtually. The connections we have made and have been able to keep, mean soo much more these days! The intent for this symposium is to continue to highlight some key areas that we need to discuss and learn about together: breastfeeding education and support, bridging the continuity of care, sustaining community and family support, and building more supportive healthcare systems that center around the mother and baby dyad; empowering her to become the most valued member of her health care team. Our Keynote Speaker will share breastfeeding perspectives on “Indigenous Milk Medicine: Reviving Our Traditions.” We are also excited to share information about community and coalition, learn about a tool-kit model that is helping our fragile babies in the NICU, the importance of data, and the successes and challenges in our hospitals becoming Baby-Friendly. As we work on strengthening our relationship with our families, it is imperative that we be kept up-to-date and equipped to support our them in whatever Mom chooses for her baby’s first food. Our virtual days together will be wrapped in the intentional need for taking care of yourself as you strive to take care of others. You may just learn some new ways you can continue to stay fortified and encouraged in this work! We hope to help create a safe space filled with long-term supporters, good intentions, love and transparency; and that you will feel comfortable enough to speak your truth, and ask any questions you may have. It is also our hope that you will leave this space feeling encouraged and empowered, knowing that you are not alone in this moment and we will continue to strive for positive health outcomes for all of our families we serve. Take good notes, network and enjoy! TNBFC Members And the TBS Symposium Planning Committee #TBFSym2025
Agenda
June 26, 2025 Day 1 8:45 – 9:00 AM CST Virtual Vendor/Exhibit Space 9:00 – 9:10
Welcome to Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition – Elected Official
9:10 – 9:40
A Tennessee State of Mind: TN Department of Health 2025 Breastfeeding and Maternal-Child Health Updates And Hotline Updates – Elizabeth Abram, Family Health and Wellness w/ Kristin B. Emry The Prevalence, Perception, Practice and Promotion of Breastfeeding Among Pediatricians - Allison Stiles, MD, IBCLC Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee: Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) - Does it make a Difference ? – Susan Campbell, MD, IBCLC, Medical Director It’s Pronounced App-uh-LATCH-uh: Breastfeeding Is In Our DNA – Mishelle Trescott, LPN, CLS (V) Appalachian Breastfeeding Network ~Stretch Break~
9:40 – 10:10
10:10 – 10:15 10:15 – 10:45
10:45 – 11:15
Lunch and Networking
11:15 – 12:15 12:15 – 12:45
CHOICES: Memphis’ Birth Center - Talita Oseguera, MSN, CNM, APRN, IBCLC Doula Services: Supporting Tennessee Families - Hannah Dudney, MD, FACOG, Associate Medical Director of Women’s Health, Tennessee Department of Health Exploring Lactation and Birth Experiences of Black Families in NICU Settings – Ifeyinwa V. Asiodu, PhD, RN, IBCLC, FAAN
12:45 – 1:15
1:15 – 1:45
~Stretch Break~
4:00 – 4:45
The Culture and Connection Of Coalition: – Representative from Chattanooga Moniquecolous Garner-Weeks, Breastfeeding Educator, East Tennessee Rep. Alexis Aslup, and Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition, Helen Scott, RN, IBCLC, RLC
1:50 – 2:50
Evaluations
2:50 - 3:00
Agenda
June 27, 2025 Day 2 8:45 – 9:00 AM CST Virtual Vendor/Exhibit Space 9:00 – 9:30
The Lotus Program: Nourishing the Body, Empowering the Healing Journey Postpartum - Femeika Elliott KEYNOTE: Indigenous Milk Medicine: Reviving Our Traditions - Stephanne Rupnicki, ILC, CLC, BFPC, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition
9:30 – 10:30
~Stretch Break~
10:30 – 10:35 10:35 – 11:20
Lactation Benefit Information for Lactation Professionals in Tennessee – Aljanise Jones, MHA, CLC, Social Needs Advocate, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee, Darcy Knowles, MPH, Program Manager, BlueCare Tennessee and the Workforce Development Program Administrator for Wellpoint, Angela Goode Strengthening Lactation across a Community through Engagement and Data - Ann M. Dozier, RN, PhD, FAAN
11:20 – 11:50
Lunch and Networking
11:50 – 12:50 12:50 – 1:20
The Role of Breastfeeding In Addressing Food Insecurity During Disasters – Jennifer Russell, MSN, RN, IBCLC Baby Friendly Panel Discussion: Game Planning And Sharing Notes– CHAMPS Road Trip Participants - Lakisha King-Windle, RN, BSN, IBCLC, Methodist Olive Branch Hospital, Tracey McMahon RN, BSN, IBCLC, Highpoint Health-Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas, Christine Navarro, TN Cumberland Medical Center Mental Health Check-In - Tenikki Sesley, MPA, CEO/Executive Director, Apple Seeds, Inc.
1:20 – 2:05
2:05 – 2:35
~Stretch Break~
2:35 – 2:40 2:40 – 3:30
Roundtable Brainstorming: Helping to Move the Needle Forward – Nikki Lee RN, BSN, MS, ANLC, IBCLC, CIMI, RYT500 * Remember to Fill Out Your Evaluation Form! *
Gold Sponsor *9 Year Sponsor! Congratulations on Your Expansion! 1325 Eastmoreland Avenue #550
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor 9 Year Sponsors!
Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition
Orange Mound Development Corporation
Silver Sponsor
CHOICES
Mommy XPress
Silver Sponsor
BlueCare Tennessee
Breastfed Baby
Bronze Sponsor
Count The Kicks
Mother’s Milk Bank of Tennessee
Bronze Sponsor
Sacred Soul Wellness
Thank You!
Some of Our Families Would Like to Say:
“Thank You For Being Here For Us!”
Our Presenters
Elizabeth Abram
.
Ifeyinwa Asiodu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Health Care Nursing at University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing. As a researcher, registered nurse, and lactation consultant, her research is focused on the intersection of racism, systemic and structural barriers, life course perspective, and human milk and lactation. Dr. Asiodu uses a critical ethnographic lens to inform her work. The long-term goal of her program of research is to reduce infant feeding disparities and increase access to high quality human milk feeding care, lactation support, and equitable contraception services for Black communities. She is also actively engaged in local, state and national human milk feeding (e.g. breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and donor human milk), reproductive health, maternal and child health, and public health organizations geared toward achieving birth and human milk feeding equity and justice. Dr. Asiodu also leads the MILK Research Lab at UCSF.
Alexis Alsup is a Holistic Birth Doula, Student Midwife, and Placenta Specialist, as well as a devoted mother of three beautiful. She is a passionate Maternal Health Advocate who has lobbied at the Tennessee State Capitol and played a key role in the successful passage of Maternal Health Bill SB1832/HB2226. Alexis is also the Founder of Empowered Doula Services, co-curator of the Knoxville Black Maternal Health Conference and an active member of the National Black Midwives Alliance. In addition, she is a dedicated activist in the field of reproductive justice. A proud native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and a graduate of Bearden High School, Alexis began her journey in maternal health as a Certified Birthing Doula. She has since expanded her expertise through specialized training in traditional herbal
medicine for pregnancy and the postpartum period. Currently, she is pursuing her studies as a student midwife, with the goal of becoming a licensed Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in Tennessee. Her work is driven by a deep passion for providing holistic, compassionate, and comprehensive care to birthing individuals and their families.
Our Presenters Susan Campbell has been a Neonatologist since 1978, following completion of her Fellowship at Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, she completed her Pediatric Residency in her hometown of Wilmington, Delaware prior to entering the Neonatology Fellowship Program. Following completion of the Neonatology training, she practiced for a time in Jackson Mississippi prior to moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 1986, where she cared for preterm and ill Neonates until her retirement in 2021. Throughout her medical career, she remained very supportive of breastfeeding despite having only
mixed success breastfeeding her 3 sons. In 2012, she pursued and obtained International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) status – specifically so that she could help start Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee in an effort to continue helping High- risk babies thrive throughout Tennessee. She currently serves (Volunteers) as Executive Director of Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee, founded in 2014 with plans to open in the summer of 2021. Ann Dozier is a doctorally prepared nurse who has worked in Maternal Child Health for over 40 years as a researcher, evaluator, educator and administrator. She currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Rochester. Her work in the field of lactation over the past 20+ years has focused on implementation of evidence-based practices at the community and institutional levels partnering with health and human service organizations. To support this work she has received funding from New York State, CDC and NIH. In addition, she helped found a local breastfeeding consortium, serves as a delegate of the American Public Health Association to the US Breastfeeding Committee and is a member of the American Academy of Nursing's Expert Panel on Breastfeeding. She has also served in numerous leadership positions in the Maternal Child Health Section of the American Public Health Association. In addition to her work in lactation she manages a large regional birth registry, was a founding member of a local Consortium to Eliminate Black Maternal Mortality and helped lead COVID-19 related surveillance and vaccine hesitancy initiatives. She has led the evaluation and recruitment units of the University of Rochester's Clinical Translational Science Institute since 2006.
Our Presenters Hannah Dudney is the Associate Medical Director of Women’s Health for the Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Family Health and Wellness. Hannah graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, where she obtained her medical doctorate. She then completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Additionally, she completed a post-graduate medical ethics certificate at Vanderbilt University. Dr Dudney is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She practiced obstetrics and gynecology at Centennial Women’s Group before joining the Department of Health in 2022. With the Tennessee Department of Health, Dr Dudney provides clinical expertise for the department’s maternal and child health programs. She also chairs the Birth Defects Registry Advisory Committee and co-chairs the Femeika Elliott is a dedicated food activist and social entrepreneur based in Knoxville, Tennessee, committed to addressing health disparities and promoting food justice within marginalized communities. Her initiatives focus on increasing access to nutritious food, enhancing maternal health, and preserving cultural heritage. Meik Meals: In 2019, Elliott founded Meik Meals, a meal-prepping service designed to help individuals achieve their nutrition and fitness goals through stress-free, affordable, and flavorful meals
Tennessee Maternal Mortality Review Committee and Tennessee Perinatal Advisory Committee.
The Lotus Program Experience: This initiative provides post-birth medically tailored meal services and wellness support for mothers, emphasizing holistic recovery and mindfulness. The program addresses critical health issues within the Black community, such as mental health and postpartum care, by nurturing mothers during their recovery journey. Rooted East Knoxville Collective: The collective focuses on recreating the local food landscape by increasing access to fresh produce and empowering residents to grow their own food. Advocacy and Community Engagement: Elliott’s dedication to social justice extends to her role as co-founder of the Knoxville Black Maternal Health Conference, where she champions maternal health statewide. Her background in social work, whole foods education, sacred medicine, and ancestral practices informs her holistic approach to community advocacy. As the Chief Operating Officer for the Knox County Community Gardens and Growers Alliance, she continues to promote Black health, liberation, and restoration. Through her multifaceted initiatives, Femeika Elliott remains at the forefront of efforts to restore power back marginalized communities in Knoxville, fostering resilience and promoting equitable access to health and wellness resources.
Our Presenters
Kristin B. Emry
Moniquecolous Garner-Weeks is the proud mother of 7 and is married with a very supportive spouse. She is a community birth worker based in the Greater Chattanooga, TN area. She has been providing professional, community-based perinatal, postpartum, and lactation education and support since 2014. Moniquecolous has trained and/or been educated in multiple, complementary modalities to enhance and support the work she provides in the birthing communities that she feels blessed to be a part of. Through her own pregnancies and birth experiences, in addition to the families she has supported; she has a diverse skillset to enrich and prepare her clients for the birth experiences they envision. Moniquecolous’ entire adult life has been dedicated to being of service. She is also Angela Goode is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience in healthcare administration, program management, and community engagement, specializing in maternal and infant health programs. Her career is marked by a commitment to underserved communities, particularly women and children, focusing on improving access to care and health outcomes. Angela excels in strategic planning, cross-functional communication, and quality assurance, and is adept at integrating innovative healthcare solutions. A skilled grant writer, she has secured funding for numerous public health initiatives. Her leadership roles include serving with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Communities Improving Maternal Care Alliance, the State of Tennessee Health Disparities Taskforce, and the Nashville Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Board, underscoring her dedication to systemic change and health equity. Angela is pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Management from Western Governors
a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces having honorably served 8 years in the U.S. Navy.
University (expected November 2025) and holds multiple graduate certificates and certifications, including in Diversity and Inclusion, Lean Healthcare, and Motivational Interviewing. She is passionate about enhancing maternal health systems and developing sustainable solutions for better outcomes for mothers and infants.
Our Presenters Aljanise Jones growing up in the small rural town of Pulaski, TN she was able to witness the impact of health inequities. After high school Aljanise received her Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Communication from Middle Tennessee State University. Then after six years of experience working for community-based organizations in which at risk families were the primary focus, she became interested in pursuing lactation education becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor. Aljanise is a Board Member of the Pulaski Breastfeeding Support Group. The Pulaski Breastfeeding Support Group assists maternal and infant care through their lactation journey; and connecting them to community resources helping to remove social barriers.
Aljanise currently works for UnitedHealthcare as a Social Needs Advocate leading the Doula Support Pilot and Lactation Benefit efforts under the Workforce Development Initiatives. Aljanise also leads The Health Equity Accreditation in which the health plan focuses on identifying inequities for the members, implementing interventions, and closing disparity gaps. Lakisha King Windle has been a Registered Nurse for 20 years. She been a Lactation Consultant for 15 years. Lakisha currently works as a LC at Methodist Olive Branch in the Baby Friendly Hospital setting. Her experience with Lactation began when he had her first baby. The challenges that she faced were many. After getting the much needed support from her lactation consultant, Lakisha was able to nurse her first born for 15 months. Her daughter 2 years. Her youngest for 3.5 years. She was inspired d to help others like herself women of color that want to breast feed, but often not supported. She started with volunteer work in her community and was involved with a variety of support groups that were for breastfeeding moms. She is a BSTARs member, worked on the TN Breast Feeding Hotline, Le Bonheur General Pediatric Breast Feeding Clinic, she has had the privilege of for serving breastfeeding families in the community setting, the Outpatient Clinic setting, and the hospital setting.
Darcy Knowles is committed to improving health outcomes for all Tennesseans. Darcy is a Program Manager at BlueCare Tennessee, a Medicaid Managed Care Organization; where she is responsible for population health program design and strategy development with a focus on well child, maternal health, and social determinants of health initiatives. Darcy’s recent work has been focused on addressing disparities in maternal health outcomes in Tennessee, through Workforce Development Initiatives including Lactation Consultants and Doulas.
Our Presenters Nikki Lee Nikki has been working in the field of breastfeeding and human lactation since 1975, working in birth centers, hospitals, public health departments, and her private practice. Since moving to Madison, TN, she has been a volunteer for the Mothers Milk Bank of Tennessee, currently on their medical advisory board. She is an author of 2 books (Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy and A Breastfeeding Owner’s Manual 2nd edition) a nurse, a teacher, a holistic lactation consultant, a craniosacral therapy practitioner, a yoga instructor, and a body worker (teaching Infant Massage and TummyTime!) Her 20-Hour Basic Breastfeeding course offers 20 nursing contact hours and 20 CERPs. She is mother to 2 wonderful (breastfed for a long time) daughters and 2 adorable breastfeeding granddaughters. Tracey McMahon began working as a nurse in 1991 in a LDRP unit. She loved helping women welcome their baby into the world. During this she saw how many were challenged by breastfeeding and this became her new passion. She became an IBCLC in 2001. Tracey has worked in hospitals both large and small, along with Public Health home visits. She is now a fulltime job in Lactation and am working to help the small hospital grow and thrive.
Christine Navarro works in the Obstetric unit. She cares for a variety of patients including those in labor and through delivery, antepartum, newborns, and post gyn surgery. Christine has served as primary preceptors for new grad nurses and other new employees to the unit. She is a Shift Leader and oversee the unit and other staff in daily operations, managing patient flow, and being the senior staff member during critical situations and emergencies.
Our Presenters Talita Oseguera is a Certified Nurse Midwife. Also a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. Talita is a Full Spectrum Doula, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Placenta Encapsulator, Advocate for Reproductive Justice, and Mother. Talita’s interests include: reproductive justice, honoring and amplifying the voices, experiences, and issues of Black women and individuals across the sexual, reproductive and perinatal continuum, walking alongside birth workers of color who reflect the communities they serve, and improving care for and with Black women and individuals.
Partnering with, Black and Brown women and individuals, from pregnancy through postpartum to understand the impact of stress, anxiety, and racism on preterm birth. In addition, supporting resilience and coping as protective factors. Talita is a former Co-Coordinator of the Family Planning and Reproductive Choices Elective within the OBGYN Department at UCSF, and member of Nurse Students of Color.
Talita is a collective member of Black Women Birthing Justice. And a published co-author of "Battling Over Birth: Black Women and the Maternal Health Care Crisis in California."
Tiana Pyles is a proud mother of four children and has been a community activist for most of her life; even before she knew it. She actively works on bridging the disparities in community development, health care and breastfeeding in Memphis, Tennessee and beyond; by helping to create opportunities to support the much needed work. Tiana continues to be entrenched in this work to honor her ancestral heritage; and in efforts to leave a good example for her legacy to live by and to be proud of. As the Executive Director for the Orange Mound Development Corporation, Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition, a co-founder of BSTARS (Breastfeeding Sisters That Are Receiving Support), and the current Chair for the United States Breastfeeding
Committee, Ms. Pyles understands that in order to truly help and empower families to be prosperous in their communities, it takes a “circle of support.” This “circle of support” must include family, adequate education and health care, affordable, quality housing options, peer support and good neighbors. Tiana is instrumental in forging networking partnerships at local, state and national levels in order to better serve the community, city and state she is vested in, and loves.
Our Presenters Stephanne R. Rupnicki is a recognized member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas and a married mother of six residing on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation. Her passion for breastfeeding is evident as she serves on the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition Board of Directors, United States Breastfeeding Committee as well as various committees under the USBC after receiving the 2019 USBC Tribal Trailblazer Award. She was awarded the Buffy Sainte Marie Indigi-LC Advocacy Award during Indigenous Milk Medicine Week in 2022. Stephanne is also a Co-Founder and Leader of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Breastfeeding Coalition, Founder & Leader of Indigenous Birthworkers Collective of Kansas.
She serves on the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee, she also works along side Southern Plains Tribal Health Board on many community based committees that strive to support Indigenous moms and babies. She provides support and services to local families as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and Certified Indigenous Lactation Counselor based out of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Health Clinic. She was honored to be the first Indigenous person to grace the cover of the 2020 CDC Breastfeeding Report Card. In 2022 she received a sub awardee grant through Southern Plains Tribal Health Board from the CDC Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country for their breastfeeding initiative and works to increase visibility, increase support and normalize breastfeeding among Indigenous communities.
Jennifer Russell is a Registered Nurse and IBCLC with over 20 years of experience in pediatrics, breastfeeding, disaster preparedness and response, and coalition work. She has presented breastfeeding and disaster-related content to and served with numerous professional and community organizations and coalitions at the local, state, and national levels. She is a past-president of the Memphis Area Lactation Consultant Association (MALCA), and a current Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition (SCBC) Board Member.
Jennifer is passionate about translating evidence and people's lived experiences into policy and practice. She is a Ph.D. Candidate for Nursing Science at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she is studying the impact of natural disasters on breastfeeding mothers.
Our Presenters
Helen Scott is an experienced, knowledgeable, and effectively responsive Lactation Consultant. She has been an IBCLC,RLC certified for over 20 years and is a . Tennessee-licensed RN and former pediatric staff nurse. Helen has always been a committed advocate for evidence-based breastfeeding best practices. She is an active member of MALCA, Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition, TN. Breastfeeding Coalition & United States Breastfeeding Committee. Helen is also a skilled trainer and co-developer of educational materials for medical professionals and breastfeeding mothers. And, was formerly a registered midwife. Tenikki Sesley has relentlessly worked in the social services sector as an advocate for families in crisis and with the most vulnerability for over 15 years. Her purpose and passion for strengthening families took her to the TN Department of Children’s Services where she advocated and assisted many families to overcome adversities and challenges. Her added affection for educating and supporting mothers before, during, and after pregnancy led to exploring Postpartum Depression (PPD)/Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) in the urban, low-income, and African American communities, which compelled her to become a trained postpartum doula.
Tenikki Sesley is the CEO and Founder of Apple Seeds, Inc. - a nonprofit organization that enhances mental wellness, by providing mental health support, and increasing mental health awareness, services and education for individuals and their families. Tenikki is a proud mother of two wonderfully, grounded children; Ashera (Chemistry teacher) and Caleb (Memphis Police Officer). Tenikki wholeheartedly believes the quote, “It takes a Village...” which is still factual and relevant and will be for generations to come.
Our Presenters
Allison Stiles is a Med Peds Physician who has been practicing Breastfeeding Medicine for nearly 20 years. Dr. Allison Stiles obtained her IBCLC Certification as a Lactation Consultant in 2016. Allison became a Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine in 2022. Allison is a Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinator for the American Academy of Pediatricians Section on Breastfeeding. And most importantly, Dr. Allison Stiles is Chair of the Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition (SCBC) where all this awesomeness got started! Mishelle Trescott is a recent graduated RN, perinatal mental health- certification, and she's been an IBCLC for 5 years. She has been the Vice President for Appalachian Breastfeeding Network since 2016. Her passion to flood the Maternal health world is fueled by ABN and the network's initiatives. She is the assistant administrator for the Ohio 24-hour Breastfeeding Hotline. She is also the Mental health specialist for operators that feel parents may need further screening and possible connection of services. Her current project and goal is to create a Perinatal Mental Health outpatient and inpatient services for the hospital she is employed with in August.
Although we may find ourselves in a time of uncertainty, some things that we know we can still depend upon are the care and concern that we have for each other and the breastfeeding families we continue to serve. It will take all of our collective talents to truly help create more stable support and supportive environment. But together, we can do anything! We hope that you enjoyed this time together and have felt that the information was informative and useful. Until the next time! Have a Great Weekend! ~Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition~
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