It’s been so many years (three to be exact) since I’ve written an actual blog post that I almost don’t know how to do it. I wanted to start this the way I would start an email newsletter, because that’s the closest approximation to this kind of writing in my life these days.
But today is exactly twelve years since I launched this little site, and so I felt like it was time for some reflection, and maybe a few updates about what I’m up to and where this project is headed.
Twelve years! It’s hard to wrap my mind around that amount of time, and where I am now. Also where the movement for birth activism is now. Things have changed so much, mostly in really really great ways.
I say this often when I speak, but the reason that I started Radical Doula is now obsolete. I started this site because I felt really alone in the birth activist community because of my identity and my politics–as a pro-choice, Latinx, queer, genderqueer, activist doula. I felt alienated and hungry to connect with other people who saw doula work fitting into broader social justice work, and who didn’t think you had to look or be a certain way to be a doula.
It’s been many years (maybe like ten?) since I’ve felt alone as a doula for any of the reasons above. There are so many doulas and birth activists who share my identities and my politics. I think that’s partially true because the doula world has grown so much–there are just exponentially more doulas now than there were back in 2005 when I did my training. And many of those folks are activists, and queer and trans and people of color and reproductive justice supporters.
About Autumn: Autumn is an author, abortion doula, and feminist theologian who has been writing, appearing on television and speaking internationally about reproductive justice and feminism since 2010 when she founded Richmond Clinic Defense to help escort patients past protesters at an abortion clinic in Richmond, Virginia. She has spoken to thousands of people over the years as well as written for many popular and academic publications. In 2014, Autumn was one of four finalists for the Generation Personal Award given by the National Women’s Law Center in recognition of her work as a clinic defense founder and in 2015 Blog For Choice listed her as one of “15 Awesome Pro Choice Activists Who Work To #Protectthezone”. Autumn is an aspiring Anglican deacon and one-woman ministry that provides Albertans with transportation, housing, funds, childcare and other necessities as they seek abortion care. She is the author of 
About Savannah Taylor: I am a Birth Doula from Austin, Texas. Birth work is a true passion of mine, and I feel like it is a form of service and a form of activism. I have a degree in political science from Southwestern University. I am a mother myself, to a darling baby girl. Her birth is what inspired me to become a doula, and through my work, I hope to empower birthing persons from all walks of life through their journey into parenthood. Contact: savannahtaylordoula@gmail.com, Facebook at 
About Chelsea Duckworth: I am working as a full spectrum doula in the Kansas City area. I have always had a passion for women’s rights and reproductive health and that interest led to me to a B.A. in Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies from Augsburg College. I also majored in Spanish and Fine arts and those played a huge role in my perspective on the courses I took and the world around me. I spent two years of my undergrad in Mexico and El Salvador and got to see first-hand the amazing impact that a group of supportive women can have on girls, new mothers, and surrounding communities. I was very drawn to the themes of gender roles and reproductive justice within social movements and finished out my time there in an internship at DDESER (Network for reproductive and sexual rights in Mexico). It was hard and amazing and I felt so enlivened by their work. With that fire lit inside me, I returned to the U.S. and started volunteering for similar organizations. Contact: 
About Jordan Alam: I am a trained birth and postpartum doula serving the Seattle/King County metro area. I trained with Ancient Song Doula Services, an organization devoted to racial and economic justice in birth work. Birth and early parenthood is a powerful transition in the lives of my clients. My doula work focuses on returning power to my clients – regardless of their philosophies and choices around birth, I want all birthing people to be respected, supported, and fully informed about their options. I offer my services at flat rate and sliding scale; I also work with a local organization that offers free of cost doula services. You can find more info about my work at www.jordanalam.com/doula- services or by emailing me at jordanalam7201@gmail.com.
About Hannah Yore: I offer full spectrum, sliding scale services that include prenatal, labor, and postpartum support as well as miscarriage and abortion counseling in the New York City area. I am committed to providing advocacy and companionship to pregnant people throughout a range of reproductive experiences and support my clients holistically. I am associated with DONA International and NYC’s Healthy Women, Healthy Futures Initiative. In addition to my work as a doula, I also have experience conducting international women’s health research, advocacy, and case management services. For more information, please email me at hannaheyore@gmail.com.
About Liz Trantanella: I am a full spectrum birth and postpartum doula in Louisville, Kentucky.
About Lindsey: Wife, mother of 3, & doula and ridiculously passionate about helping women find there inherent power that they were born with. Practicing in Joplin, MO.
Radical Doula 