Black Student Midwife: Barbara Verneus
I am the founder of Tiny & Brave Holistic Services (instagram: @tinyandbrave); Doula; a blogger; maternal life coach, while being a single mother of one in Austin, TX. I have been a trained Birth Companion (doula) since 2004. In 2006, I went overseas through the African Birth Collective to Senegal, West Africa assisting midwives in labor and delivery. In 2008, I obtained a Graduate certificate from Boston University in Maternal and Infant Care in Public Health. Then I received my Master’s in Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family in 2016. I have written for or featured on Mater Mea @matermea; Mothering Naturally, Black Women Birthing Justice @birthingjustice; MadameNoire@madamenoire and#NoPrivateParts @bstereo; @everydaybirth Magazine and@birdsongbrooklyn blog. I am a strong advocate in being an instrument of healing to women, mothers and mothers-to-be who have experienced trauma; while inspiring more Black and Brown women to enter the birth work field. I also advocate/activist on the issue of the infant and maternal disparities happening within Black communities. Why midwifery? Because I want to be part of protecting the Black family and midwifery along with counseling is definitely a way in doing so.
How long have you been a student midwife?
I officially began being a student midwife in Feb of 2017. I am choosing to do the PEP Process towards becoming a certified professional midwife due to financial barriers that forces me to pay a lot of my journey on my own.
How do you feel about the recent NARM changes?
It is extremely discouraging because once I think there is an opportunity I can do to achieve my goals, a barrier is presented. I really don't think those who are making the laws and regulations are thinking outside of their own cultural norm which is white cultural norms.
How do you feel about the recent NARM changes?
It is extremely discouraging because once I think there is an opportunity I can do to achieve my goals, a barrier is presented. I really don't think those who are making the laws and regulations are thinking outside of their own cultural norm which is majority white cultural norms.
What can people who are reading this do to support you?
If you would like to support me you can do so by purchasing a shirt towards my education. https://www.bonfire.com/dashboard/details/dope-moms-need-dope-moms-1/. Please follow me on instagram @tinyandbrave and you can also repost/share about my shirts and the link provided https://www.bonfire.com/dashboard/details/dope-moms-need-dope-moms-1/. If you would like to help out in a greater way than purchasing a shirt; but in the form of purchasing some of my midwifery books/materials, helping to pay for tuition, room and board, etc., you can contact me directly at tinyandbravedoula@gmail.com for more info.
Anything else you would like to add?
And behalf, of my sisters who are pursuing this divine calling; those who wondering how they can help us - I charge you if you can (those with the financial ability), to commit to at least one student midwife to whom you can donate to every month towards their journey; if you truly believe having more Black and Brown midwives is extremely important and is a matter of life and death. And those that can't be a preceptor, at least be a mentor to students who may need guidance in the bureaucracy of becoming a midwife. There's so many ways one can help AND ALL IT TAKES IS BEING WILLING AND DOING.