The 2022 Citywide Doula Initiative in NYC provides professional, no-cost doula services (proven to reduce racial inequities in birth outcomes) to residents of neighborhoods that have been especially affected by COVID-19. My research project will explore the intersection of non-medical care work, art practice, and reproductive justice in NYC, in a collaboration with the Mama Glow Foundation. Mama Glow offers doula training, initiatives in advocacy, and more “anchored in an understanding of the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological, and physical experiences of birthing people”. I will be on-site supporting the organization while conducting my research, creating a documentary, and working as a doula in NYC seeking to uplift the stories of birth workers.

Through conducting a collaborative visioning process for the film, interviews, and archival research, I will deepen my relationality with and understanding of social practice art, and the framework of healing justice in a reproductive rights context.

Mentor: Latham Thomas
Community Partner: Mama Glow

Simone is a determined and soulful poet, maker, and dancer who loves open-mic nights, affect theory, and sharing/lending/giving stacks of books and zines from their slow-growing collection. Simone grew up in so-called Newton, MA, raised by many.

On campus, they are the team coordinator for RG (organizing and educating students across class backgrounds to ensure equitable distribution of land, $, and power), learn and practice facilitation with CDP and Bwell, and are in the process of implementing an abortion doula program through Doulas @ Brown and Bwell.