Announcing Eponymous Birth Collective
Hello to my colleagues, loved ones and new friends!
Thanks so much for reading the StoryNoir blog! If you’re new, welcome and if you’re not new, thanks for rockin’ with me this long! I haven’t dusted off my Medium page for almost a year, so I am excited to be back.
As mentioned on LinkedIn, 2023’s theme has been “The Pivot.”
For me, this means stepping back and reevaluating the ways that I show up in work and in my personal life. I’ve seen in theory and in practice the ways that it truly does take a village to achieve anything. I’m grateful for my community for supporting, up lifting and remaining consistently dedicated to my mission, even when the end seemed so far away.
One of the most exciting things happening is that I’m #openforbusiness.
A 2022 pivot included becoming a trained doula and birth advocate. My practice, Eponymous Birth Collective, is in honor of the collective efforts it takes to be an effective birth worker and community leader. The name eponymous (pronounced uh-pon-eh-mus, meaning [of a thing] named after a particular person), pays homage to the granny midwives and birth keepers who’s unsung work informs how birthing in the modern world.
I’m named after three family members who inform who I am today, so instead of calling it “Opal’s Doula Services,” “Eponymous Birth Collective” is what came to be.
In real time, I support families through a full spectrum of experiences, including adoption/ foster care, fertility, pregnancy / postpartum, abortion, birth, loss and otherwise.
I have a specific interest in parents in the workplace by guiding them through their journey to birth and postpartum. There are many gaps and challenges caused by the lack of family leave, as seen though the Coronavirus Pandemic. According to New America, a coalition of policy experts and public intellectuals, workers missed out on $28 billion more in wages from March 2020 to February 2022 compared with the previous years due to a lack of access to paid leave. This pushes millions of people, specifically working parents out of an already shrinking workforce due to an ever growing problem; lack of access to sufficient leave.
This lack of access for workers going on leave (according to the EDD, in California, paid family leave is only 8 weeks and FMLA provides for twelve weeks of unpaid leave with job protections to care for a new child through birth, adoption or foster placement), does not solve for the “fourth trimester,” the postpartum period that families take to adjust to the addition to their family.
The renewed interest on Capital Hill is why lawmakers are launching the Congressional Bipartisan Affordable Childcare Caucus to, “excavate a shared path forward on making child care more affordable.” When parents are given an abundance of support from their workplaces, communities, families and loved ones, it positively impacts their mental and physical health. This is where birth educators and advocates step in; doulas and midwives are supporting families as they choose their birth plans and shift the way we give birth.
The Coronavirus Pandemic drastically changed the birthing process as we know it in the contemporary sense. Hospitals were limiting support partners at the peak of the pandemic, with some people even having to watch births via video call. Having birth in a hospital setting was proving to be even riskier than usual, and the lack of access to supporting birthing loved ones made the decision to opt for a home birth a safer option for many.
Employees going on parental leave had to explore additional ways to cover these fees, as out of hospital births are not typically an option many people explore. The increased visibility in out of hospital births can be seen by celebrities such as Lisa Bonet and Kehlani, who both gave birth at home. Journalist and Activist Elaine Welteroth gave birth at Los Angeles’ only Black-owned birthing center, Kindered Space.
Brooklyn White-Grier, founder of Cool Mamas Club, a media and mutual aid platform for moms, spoke about this in Milk Drunk’s How Much Does a Home Birth Really Cost? Celebrity culture surrounding birth can make it seem like hiring birth support is out of reach. However, there is a wide scale of prices that birth workers offer, which makes this more accessible.
Brooklyn noted, “Flexibility matters, especially for families who may not be able to pay all of the costs upfront or are low-income.”
The risks associated with giving birth, especially in the United States, are staggering. Black Maternal Health Week, between April 11–17th, sheds light on the steadily alarming rise of maternal mortality, which serves a bigger light in the workplace. What can employees do to guarantee that they are well supported, regardless of where they choose to give birth? Are the current leave policies factoring in these possibilities when considering the individualized needs of employees? As companies optimize for inclusion, advocating holistic maternal care through policy is paramount to ensure wellness for all.
The Fourth Trimester (and beyond) is something we all should be considering when focusing on issues surrounding maternal health, which Eponymous is dedicated to.
Pivoting also meant stepping away from full-time work. 2023 has guided and allowed me to forge some amazing friendships. Diving headfirst into reproductive justice work has renewed my commitment to unapologetically advocating for families through thought leadership and increasing the urgency of the public health concern surrounding maternal health and reproductive rights. Stepping into my identity as a former foster youth and transracial adoptee allows me to tell my story and guide how and where I show up.
I made friends with Rahul Gupta, the founder of Adopto, an online community for adoptees to share news and updates. We’ve arranged a series of meet-ups with former foster youth and members who are part of the adoption constellation in the Bay Area. Our reach is global, as are our experiences. The friendship with Rahul was serendipitous, however, meeting The Honorable Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass was not on my 2023 bingo card.
Mayor Bass is a huge advocate for former foster youth, having created the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and the National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI). It was only this year that I found out that May is National Foster Care Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.
I was keen on attending NFYI’s 2023 Afternoon of Learning & Celebration because I believe in the importance of advocating for the needs of youth in foster care, and this event provided a valuable opportunity to learn about current issues and celebrate the accomplishments of those working towards positive change. I reflected on my experience here, as it made a lasting impression on me.
A lot of this work lies heavily on my spirit, as reproductive justice and birth justice cut across all parts of my life. It’s important I take care of the world around me, specifically by remaining consistent with the things that bring me joy.
This is why creativity is so essential for the continuation of my wellness.
I find comfort in community and family, which drew me towards my love for music. In early 2022, I started shadowing my brother-in-law when he hosted his bi-weekly radio show, Monday Mornings with Massari on Lower Grand Radio. The show is described as,“your highly caffeinated musical boost with functional chat.” Oh, how I love the chat!
I was honored to witness him in his element as he curated playlists to a dedicated audience that was filled with carefully selected tunes and thoughtful commentary. He interviews artists (an upcoming interview with Nabihah Iqbal is one I’m looking forward to) and collaborates with friends. I saw what it was like to remain steadfast in one’s passions and how to create unforgettable listening experiences throughout the pandemic.
I’d always wondered what the behind-the-scenes looked like, but never thought to ask. Ryan offered me several opportunities to see the diligence needed to create a 2+ hour radio show. He also has a weekly slot on KALX, so he hosts multiple shows within one month. I could only wish to be so great…
My own creativity has been showcased online through my tight knit, yet humble community on Instagram. StoryNoir started as a passion for books and storytelling. Instagram Live is a feature I enjoy using as a way to interact with friends and to find new reads. I spent countless hours during lockdown in my bedroom, reading selections from my shelf and engaging in thoughtful, but hilarious commentary with listeners.
Today, I host the StoryNoir podcast, where I get to talk to incredible people. I love sharing the narratives, trials and wins of all of the change makers I’m so fortunate to know. The stories of triumph and transformation that have been shared excite me and fuel my desire to continue interviewing people.
One of my most notable episodes is episode 5, “Comics” with Thien Phan and Briana Loewinsohn, two published comic book authors from Oakland. I went to Briana’s book launch in Berkeley, and am excited for Thien’s forthcoming book on June 20th. Check out his Instagram page for a sneak peek into how he’s counting down the days.
This is how the Frequency Noir radio show came to fruition. Lower Grand Radio aligned with my personal ethos, as they are a listener supported online radio station. Their mutual-aid model keeps them on the airwaves, as daily operations, trainings and community event expenses can be supported on Patreon.
I was called to share my love for books and music all in one, an idea I sat on for a while. Through lots of encouragement, I curated 4, 90-minute shows on Lower Grand Radio, hosting the last one on my birthday. Public speaking causes a certain kind of nervousness, but going on the radio is a whole other ball game. My confidence grew after each show, with much gratitude to the loved ones who tuned in and gave feedback for each show. Special thank you to Ryan and Alex for presenting me with these opportunities.
I do have fun when not behind the computer screen or a book. I had the chance to see the beloved Masego when he performed at The Warfield in San Francisco on March 14th. My bestie and I sang along to the tracks that formed our high school and university years, as this was one of the first concerts I’d been to since the 2020 shutdown.
Look; I love all things corny, which is why I love me some Masego.
He went from being in a button down two piece to taking off said button and throwing roses into the crowd. However, the roses were not the only thing he threw.
Long time Masego fans know that he uses “yams” as an allegory for… well, you’ll have to listen to his song, “Yamz,” to put two and two together (pun intended).
BUT, after serenading us with his saxophone, he threw three or four whole yams into the crowd. What’s worse is that one hit a stage light and the crowd quickly ducked, should any of the debris have fallen down. While I did not catch a rose nor a piece of Masego’s yams, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and were reminded that there is life outside of working from home.
Summer is approaching quickly and I can’t wait to go outside. I didn’t get Beyonce tickets, but, I’m looking forward to attending events like Solid Grounds’ Coffee & Conversations Amplify Black Voices: Juneteenth Open Mic Nite at Kinfolkx. I’ll also be resuming the Hanging Loc Chronicles, which will kickoff in July along a few other few fun projects.
As mentioned, I’m #openforbusiness.
Happenstance and serendipity have been constant themes in my life, and I welcome it. I pursued reproductive justice as what I initially thought was a leap of faith. In terms of specific partnerships, I’m looking for a mission-driven space that prioritizes employee well-being & belonging.
I’d love to connect and share opportunities. The spirit of dialogue calls for interesting conversations, so I invite you to reach out to connect on storynoir.com
Thanks for the love!
xoxo,
Opal
I have experience and knowledge in DEI program management, tech & non-tech recruiting for startups, venture talent, Diversity & Inclusion programs (strategy and partnerships), and conference & event production (ERGs, D&I workshops, company off-sites & team building). More can be seen on LinkedIn.
I’ve worked as a founding member at startups and in venture talent. I always optimize to create a sense of community to cross-functionally thread D&I into my everyday praxis.
I can offer my perspective as a Black, femme, millenial, birth justice advocate, a former foster youth and a first-generation college graduate.
