Doula Diaries documentary series

Linda Jones, Doula & Executive Director, Black Women Birthing Justice

Linda Jones is a Birth and Postpartum Doula, Photographer and mother of two, grandmother of five and great- grandmother of four, who lives in Oakland, CA. She is the Executive Director and one of the co-founders of Black Women Birthing Justice and is co-author of Battling Over Birth; Black Women and the Maternal Health Care Crisis in California.  Linda has been a part of the natural birth advocacy and reproductive justice community in the Bay Area for over three decades.

Jyesha Wren, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Alameda Health System

Jyesha Wren is a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) with interests in Black Centering, shared decision-making with patients and providers, eliminating racial disparities, and promoting normal physiologic birth. She founded and runs the BElovedBIRTH Black Centering program at Alameda Health System, a model program for perinatal care.

Bria Bailey, featured mama, birth worker

Bria Bailey (She/Her) is a double-mastered perinatal health equity advocate, community birthworker and student midwife with over 15 years of experience advocating for Black families in various healthcare settings. She is a Mama and dancer who is passionate about reproductive justice and co-creating joy with the families she works with. She prioritizes Black and Queer families and thrives at the intersection of science and spirituality.

SeLah Wehner, Doula

Se’Lah Wehner offers culturally aligned birth work, guiding families through empowered pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journeys with deep compassion and connection to their own strength. linktr.ee/crownedselah

Requia Binion, featured mama & BElovedBIRTH Black Centering Program Participant

Requia is a fitness enthusiast who holds six different NASM certifications. When she’s not doting on her baby girl, she’s attending school full time at Cal State East Bay, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. She wants to use her degree to address the high mortality rate of black women during child birth. https://requiamonaefit.com 

Jen Gilomen, Doula Diaries filmmaker

Jen Gilomen is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who has created films distributed on PBS, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon as well as domestic and international film festivals. She is a passionate maternal health advocate and storyteller. Her related feature documentary Born for This (co-edited by Jessica Jones), which follows one Black family through a supported childbirth experience, is now streaming on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and other services.   http://forwardfilms.us 

Jessica Jones, moderator & Doula Diaries series editor

Jessica Jones is an Emmy® (CA-regional) nominated documentary filmmaker and editor. Her work often focuses on community, representation, and racial equity through character-driven narratives. https://jonesica.com