Updates, Interesting things and other stuff

I've been busy. I'm getting ready to go out of town -- out of the country, actually -- to help a friend for a quick min, with her baby -- postpartum care. . . . sort of. I haven't met her baby yet because I haven't seen my friend in a while. I am really looking forward to hanging out with them and getting my very long overdue dose of radical Afro-Carib-Trinidadian and Hungarian feminist, queer, human rights theory, from her. I'm getting a rush now just thinking about it. I'm also gearing up to return to school this Fall, as you know (if I can find funding, that is. Thanks, Sequester), to work towards a PhD in sociocultural anthropology, which I'm anticipating to be crazy insane as far as being busy and that taking much of my time. There is also some other stuff that's been going on around here that has not lent me much time to write these days, but I did want to bring another what I call my 'newsletter-type-ish' post, that has some things that are happening around and about:

• Black Feminist Blog Carnival is coming, really. I am truly sorry I have had to push the date back on publishing the fabulous articles I received on 'debunking the man-hating myth', and know it is so important to continue to work on this perspective in Black feminist thought. The reason I am so behind is that I have not been able to dedicate the time I need to organize and create my contribution to this carnival, which is why it's so late, because I want to give the best representation to the contributors as well as the readers as possible. Please bear with me. 

• I withdrew from speaking at the Inequity in Breastfeeding Support Summit, that's happening in Seattle in June. I did not make this decision lightly because addressing the impact of institutional racism, power and white privilege on breastfeeding rates and maternal-infant health, is very important to me. I also clocked some valuable time helping organize this conference, and was looking forward to presenting. For now, I will not be going into much detail about my withdrawal, but since some of you were looking forward to me presenting, I will give you the gist on why I backed out:

I really felt that since people of color were not the ones who held the 'purse strings,' or any 'real' positions of power on the committee, it was inevitable that issues of racialized oppression and white supremacy were being served up as stronger dishes than an actual address of the way these systemic issues are a major force in breastfeeding inequity. I felt that far from being involved in creating ways to truly challenge injustice and engage the most affected members of the community, the venue only became a way to center the experiences of white people, and that my remaining a 'Black body on display' and 'performing' for an audience, which became geared to the least impacted -- white healthcare workers, was very problematic for me. The way I see it is while this scene may appear to enact change and be viewed at resolving critical issues, it would not. Instead, it would only fortify the cohesiveness of whiteness and the deeply entrenched racism, helping it to mutate, making it much more difficult to see because it would create more 'white saviors' and 'do-gooders', who are not interested in challenging a system they benefit from everyday. It just continues the provide power to white people, and reinforce the dynamic of race and class. It also only creates more ways for these people to 'help,' instead of providing the communities most affected with critical tools to challenge the legacy that is racism and white domination -- much of the reasons behind these issues. It would just continue to disempower them. And create more disparities. And this is everything I work against. But like I told the committee, this is the way *I* see it. You may see things differently, and I would love it if you shared your thoughts.

• My two year blogaversary was yesterday! 

• Interesting things around the web:

1. Dr. Breeze Harper -- the Sistah Vegan, just published a great blog post entitled On the Myth of Being a Strong Black Woman, Decolonizing Our Taste Buds, and Self-Care, where she was part of a talk and discussed her experience of being a 'Strong Black Woman'. I am so happy that more attention discussing these issues in the work of anti-racist and social justice activists. You know that I just recently discussed something somewhat along these lines -- mine, though, was about the need to make self-care an intricate part of our work and not view it as a separate entity. I'm really glad to see Dr. Harper's article/talk, and if I find other interesting perspectives on the topic floating around, I'll make sure to tell you about those, too. 
2. One of my favorite bloggers, Darcel of The Mahogany Way, is fundraising to become a doula through the International Center for Traditional Childbearing. This is also where I took my training, and I think the course taught, which centers the experiences of Black women, is wonderful. Transformational. I hope that you will see the importance of supporting more Black women becoming doulas and all doulas of color, and pitch in if you can.
3. I just learned that ROSE (Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere) Breastfeeding coalition is hosting the Addressing Social Determinants of Breatfeeding Conference. I'm not a spokesperson for this organization, really, I just truly appreciate them! This particular conference here is practically giving me palpitations because it sounds so exciting. It is happening at Jacksonville State University in Alabama, on August 23, and there looks to be an interesting lineup of speakers. This conference is not too long after ROSE's annual breastfeeding summit in Atlanta, this year's theme is about organizing, and is taking place on August 8-9. So. Exciting. I really hope I am able to go.
4. Once Sold Tales, a used bookstore, is going out of business. I'm so sad to see this awesome Seattle-based company close their doors, after all of the awesome stuff they've done within and for the community. I really don't like to see most bookstores close down, really. I read an article that they are struggling to find homes for 500,000 books, so if you are in the area, stop by. They will give you a free book if you mention the story in the link, and have implemented a 'grab bag' to try and reduce their stock so even if you're not around here then you can get them shipped to you! Please check them out. Imagine the critical theory, breastfeeding and birth readers they have available. For cheap!
5. Infant tooth reveals Neanderthal breastfeeding habits: Chemicals in primate teeth reveal transition to solid food, is an interesting article I read today. I'm insanely fascinated with Neanderthals and, believe it or not, I often times find myself romanticizing about eras when they existed. I try and find as much info as I can to look at how things are 'supposed to be', and I think it gives me a good starting point, I think, to see how drastically we have moved away from nature. The article is interesting, though just one tooth doesn't tell us all that much, but it's definitely something. 

• Finally, I'm going to be taking an advocate/activist and blogging break soon. I think I'm finally at the point where the universe will actually allow me to take time off and regroup from this work. This is a first because usually, the smallest inkling of a thought towards this and I could almost guarantee that something, anything, would transpire, and send me a clear message that I couldn't break just yet. But I'm feeling it's OK this time around. We'll see. I'll give you more details when it happens, next month, so don't worry -- I won't just leave you hangin'. 

But other than that, that's what's happening around here. What updates, interesting things and other stuff is going on in your world?

Inequity in Breastfeeding Support Summit Registration Now Open!

Registration is live for the breastfeeding summit, focusing on 'The impact of institutional racism, power and white privilege on breastfeeding rates and maternal-infant mortality.' This summit is happening on June 21-22, 2013, at the Brockey Conference Center South Seattle Community College in Seattle, WA, and is 'A collaboration of the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, Mahogany Moms Breastfeeding Coalition, Native American Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, and Community Breastfeeding Activists.'

There's a pretty cool line-up of speakers, including Kathi Barber -- author of The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding, Midwife Shafia M. Monroe, founder of the International Center for Traditional Childbearing, where I joined as a member and also trained as a Full-Circle Doula. 

The purpose of this conference is to collaborate, educate and act together as a community of breastfeeding supporters to learn about and counter institutional racism and social injustice in perinatal support services. 

Below is the rest of the info I copied from the event page, with a bit about the speakers, and you can click here to register:

Goals:
Raise awareness in the breastfeeding support community and other perinatal support fields, of significant health disparities between women of color and white women and the impact of racism, injustice, and white privilege on maternal-infant health services and outcomes.

Facilitate the development of an action plan to address these disparities and identify actions that individuals, organizations, and communities can take, in line with the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.

Objectives:
Educate health care providers, breastfeeding counselors, childcare providers, employers and community members on how to counter institutional racism in their communities and organizations.

Facilitate a dynamic cross-exchange of culturally competent breastfeeding information and best-practice support strategies for women of all ethnicities.

Facilitate collaborative discourse to develop an action plan to address current disparities in both breastfeeding rates and access to breastfeeding services.

Confirmed Speakers:

Kathi Barber, CLC, Founder of the African American Breastfeeding Alliance and author of The Black Woman's Guide to Breastfeeding

Sheila Capestany, MPH, MSW, Executive Director of Open Arms Perinatal Services

Shafia Monroe, Midwife, President and CEO of International Center for Traditional Childbearing

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS, IBCLC, RLC, CATSM

Joan E. Dodgson, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN

Jeanette McCulloch, IBCLC, LLL & Wendy Gordon, LM, CPM, MPH

Anayah Sangodele-Ayoka, MSEd & Jeanine Valrie, MPH

Inga Aaron, BA, Community Breastfeeding Activist

Sherry Payne, MSN, RN, CNE, IBCLC, Executive Director Uzazi Village

Camie Jae Goldhammer, MSW, CLE, Postpartum Doula, Founder and Chair of the Native American Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington

If you have any other questions, let me know. Or you can email the committee. Hope to see you.

Why I Just Dropped Out Of The University of North Carolina's Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposia

I'm not speaking at the University of North Carolina this month, after all. I was scheduled to present two discussion sessions at the 8th Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposia, but I canceled. I was literally in the middle of booking my plane ticket and making hotel reservations, when I saw an article from Clutch Magazine about a UNC Rape Victim [who] Faces Expulsion.

I read the article about Landem Gambill, who was being threatened for speaking publicly about her rapist -- an ex boyfriend, who is also a student at the university, and whose ostracism comes because they say she is being disruptive. The 'Honor Court' threatened to charger her with this violation:

"Disruptive or intimidating behavior that willfully abuses, disparages, or otherwise interferes with another (other than on the basis of protected classifications identified and addressed in the University’s Policy on Prohibited Harassment and Discrimination) so as to adversely affect their academic pursuits, opportunities for University employment, participation in University-sponsored extracurricular activities, or opportunities to benefit from other aspects of University Life."

I emailed the Symposia's planning Committee, and expressed my concern before I told them that I would do more research. While reading about Landem Gambill I saw that there had been numerous cases of the University's neglect in highlighting issues of sexual violence and various others who had launched complaints against the school for neglecting to do something. I received a reply from one of the committee members stating she was definitely concerned with violence against women at their campus as well as others, and sent me the link to the University's response, which after reading it did not feel is was a real reprimand on this behavior, on violence or on the perpetrator but felt instead as if they were issuing one that attempted to absolve themselves of the fact that this happened under their campus direction. Also, another committee member told me it was not the institution, but the students who run the high court.

I was really bothered by this story and all of this. I didn't know if I should continue with the presentations and change my content from speaking about breastfeeding and Black Feminism to speaking out against rape culture. After emailing back and forth over the past couple of days with these committee members this was my response:

"Thank you for replying to my email and going a step further in providing additional information on this recent headline that has seemed to highlight other issues within structure. Yes, violence on all campuses and non-campus environments concern me and others as well. I have done as much research as I can regarding the case of Landen Gambill once I initially heard of this recently, given the amount of time I have in order to either proceed or withdraw. Unfortunately I have not seen a great effort by the University of North Carolina to make a whole effort to eradicate the presence of rape culture on campus, or to even reprimand the actions of the perpetuator or the larger issue. And when we don't speak out against something, we are doing nothing more than stating our support. I cannot attend a session that underpins the principles of feminism in an environment I believe has not worked towards resolve in this issue or the many others who have also launched a complaint of sexual violence. What kind of feminist would that make me? The fact that expulsion is an option at all shows there is an underlying support of these kinds of crimes against women on campus and a willingness to accept it - and shame and blame the victim. I thank you for the opportunity, but please cancel my registration as well as refund my registration fee."

* Thank you to all who contributed towards the Breastfeeding and (BLACK) Feminism Chip In. The funding was to be used to offset the charges that I incur at this event, in order to continue doing this important work. Some of you have told me to keep the funds and use them for other breastfeeding promotions and advocacy, which I am thankful for and is what I will do. If this is what you'd like then let me know. Otherwise, I will begin processing the return of your donation.

Please sign the petition to help stop the impunity of the perpetrators of 'The Little Girl' who was raped, and have not been brought to justice. 

Soraya Chemaly: 50 Facts About Rape

FOUR Conferences, THREE Presentations, two babies on my knee, and a Black HERstory Twitter Party #BlkBfing

I think this will read like more of a newsletter-type-ish post than an actual 'post' 'post'. Partially because well, I'm a bit busy these days -- I'm slammed with projects I need to work on, plus my little sister is out of town visiting family, so I have her three children which I'm helping to get off to school, making lunches, helping do homework, etc, while their dad is at work. My one-year-old great nephew is also over for a Valentine's visit, and since my sister usually babysits her sister-in-law's baby -- another one-year-old, while his mom goes to work, I'm helping watch him, too. And they are both sitting - one on each of my knees as I try and type this =D. I did, however, want to put some updates out there just to let on with a few things happening in my world and in the Black breastfeeding world around.

ROSE Breastfeeding Coalition just sent out their 'Save The Date' email for their 2013 Summit in Atlanta, to address Black women's breastfeeding disparities. It will be held on August 8-9, and the theme this year is Organizing for Action: Building the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Address Disparities and Strengthen  Support Systems, though I'm not sure what venue it will be held in. I want to make sure you can mark your calendar. I hope I'm able to attend this year. I had such a great time speaking at the last one. ROSE has also partnered with Moms Rising and the United States Breastfeeding Committee for a Blog Carnival in honor of Black History Month. If you missed that post, which was published last week, just scroll down for all of the details. I really hope you can submit something.

A few days after that, on the 27th at 9 pm EST, these organizations along with Sojourner Marable Grimmet, co-founder of the breastfeeding advocacy organization Table for Two, and daughter of the late and fabulously great Manning Marable (whose wife is anthropologist, Leith Mullings, btw), will be hosting a National Breastfeeding Making HERstory Twitter Party to 'discuss the importance of breastfeeding and increasing African American rates.' The flyer is above (click on the image to enlarge), and if you're on facebook, you can RSVP. Make sure you use the hashtag #BlkBfing. I'm @LactationJrny.

Also, a flyer about a conference in Detroit, MI, just came through my email. Innovations in Breastfeeding Support Seminar 2013 is hosted by Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA), and is 'to inform healthcare professionals on innovative solutions that address the cultural road blocks in breastfeeding support for African Americans.' Here's the event page, where you can register. You can contact the founder of BMBFA, Kiddada Green via email or you can call her:  (800) 313-6141 ext. 2, to get more info.

I'll be presenting at the Inequity in Breastfeeding Support Summit -- aka the racism, white privilege and power conference happening here this June. I think the really good thing about this is that it is open to anyone -- lay and professionals and anyone else interested in supporting breastfeeding. I'll periodically post info about it so keep an eye out, but also know that you can join the Summit's Facebook Like Page, if you want to stay in the know.

And lastly, I'm preparing for the Breastfeeding and (Black) Feminism Symposium in North Carolina. I'm really looking forward to this, not only because it's specifically a conference on breastfeeding and Black Feminism, a couple of my favorite subjects, but I've seen the agenda, and the other workshops and what others are presenting on, and I can't wait to hear them. At first I thought I was giving my presentation only one time, but as it turns out I'll be giving two 20-minute presentations. I'll be presenting the same content, but at two different times, so it's twice as nice. My presentations are called Reorganizing the Village: Viewing Black Breastfeeding Support Through a Black Feminist Framework, and I'll be giving a short account on the history of Black Feminism, and the ways to get more community members involved in with advocacy -- the greater community. I love any chance I get to discuss this. My bestie also lives over there so I'm super duper excited about seeing her, her family and a few others, who I haven't seen in over four years.

I created a chip in for this event -- at the UNC. As of yet, I don't keep a static 'donate' button on my site, but my spiel is the same when I'm responsible for the tab -- I created the chip in to allow anyone interested in helping to offset the charges from this event. I'm not hooked up with a large organization, and I don't receive grants from the government. My breastfeeding work is done largely independently, so the help of my community is only what will allow me to continue this important work. Please consider supporting these great efforts by chip(ping) in, and maybe sharing the link. Anything helps, and thank you for consideration.

Through the remainder of February, anyone who donates $20.00+, will get a free seat to May's Radical Breastfeeding Webinar!

And now to tend to my children. Over the next two weeks, I'll have two one-year-old babies, a pre-teen, one nine year old, and a seven year old.

#muthahoodaintforsissies

Happy Valentine's Day. ♥

Breastfeeding & (BLACK) Feminism at the UNC

On Tuesday I found out my abstract was accepted for next year's Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposia at the University of North Carolina, It Takes A Village To Support A Nursing Mom and I'm pretty excited about it. I'd been asked by a couple of people if I heard anything back from the board members. I hadn't. But there was a good reason, of course -- they lost my submission. I knew something was up when I didn't hear anything from them -- AT ALL, on whether I was chosen or not, so I contacted the committee and eventually found out what happened. Oopsie. No big deal, though they were very apologetic and told me after some digging they located it and sent it off to the powers that be for consideration, and after a few days got back to me with the news.

I have to be honest that a 20 minute presentation station to talk about Black Feminism seems a bit slim. I'm thinking at least a good two or three hours would be more up my alley to possibly touch the tip of the ice *smile* but I guess I'll just have to make do. I'm totally kidding, btw. I don't like public speaking that much.

I'll be presenting on viewing breastfeeding advocacy through a Black Feminist framework, and offering ways to engage more community. I'm really glad about this whole thing and can't wait to get started planning.

I created this 'Chip In' to help offset the various charges associated with presenting, and that will allow me to continue this important work. Thank you in advance for any consideration.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: The impact of institutional racism, power and white privilege on breastfeeding rates and maternal-infant health

We have finished the 'Call For Proposals' for next year's BIG, Bad BREASTFEEDING Summit addressing institutional racism, power and white privilege in breastfeeding and maternal-infant health, and I am more excited about this than you know. I'm glad to see this important topic make headway instead of being situated as a side note. Please understand that this venue is open to all interested participants -- professional and non-professional breastfeeding advocates, social justice and anti-racist activists, healthcare workers, community organizers and anyone interested in finding ways to enact critical social change and increase our breastfeeding rates. It would be good to see you. And better to hear you speak.

Wordless Wednesday: SAVE THE DATE: Racism, White Privilege and Breastfeeding

University of North Carolina's 8th Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposia

I didn't end up sending in an abstract to speak at last year's event, but someone just shared the Save The Date flyer with me for the UNC's Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposia for 2013. Next year's theme is: "It Takes A Village: The role of the greater community in inspiring and empowering women to breastfeed." I don't think I really have to go into much detail at all about this one – as far as if I'm interested or not. And if you know me or have kept up with this blog you'll know this is the undercurrent of all of my work – on inclusion and community, and getting more people involved. So of course I'd be thrilled to share my ideas.

I don't want to jump to conclusions and all, but I do wonder about the audience, though, and who'll be reviewing the submissions and picking and choosing – especially when I look on the website and middle-aged white women are representatives of the conference, and they along with older white men symbolize the institute. And feminism – the large-scale critique of the structure to eradicate domination directed at female populations, has always focused on the experiences of white women. That is undeniable. This is the same with the lot of so-called breastfeeding advocates who fail to put, especially race at the forefront. So it has me thinking. Breastfeeding advocacy needs more input from feminists of color. I am so there! Well, at least I'm responding to the Call for Papers this time.

Wordless Wednesday: Because I am thrilled to do the work that I do #RoseSummit2012

Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere! The ROSE Summit, 2012: Reclaiming an African American Tradition (Video)

It was an honor to be asked to speak at the first ever ROSE Summit at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA, this year. To be among people who are committed to eradicating the disparities that plague our ‘sisters everywhere,’ and address the issues in breastfeeding rates, is necessary and inspiring. ROSE (Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere) organized the Summit in order to highlight the disparities that are directly related to lack of breastfeeding in Black and African American communities, and it’s founder, Kim Bugg, is passionate about this initiative.

Though there has been progress, according to various data sources, including recent federal and state reports, the overwhelming amount of information supports that African American women continue to rank low in breastfeeding initiation and duration, and the goal of this recent Summit was to highlight this discrepancy and bring together experts and advocates to find ways to improve access for mothers and help end these by “Reclaiming an African American Tradition” – the theme of the event, making breastfeeding the biological and social norm.

The Summit was held July 19-20, and brought together community organizers, healthcare professionals, and local and national advocates to present information on ways they work to counter these disparities and some projections for the future. Among them were David Satcher, M.D., PhD – the 16th U.S. Surgeon General and Director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, who was also the keynote speaker and stressed breastfeeding as one of the most important contributors to infant health. Dr. Satcher underscored education as one of the main components in working to end the disproportionate amount of Black babies not receiving breastmilk, and also focused on the need to develop a diverse group of exceptional health leaders in order to combat this and reach our goals. He discussed what it means to draw this crowd in, and emphasized the need to create a strategy in order to pass the ideas of guidance and direction onto the next generation of leaders, making the necessary impact, which will be instrumental in effecting trans-generational change. There were also two panel discussion groups, whose ideas ranged from creating spaces specific to lactation in workplaces to educator and architects, as well as showing ways to engage new fathers on the importance of breastmilk and creative ways to support the women in their life. 

My presentation, Occupy the Bridge: Looking Past Protagonists and Re-Working the Center, focused on involving more community members. The main idea was to explore the historical, social and political aspects of Black breastfeeding support – what that has looked like and ways to change that perspective, and emphasized why we need to look beyond the normalized image of the mother-infant breastfeeding dyad, in order to bridge the gap in the overall community. I was really excited to present this information via an anthropological perspective for two reasons; one is I wholeheartedly believe anthropology is key to understanding and addressing many issues that face our society – and for me, having this viewpoint in the field of human lactation is rare, which is the main idea for my second reason for being excited: to use these tools to shine a much-needed light on the discipline and put this in a much more public arena – since for many people anthropology is still an enigma – something many simply do not understand, and making anthropology more public is the goal of many who practice the discipline.

Here is the complete list of speakers along with the titles of their presentations:

Yvonne Bronner, Sc.D - Engaging Fathers in Breastfeeding Promotion for African American Women

Joshua Johannson, MD - A Hospital’s Role In Breastfeeding The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Michal Young, MD - Saving Our Babies 

Kimarie Bugg, MSN, MPH (ROSE Founder) - Reclaiming Our Breastfeeding Experience 

Jacqueline Grant, MD, MPH, MPA - Dougherty County: Centering Pregnancy

Acquanda Stanford - Occupy The Bridge: Looking Pasts Protagonists and Re-Working the Center

Terry Jo Curtis, IBCLC - Home Alone Impact of mPINC

Delvecchio Finley - UCLA Medical Center Baby Friendly Presentation

Andrea Serano - Using Online Resources to Improve Your Outreach

Y. Dera Baskin - The Community Aspect of Supporting Breastfeeding

Lorine Bizzell - Improve Your Loving Support: A Journey Together

Tenesha Turner - A Day in My life As A Peer Counselor 

Ursuline Singleton - It’s Only Natural: Mother’s Love Mother’s Milk

Jeretha McKinley - Illinois Breastfeeding: Blueprint, a Plan for Change

Panel One: 

Lavonia Nelson - The Miracles of Breast Milk 

Sojourner Marable-Grimmett - Table for Two 

Tammy Thompson - Lactation Design: Innovative Solutions for Breastfeeding 

Panel Two:

Jonathan Phillips - New Dads 101 Overview 

Kidatta Green - Black Mother's Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA)

Dalvery Blackwell - Normalizing Breastfeeding Thru Breastfeeding Community Gatherings

Flora Ukoli - International Baby Friendly Hospitals

That was day one.

ROSE's goal for day two was to transform the ideas presented on the previous day into a 'Plan of Action,' by determining how individuals in each specialized area can contribute to the overall breastfeeding initiative and we were grouped together based on our professions, and used an "Action Planning Template' in order to identify objectives and ways to gauge their success. 

Some of those included:

• Identify issues within communities that are related to breastfeeding disparities -- including access to education and resources
• Establish goals
• Create targets
• Core consistencies
• Allies/support groups
• Opposition -- what types of opposition is expected and how to counter this.
• Tactics, activities, organizational structure along w/staff and volunteers along with ways to gauge the success of the program

The goal was to find ways to spread the message of ROSE within our organizations and to help build their national database along with gathering ideas for future projects, helping to develop a work plan and other ways to support families. With so many participants, it is undeniable this will work towards increasing breastfeeding rates.

It was wonderful to see how so many presenters – whose careers fall under such varied categories, all have a common concern which is working on increasing the breastfeeding rates among Black women. Saving our babies. The organization plans to follow-up with those who made a commitment in order to see how we are progressing in finding ways to implement these strategies as well as get more people involved in joining the ROSE non-profit organization. They are also planning annual gatherings, and I plan on attending the ones I can.

Video footage from the ROSE Conference.

After watching this video, I recognized an error was made by the production company/producers. They attached the credential Dr. to my name, but this is a mistake. I am not Dr.  

A BIG, Bad BREASTFEEDING Summit, get together-type Conference thingy, right here!

I don't think I could be more excited about this, than if I was on the planning committee myself. But wait, I am!

I received an email talking about a Breastfeeding Summit for the area --  the Puget Sound/Washington State, and I guess folks could come from anywhere in the Pacific Northwest or in the country or the world, I guess, if they really wanted to. The BCW manager, I know, was inspired by the upcoming ROSE Summit focused on disparities in the Black/African American community, and suggested we plan one here. That made my day. That made my week! My month. And I'll be excited up until I'm sitting in the venue and in workshops.

When she first made the suggestion, from the way I interpreted it was assuming she wanted the focus to be only on the disparities among Black women, and before I had a chance to ask her why, with the serious lack of cultural and racial diversity around here,  would there not be a focus on the broader picture that includes how we are all connected in a society that praises whiteness and is responsible for many of the underlying reasons in brestfeeding disparities among groups, I received an email from a LLL board member stating the event will focus on the disparities among women Of Color. I'm happy to hear that since I think I will be able to garner a much-needed examination of what is going on with our communities from these various perspectives! There was also some other very exciting news in that email, but I'm not sure how much I can let on right now, but I'll give you a hint: guest speaker, Black woman, book. For the rest, you'll have to keep an eye out for updates!

Planning a Summit is no joke, and takes a lot of work. Because of this, will happen sometime at least a year from now and at this point Spring, 2013 is on the radar! I've never helped plan a Summit before -- well, at this level, though I have had some input for the upcoming ROSE Conference, but I'm so far away and felt more detached. But for this one I'm right here. Hands on! I'm pretty excited, which will make the wait to next year a long one, but that's OK, I've been working on ways to become more paitent anyway. What suggestions do you have for us? What were you doing if you were planning a Summit centered around women Of Color?

Breastfeeding Summit: ROSE Conference Update

I just opened my email and noticed I received the postcard for the ROSE conference, happening in July, and wanted to post it here. I'm not sure if it's the finished version, but if not I'll post a revised as soon as they do. Ya girl is listed on the bottom right.

Who has two thumbs, became a member of another coalition and is going to Atlanta, Georgia to give a workshop on ending breastfeeding disparities among Black women?

Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), has coordinated an event aimed at ending breastfeeding disparities among Black women, in a conference called Reclaiming Our Breastfeeding Experience, and I am excited about this for a number of reasons.

The coalition, whose founder Kim Bugg just made me a member, has a vision to "Empower African American women to embrace breastfeeding as a cultural and social norm throughout the US," and to enhance the overall mental and physical health of African American women, babies, and their families," since the disparities associated with the low rate are significant. This is also why this conference aims to bring together Black women from across the country who have dedicated their time and effort to ending these imbalances through their personal and professional work as MDs, breastfeeding advocates, IBCLCs, nutrition experts and others, in one place. I can only see great things come of this.

Even though I was not selected to speak at the ILCA's Annual Meeting when I applied last year, this almost reaffirms my belief that indeed things do happen for a reason. Had I been chosen, according to their guidelines, participants are prohibited from speaking at other engagements for two months before they present at their conferences, believing the appearance has the potential to negatively affect the outcome of their audience. Had I been selected, I would not be able to speak here in July, since the ROSE workshop happens just six days before. But I am thrilled to be taking part in something that deals exclusively with ways to positively impact Black women -- an area I have dedicated countless hours, vying for greater personal, cultural and social change. Yes indeed, things do work out. And I'm so happy they do.

The ILCA's Annual Conference 2012 = Update

Well, I won't be speaking at the International Lactation Consultant's Association's Annual Meeting next year. I got that email -- the one that starts out very friendly but inevitably ends with "Thanks, but no thanks"! It's OK. I can live with it. I'm sure they had a very large pool of great choices. I have to admit that just a very small part of me is very slightly relieved for the reasons that my nervousness may have taken over. But I'd rather be nervous and speak to mass audiences on things that are important, than to be nervous and not speak to mass audiences on things that are important.

I'm still giving a bit of thought on presenting on Breastfeeding and Feminism at the University of North Carolina, even though time is dwindling to get in an abstract. Maybe I'll find something more local. Either way, I'm not deterred in my mission.

Breastfeeding and Feminism at the UNC

I just learned that the University of North Carolina at Greenboro just issued a Call for papers and Save The Date for their 7th Annual Breastfeeding and Feminism Conference in March of next year -- and my eyes lit up!

 For a moment I thought of submitting and abstract until I saw that the presentations are for only 15 minutes each, and flying across the country to give a 15 minute presentation? Of course I could always visit my bestie, who lives just up north while I was there and that would make the trip worth it. I'm thinking about it. Of course this sounds funny after my last post talking about all of my insecurities and nervousness about presenting at the International Lactation Consultant Association's Annual Meeting if chosen, so this is a bit funny. But I will give this some thought because breastfeeding and feminism is right up my alley, and of course I'll keep you up to date on what happens.

What about you? Would you give any thought on speaking at this event? What would you talk about?

I'm Speaking at the International Lactation Consultant Association's Annual Meeting Part II

I submitted my proposal to the ILCA in time to speak at the 2012 Conference in Florida! So now it's just a waiting game -- well, at least until November 6th when they will, through email, notify those who have been chosen to speak, present, give a workshop or whatever other entrants have decided to do. I not sure exactly how good my submission was since I put it together at the very last minute, and I had to quickly throw together an outline and do a fast update to my curriculum vitae -- I forgot I even had one, so that's kind of iffy, but I believe my perspective and abstract is what will make me stand out! I have to be honest that part of me is excited about this whole thing, while another part of me is wondering "What in the freaking heck was I thinking?" And yet, there is also that very tiny part that may breathe just a small sigh of relief upon learning I got the cyber boot.

Now, this doesn't mean I don't think I'm qualified to give a presentation and bring a new perspective, but like I said before, it also doesn't mean I'm not somewhat-kinda-sorta-absolutely terrified of being in a room full of IBCLCs, Nurses, Drs, previous and/or current nursers -- and those who have years of information, research, and personal, professional and academic scholarship under their belts, hearing a pitch from a never has-been nor ever will-be nurser. Nope. Just some chick who is pretty new to the theoretical and political aspect of infant feeding, throwing in my two cents on how I think we're screwing up with winning more people over to breastfeeding culture and my simple method to fix it. And I can't back out since I agreed that if chosen, I'll go! OK, I'll be back right after I've done some breathing.

Actually, I've been pretty lucky that I have usually been able to engage my audience with the things I speak on -- even if it is only to roll their eyes at me and the nonsense coming from my mouth. But seriously, I think that  if I am chosen I do have some reservations on the climate and atmosphere, but then again when I do some more thinking about it, encouragement can come in many ways and from many different directions, and maybe this is just the right atmosphere to bring such a perspective.

I'm Speaking at the International Lactation Consultant Association's Annual Meeting

Well. . . Maybe.

The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) announced its call for proposals for the 2012 conference in Orlando, Florida, and I'm thinking of going. Well, not only am I thinking of going, but the only reason I'm thinking of going is because I'm thinking of submitting a proposal - an abstract in order to give a presentation. The conference's theme is 'A Call To Action: New Perspectives in Human Lactation,' and I think this is a great opportunity. What would I speak about, you ask?  Well, of the available categories my interests would fit mostly in 'Policy and Promotion', since I am an advocate and Blactavist, right?!

Even though you don't have to be a professional to present at this conference, I do have some reservations about this, and I'll admit I do get intimidated by being so new to the area and being among, or presenting new information to those who have nursed, are nursing, have done extensive research, are IBCLCs, Dr.s, etc. in the area, but I also know that I do have a special vantage point that really could benefit this area; Anthropology!

I know anthropology would be such a great tool to bring to the table -- not that everyone need to have a background in the discipline in order to learn and participate, but I know sharing and explaining some of the practices and ways to produce more cultural understanding and awareness, thus increasing knowledge and breastfeeding rates will be priceless. I am a firm believer in the discipline and know that anthropology needs a more public eye, and as an anthropologist it is my job to bring these tools that I am confident will benefit our society to the forefront. Plus I have about 9 Months to put a presentation together.

Here's the fine print: I would need to become a member of the ILCA like now! No, not next week, but now, since I'm almost positive memberships are required to participate! Also, I just learned of this call for papers, which apparently began in the middle of September, but all info must be submitted by the 10th of this month at midnight -- yes, as in four days from now, but it's only an abstract so it's doable. But even if these two things happen and I submit a proposal there is still no guarantee I will be selected for presentation. But then there's always a chance I will.