Stevie Merino, MA, IBCLC: Stevie Merino (she/her) is a diasporic islander born and raised in Long Beach CA, a mom, anthropologist, IBCLC, birthworker, trainer, speaker, and cultural practitioner.
Stevie is the Executive Director, and co-founder of the Birthworkers of Color Collective and is the facilitator and trainer of the doula of Color training. Stevie presents and trains around the country on perinatal health disparities, experiences, and traditions of communities of Color with a special focus on lactation, birth, & reproductive justice, working with LGBTQ+ communities, Pacific Islander representation & traditional practices, lactation equity, amongst other topics. As a living arts practitioner, she has curated exhibits highlighting pregnancy, healing, and traditions. Stevie sits on various leadership positions in the community, perinatal/infant health, and academia including the American Anthropology Association as an ombudsperson. She believes this work is advocacy, it is political, and it is essential.