Turning Experience Into Advocacy: Jaleesa Schatzan’s Vision for Birth Justice

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Training Doulas for Real-Life Support

At bebo mia, we focus on preparing doulas for the realities of this work. Our full spectrum doula training supports students in fertility, birth, postpartum, and loss care. Through our doula scholarship program, we continue to remove barriers to entry.

Choosing a Path That Confronts Systemic Inequity

When I read about your commitment to dismantling systemic oppression in reproductive health, I thought, yes- these are my people. I wanted a training program that doesn’t shy away from naming racism, sexism, and all the other ways people are marginalized in health care. I wanted a place where we can talk about those realities, not sweep them under the rug, and then actively work on solutions.

That’s what drew me here. I know I’ll leave with practical skills, but also with the courage and confidence to stand in those hospital rooms, birthing centers, community centers, and living rooms and advocate for the families who need it the most.

A Simple but Powerful “Why”

My why is simple- it’s because birth is powerful. Because it’s vulnerable. Because it’s the beginning of a new story — and no one should step into that moment feeling unheard or unsupported.

I want to sit with mothers in those raw first hours, remind them that their voice matters, and help them find strength in their own instincts. I want to make sure families in my community — especially Black families, low-income families, families who have been ignored for far too long — have someone by their side who sees them, hears them, and fights for them.

Building a Movement Beyond Certification

This isn’t just training for me; it’s the foundation of a movement I want to build. My plan is to open a practice that centers the families & even members of my own family who are often pushed to the margins — offering trauma-informed doula services, lactation support, and education workshops. That’s the vision I am holding onto.

But I don’t want to stop there. I dream of creating a hub where birth workers of color can collaborate, mentor, and grow together. I want to see a ripple effect in my community: healthier births, stronger families, and parents who feel proud of their stories instead of carrying trauma.

A Door Opening Into Purpose

Getting this scholarship wasn’t just an award — it was a door opening. It told me, “Your voice matters, your work matters, and your community matters.” And I believe that with every ounce of me. I am deeply grateful to be part of the Bebo Mia community, because I know this training will not only shape me as a birth worker but allow me to be a steady presence in those sacred beautiful moments, the calm voice when fear sets in, and the reminder that parents are capable and worthy of care that honors them.

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be on the path to becoming a doula, I probably would have laughed and said, “me?” But here I am — scholarship in hand, training with Bebo Mia, and ready to pour my heart into this work.

Turning Personal Experience Into Purposeful Advocacy

I’m a mom, a woman of color, and someone who knows firsthand how hard it is to go through pregnancy when you don’t feel seen. My own pregnancy was considered high-risk, and there were moments when I felt invisible in the very spaces meant to protect me. That experience changed me. It lit a fire to become the person I wish had been there for me.

Every day, I meet people — often low-income, often people of color — who are just trying to navigate systems that weren’t built for them. These families remind me why I do this. They remind me that dignity in healthcare isn’t guaranteed for everyone, and that sometimes you must fight for the most basic care.

Choosing a Community That Aligns With Justice

I didn’t just want a certification. I wanted a community — one that believes in equity, intersectionality, and birth justice. Bebo Mia speaks my language. It’s not just about learning techniques; it’s about naming the systems that harm families and actively working to dismantle them. That’s why I chose this program

Building Skills That Matter

Our programs are designed to support you beyond certification. Explore our Birth Doula or full spectrum training, and apply for a doula scholarship to begin your journey.