OUR MOMMIE VILLAGE

April 4, 2024 Buffalo Latino Village

March was Women’s History Month and who better to shine the spotlight on other than the Founder, Shyana Broughton, the “Dancing Doula of Our Mommie Village. “

I have known Shyana for over 14 years when she was dancing with the African American Cultural Center. She began Our Mommie Village that welcomed women to her home who were pregnant and/or had incredibly young children as a way to offer support to them as the children moved from one stage to the next. Quite often women are made to second guess & question if we’re doing the right things throughout our pregnancies & for our babies. We’re inundated with suggestions and comments from elders, doctors & friends. Sometimes the advice was unwelcoming and/or were not at all helpful to us specifically with our children.

Our Mommie Village gatherings are a safe place to unwind, vent, exchange information and phone numbers to keep in touch with other Mommas as well as nourish ourselves with great food that’s either catered or cooked my Mommies. And many like myself just hope and pray that Shyana had enough time in her day to make us lentils! Shyana’s attributes her passion to attend births as a doula to visions and guidance from her late grandmother. He first experience at attending births was her very own sister. The experience set her on a course to “catch” as many babies as possible and welcome them in a most peaceful and loving manner.

The stark disparities of women of color and/or the babies dying during childbirth was another fact that made Shyana Broughton bring Our Mommie Village to the NEXT LEVEL. Now, a nonprofit organization, she seeks to do what she loves with other Mommies who offer support to one another in whatever was they can. She’s even inspired Mommas to take the Doula Trainings being offered by Erie County. And because of these efforts Mommies in our black and brown communities are able to have access to doulas that look like US & having a doula is no longer out of reach. As found on the website: “Our Mommie Village exists to ensure all mothers have access to the support and services they need to be well from birth through postpartum recovery.” https://www.ourmommievillage.org/our-story

Shyana has won a few honors, awards & grants for her efforts in Buffalo’s Birthing Community and Our Mommie Village has even been featured in the Washington Post. Read that here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/05/08/pregnancy-depression/?fbclid=IwAR0seNJWvO6uHPuLOaSs4-TODCNJk70pri_vAADeBiwftHF9B9Q86omZmDw

My hope is that The Latino Village reading community can help advance the mission of the Our Mommie Village community. As with any nonprofit organization she relies on volunteering & donations to keep her focused on actually DOING the work that fuels her passion even more. Whether it’s by way of financial contribution or leads for more

grant opportunities; providing the catered dish or snacks for their bi-weekly meetings; testimonials; rides for Mommies to get to and from these meetings & other appointments; access to your network so she can speak on the aforementioned disparities that would lead her to assist more Mommies and more passionate and loving Doulas! ALL OF THIS actually helps advance her mission.

Connect with Shyana Broughton by following her and her page – Our Mommie Village on all social Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn. And if you are a soon-to-be Mommie or a new Mommie desiring to have a Village to surround you and your family with love, call 716-449-8283 to find out when the next in person gathering takes place. ÀSÉ!