our very first graphic design attempt. drawn by my partner.
photo by John Matters
about erica
Originally from North Carolina, I lived in Ohio, Boston, San Francisco, Baltimore, and Virginia before finding home in Northwest Arkansas. Once upon a time, I was on a totally different career path. A number of family and life challenges, however, helped me see that I wasn't doing what I really felt called to do: care for people, especially women and gender non-conforming people.
I have an older friend in Ohio, a woman who has attended many births. I learned about doulas from her way back in my teens, and the idea of becoming one took root in my mind. Many years later, right in the middle of these big life challenges, the stars aligned: a birth doula training appeared at my doorstep in the Appalachian Mountains. I signed up, and I haven't looked back.
I'm now a full-spectrum doula, as well as a registered nurse. I live in Fayetteville with my family, including my two rescue dogs. If I'm not working or in the garden, I'm on a trail somewhere with them.
experience + education
Doula Training
Birth Doula & Birth Activist Training
Stanton, VA | Nov 2016
The Organization of Labor Assistants for Birth Options (toLabor)
Full-Spectrum Doula Training
Los Angeles, CA | Oct 2017
LA Doula Project
Birth Doula & Birth Activist Training
Boston, MA | Nov 2017
The Organization of Labor Assistants for Birth Options (toLabor).
Postpartum Doula Training
Tulsa, OK | Nov 2017
DONA International
Continuing Education
Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders Conference
Richmond, VA | Apr 2017
School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Advocate Training,
Distance Learning | Sept 2017
Nneka Hall, PAIL Advocate & Bereavement Specialist.
TRANSITIONS: Becoming a Trans-Affirming Birth Worker
Distance Learning | Sept 2017
Brotha Doula / Trans Masculine Advocacy Network.
Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner Training
Little Rock, AR | July 2018
Tammy Ryan, Spinning Babies.
Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree Program
Fayetteville, AR | Aug 2017 – present
Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, U of Arkansas
the garden bird inspecting our new contact cards.
the little dog, standing on two different pieces of furniture to express her disappointment that i am still working.
