VILLAGE DOULAS

Our Village Doulas are certified pregnancy support professionals specialized through Uzazi Village’s Perinatal Doula Training Course as well as in their own individual areas of focus.  

Village Doulas are available specifically for care participants enrolled for care in the Ida Mae Patterson Center for Maternal and Infant Wellness.

WHAT IS A DOULA?

A doula is a professional labor support person, who is a trained expert at getting women through the process of labor and birth. Doulas support physiologic normal births and also attend births in a variety of settings. Doulas are trained to provide physical and emotional support and education.

Read Christian's Bio
Read Taylor's Bio
Read Rochelle's Bio
Read Delia's Bio
Read Daysha's Bio
Read Lady-Charde's Bio
Read Ruth's Bio
Read Andrea's Bio
Read Karla's Bio

4232 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64110  •  (816) 541-3718

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My name is Christian King. I am the mother of three children, a community health worker, substitute teacher and currently pursuing a degree in History for Secondary Education. I am a native of Kansas CIty, MO and I enjoy traveling, gathering with friends and family, baking, educating, and trying new foods. My interest in becoming a doula came after developing Gestational Hypertension that progressed to Preeclampsia. I was not aware of how sick I was and how dangerous the condition is. I spent almost two weeks admitted in the hospital, most of the time alone. My daughter was born as a late term preemie, spending 1 week in the NICU. Once I learned how sick I really was, I decided to help other Moms to never be unaware and alone. I became a SIster Doula after learning how little my community knew about their rights and options, the degree of inequalities and biases faced, the large margin in which our women and babies die, and how many women just lack support. I believe women should be loaded with knowledge and feel so much love, support, and empowerment that she is able to create the ideal image for her birth experience, including cases of emergency. I believe that women should not feel alone after having a baby or when dealing with loss. I contribute to a birth knowledge, empowerment, a peaceful and serene environment, and hands on support when needed. Women should be able to always make informed decisions when it comes to themselves and their babies. I am passionate about birth and understanding how babies and our bodies work together during labor and delivery. I believe that understanding this can help reduce C-Sections and help women change the way we receive medical care.

My philosophy about birth is being knowledgeable to make informed decisions about your birth experience, being empowered enough to advocate for yourself, and creating a birthing environment suitable and comfortable to create the most calming and controlled journey to your baby’s journey earthside.

Taylor Nosakhere, a mom to five kids under six, including two sets of twins and an angel daughter who passed away on her birthday in 2024. As a native of KC, happily married to my high school sweetheart, she’s been a prenatal coach and birth doula since 2020. Taylor believes that our thoughts shape our reality, and everything is an option in pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. As a doula and life coach, she strives to restore power to mothers by altering perspectives. The current healthcare system’s lack of support for black and brown maternal health deeply troubles her, but she is hopeful that her work will bring positive changes.

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Rochelle Evans, formerly the Administrative Doula at Ida Mae Patterson Center, now serves passionately as a Village Doula. Her mission is to unlock the divine potential and healing within everyone, particularly People of Culture, enabling them to live empowered lives, free from constraints. Her family, including her husband Morrell, their son, Morrell II, and beloved pets, Demo and Mekka, fuel her dedication.
Rochelle’s calling to birth work began in childhood, caring for her siblings and supporting friends through the transformative journey of pregnancy, birth, and loss. The realization of her role came upon her own pregnancy, leading to a deeper understanding of the disparities faced during childbirth.
Embracing her thirst for knowledge, Rochelle found Uzazi’s program during her 2017 pregnancy and enrolled in 2020, juggling a demanding 50-hour work week. A layoff during training was seen not as a setback, but an opportunity, leading to her full-time role as a Village Doula.
Rochelle encourages you to see your reflection in the care she provides. She is committed to empowering your family towards the birth and postpartum experience you deserve. She views each birth as sacred, each journey unique as a baby’s fingerprint, and considers it a privilege to serve families in such a special time.
Rochelle is a Certified Full Spectrum Doula, Community Health Worker, Hypnobabies Certified Hypno Doula, and Reiki Master. She is currently working towards Prenatal Yoga and Cannabis Doula Certifications. In her downtime, she explores photography, new restaurants, cooking, travel, and cherishes time with her family and friends.
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About Delia

Praise Him! I’m Delia Pearl, a mother of six beautiful little expressions of myself 4 girls and 3 boys and a bonus son! Ever since I was 10 years old I had a passion and a desire to become a midwife for mothers that might be overlooked due to their economic status or lack of education or support given by their surrounding healthcare providers. It all stemmed from learning that a older brother of mine in Cuba had a disability in his legs due to the lack of education the medical staff had about breached babies. I vowed to myself that I would never let that happen again to another person.

I later learned that my journey to becoming a Midwife started with learning and serving as a Doula. My OB/ Great Friend Dr. Mualik introduce me to Uzazi Village and Mama Hakima and that’s when my dreams started to become my reality.
I believe that childbirth is the rewarding result of being blessed to carry human life in your womb. The Journey should be filled with knowledge, power, love and lots of laughter no matter what your circumstance or social status is. I just want to bring ‘ big sister vibes’  and enjoy this journey with you!
Daysha Lewis, a mother of four, has a personal and professional life that authentically reflects her commitment to empowering families, particularly mothers. She navigates the complex terrain of parenting and marriage with a contagious burst of enthusiasm, infusing her journey with joy and love. In her professional life, she holds two significant roles that align with her personal mission of education, empowerment, and advocacy. She serves as a Village Doula at Uzazi Village and as a Parent Educator at Start at Zero. As a doula, Daysha provides vital support to mothers during the life-changing period of childbirth. She is there to guide, comfort, and assist, making this transformative time easier and more manageable. Her role as a Parent Educator involves equipping parents with essential parenting skills. She ensures that parents are well-prepared and confident in their ability to raise their children successfully. Both of these roles underline Daysha’s unwavering commitment to her mission. They shine a light on her profound dedication to fostering empowerment in mothers and families, a mission that shapes her professional and personal life in meaningful ways.
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Lady-Charde Lenoir-Howard, a devoted wife, mother of three, and a friend to many, has always had a nurturing heart. Her personal journey through motherhood ignited a passion for becoming a Doula, recognizing that each pregnancy is a unique miracle and life-changing event. In her leisure, she indulges in baking, reading, and writing poetry, bringing warmth and creativity into her home.
Her commitment to serving her community is both humbling and inspiring. Lady eagerly assists families to feel confident, empowered, and valued throughout their birth experience. She strongly believes that effective parenting, which begins with pregnancy and birth, has the power to better our world.
As a birth doula, her joy lies in witnessing women become confident and ecstatic about the birth and early parenting of their children. She encourages parents to confront their fears and anxieties, empowering them to make choices that feel right for their family. As Maya Angelou once said, “When you know better, you do better.” This philosophy guides Lady’s work, helping parents create realistic expectations for their birth and parenting experiences. She truly believes that happiness blooms from meeting these realistic expectations.

“Hope is something of extraordinary power, it can feed the soul, it can light the way, it can move someone from darkness to light. This is exactly how I see my connection to the community as a Doula”.

Ruth McCleery has years of experience, working with women and families of all backgrounds, combating maternal and infant mortality within the hispanic community. She focuses on building trusting relationships with her clients and their families to address their birthing needs and process as THEY take control of one of the most amazing experiences of their life.

“La esperanza es algo de poder extraordinario, puede alimentar el alma, puede iluminar el camino, puede mover a alguien de la oscuridad a la luz. Así es exactamente como veo mi conexión con la comunidad como una Doula”.

Años de experiencia, trabajando con mujeres y familias de todos los orígenes, combatiendo la mortalidad materna e infantil dentro de la comunidad hispana. Construir una relación de confianza con mis clientes y sus familias, para abordar sus necesidades y procesos de parto a medida que ELLOS toman el control de una de las experiencias más increíbles de su vida.

Andrea Padilla, originally from Honduras, moved to the US in 2006, and has been a KCK resident since 2011. Transitioning from a banking career, she trained as a Community Health Worker in 2021 to serve her community better. Her aim is to improve access to resources in Wyandotte County, especially for underserved communities. As a Maternal Community Health Worker, she supports mothers and families, providing them with resources they may not know exist. Her role as a doula further enhances her ability to support clients, providing them with needed education and resources.

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Karla Sevilla, a native of Los Angeles, CA, has dedicated her life to serving the Hispanic and Latinx community. Her early experiences as her mother’s interpreter ignited a desire to contribute to healthcare. Despite becoming a mother at a young age, she successfully pursued education, earning her GED. Her previous roles as a Medical Assistant and Medical Interpreter further honed her skills. As a Community Health Worker (CHW) today, she specializes in assisting individuals facing language barriers. She is thrilled to announce her acceptance into a nursing program commencing fall 2024, where she’ll focus on educating women about pregnancy.

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