Hi Chanielle; introduce yourself to the beloved BCM family so we can get to know you.
My name is Chanielle Talbird. I'm an Author, Early Childhood Educator, Certified Doula, and Lactation Specialist.
I’m a wife and a mom of three: Malachi, 16; Jediah, 5; and Jaylen, 2.
You're a native of Jamaica, so what brought you to the states?
Work opportunities brought me, my mother, and my grandmother to the states. We’ve lived in New York and Atlanta. I met my husband while living in Atlanta and moved to Memphis.
You hold several degrees and certifications related to birth work, lactation, early childhood education, and health care management. What path are you seeking with all that combined?
Since I was a child, I have wanted to become an OBGYN or a Pediatrician. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management. I started my journey in birth work the same month I began my graduate studies. I was a birth doula and provided breastfeeding counseling to families. After graduating from the University of Memphis with a Master of Science in Hospitality and Sport Management, I opened my first childcare center. I later earned a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. I narrowed my focus to providing childcare solutions to families with young children. There is a need for equitable women's health, quality childcare programs, and improved customer service to families. Building community partnerships and civic engagement has led me on the path that I am on now.
What can you offer to help our culture more? What do you see that is broken that you can help fix?
I recently graduated from the Fall 2022 Memphis Academy of Civic Engagement and the South Regional Development Corporation’s Community Capacity Building Leadership Academy. During these experiences, I learned about the broken Healthcare systems in Memphis. I've assisted with births in local hospitals and given birth in them. With my own lived experiences, I have realized that many health-related disparities contribute to social determinants of health. Despite socioeconomic status, there is an increase in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity among black families. The statistics on birth and breastfeeding outcomes are disturbing. Another cause is the deficit in black Health professionals. Even though my Jamaican heritage offered me a strong educational foundation and work ethic, gaining access to educational opportunities and task force development opportunities for individuals in the birth and lactation field has been challenging. It has been challenging for me and other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) individuals to afford to pay for courses and exams, and receive ongoing training. The cost to recertify credentials and maintain liability insurance is also expensive.
I want to create more academic spaces where individuals can learn about Memphis’ history and what negatively impacts healthcare. In turn, I want to teach how to utilize skill sets and credentials towards the work needed to provide equitable access to affordable healthcare. Based on self-taught professional development, I found pathways to offer solutions to upcoming providers in the community.
I love that. You're a Community Capacity Building Leadership Academy graduate, sponsored by the Southeast Regional Development Center and Mace, founded by Councilman JB Smiley.
The Community Capacity Building Leadership Academy (CCBLA) classes were very intense. It was a five-month cohort, and the objective was to create a community project that would gain recognition and support from a panelist of influential judges. It was an opportunity to present bold community solutions among individuals that could push the needle forward in the community.
You wear so many hats, Chanielle. And one of those is an author. Let's talk about your books and who they are for.
I have published “Working For Mommy’s Milk Factory,” “Lioness: Prayers and Affirmations for Women Leaders,” “Have Your Cake and Eat It Too,” and a complimentary devotional journal.
Have Your Cake and Eat It Too is an inspirational autobiography that encourages mothers to live a life of victory and triumph.
Have Your Cake and Eat It Too Devotional Journal is a complimentary 12-day journal that builds on the experience from reading the autobiography. It is interactive and provides a platform to grow spiritually in the Christian faith.
Lioness: Prayers and Affirmations for Women Leaders is for any woman who is a leader. The book offers their readers affirmations for their identity and a prayer language for different seasons of womanhood.
Working For Mommy’s Milk Factory is for families with infants and preschoolers. It's a book about breastfeeding, toddler-mother, and sibling relationships. The illustrations provide a beautiful depiction of black breastfeeding families. Amid the 2022 formula shortage, I encouraged many breastfeeding mothers encouragement to extend their lactation journeys. I also wanted young African American children to be able to see themselves in the book. The Urban Child Institute has partnered with me by purchasing 200 copies of my book. Their plan is to distribute the book across Shelby County through LeBonheur Children’s Hospital home-visitation programs, their Pinwheel Playroom sites, and make them available at local breastfeeding classes.
Let's go in-depth about this book, Working for Mommy's Milk Factory. What does the title mean? How does a child understand what you're speaking of with this book?
I thought carefully about making this complex topic easy to understand. The inspiration for the title, “Working for Mommy's Milk Factory,” came from the idea that young children usually think about some kind of production through a place or location. Working For Mommy is actually two-fold: it means a helper working on behalf of Mommy. The Milk Factory is a place where breastmilk is made. I felt that this title would help children understand that they can work for the place where breastmilk to made. Some ways young children can support this process is by encouraging their mom to eat healthy foods, bringing her a glass of water, and helping mom put their younger sibling skin to skin to protect her milk supply. And these are all evidence-based research breastfeeding techniques that I've been able to conceptualize in a children’s book.
Children learn about becoming lactation professionals as a career path. Dramatic play is a major component in early childhood education. When the main character dresses up as a healthcare professional, it exposes young children to a new profession.
You were part of an anthology titled Lioness: Prayers & Affirmations for Women Leaders. How does this book align with your projects?
Writing an anthology has been a goal for me since 2020. I was working on how to offer other women a platform and a space to celebrate the work they have done in ministry. When I saw the opportunity to write Lioness, I knew that this experience was going to extend a community of women who shared similar goals to write a book that would empower all women. This book is an Amazon best-seller in multiple categories. It is a book of prayers, testimonies, affirmations, and poetry. It's not just for moms but for women leaders who may lead in corporate organizations, at home, in churches, marketplace, and in ministry.
Share with us your role as co-pastor at Living Word Memphis.
I have been leading alongside my husband since the same year we got married. We will be celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary this year. Our church just celebrated its 13-year anniversary. My husband founded the church, and I later came along for the journey. It has been a humbling experience and inspired me to keep reaching for a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. Being in ministry has its ups and downs, but a firm foundation and excellent support system make the experiences very rewarding.
Currently, you are Lactation Counselor at our local health department here. How is your role pivotal to the community? (I’m no longer working at the local health department.)
I have been a Certified Lactation Specialist for 5+ years. I worked for the Shelby County Health Department as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in the WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) office. I was a Designated Breastfeeding Expert (DBE) and spoke as a panelist speaker at the 2022 Tennessee Breastfeeding Symposium. While working with WIC, my proudest accomplishment was working at the Baby Cafe location where Shelby County was helping open the first Baby Café that offered free drop-in breastfeeding services. It is the second location of its kind in the state of Tennessee.
Now, I am an independent provider with my small business Chanielle Talbird Consulting. My role is crucial to the success of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. I provide breastfeeding education, in-person support, and community engagement.
In the past, breastfeeding has been frowned upon, especially in our culture. That could be a lack of knowledge. For those that are able to breastfeed, why is that so important?
We should breastfeed because it is our babies’ first source of nutrition. Breastfeeding has many benefits for moms. It supports postpartum recovery, emotional disorders, and lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding helps mothers and babies fight against diabetes. Breastfeeding turns off cancer markers that are in the baby’s cells. It reduces the risk of cancers and lowers the risk of respiratory problems in babies. A mother’s breastmilk is easily digestible compared to formula. Babies may not tolerate formula as well, and as a result, suffer from constipation and fussiness.
Historically, research studies and statistics show that a smaller percentage of breastfeeding mothers are expressed among African Americans. There is not much breastfeeding initiation and duration. Research studies show that moms stop breastfeeding within the first two weeks postpartum due to a lack of support. Another reason is a deficit in prenatal education and a lack of trust in the provider. For these reasons, it is so important to normalize breastfeeding and make lactation education a part of everyday conversation.
You've been growing your path to discovery, and you know your purpose, but how do you envision continuing to impact the community through what you're doing?
I envision implementing a community-based doula and lactation education program to create gainful employment opportunities. My vision is to focus on Memphis and its surrounding area. There are no community-based doula and lactation programs within 100 miles radius of our city. This program would support an evidence-based home visitation model used to provide educational training as a lactation provider and birth doula.
Let's talk about your role as a doula because that's different from a Lactation specialist.
I've served over several dozen families as a birth doula. A doula is an evidence-based, trained individual who serves a mother prenatally, during labor, and postpartum. I started out as a birth doula because of my first personal birth story. I gave birth to my first child at 19 years old. It was a traumatic experience where the biological father was not present. That feeling left a lasting impression to become the change that I wanted to see.
Hiring a birth doula helps to build an impactful relationship with a mom, educate and prepare her during pregnancy, and empower her during birth. I wish I had that experience and understanding when I became a first-time mom. I am working towards mentoring and educating others about becoming a certified birth doula.
You’re doing amazing things for our city! Is there anything you would like our readers to know?
Yes, please spread the word about the books I’ve published and the work that I have been privileged to support Memphis. To learn more about me, you can find me on Instragram @4sweet_sakes, Facebook and TikTok: Chanielle Talbird. You can stay tuned for my book updates at www.chanielletalbird.com
