PTBi-CA Welcomes New Community Advisory Board Members at Orientation

Nayeli is a community-based researcher and social sector strategist that works to advance health and educational equity, which she does as an independent contractor with local research and community groups. Nayeli is passionate about Reproductive Justice because she believes in the beauty and the wonder that is human life. She also believes that women already here are beautiful and that they deserve to live and determine the direction of their lives. They deserve to be recognized as full people who are fully capable of making difficult decisions without being judged or blocked by someone else who believes they would have made a different decision. 

As a catalyst for transformative change, Starr Britt has a history of engaging stakeholders from the grassroots level to the upper tiers of government. Britt currently serves as an active doula, specializing in postpartum and full spectrum doula care and working with the Sanja Rita Jail Doula Program, with Roots of Labor Birth Collective. Britt is also a member leader at Essie Justice Group, working on the Because She's Powerful Campaign, Facilitating Essie's Healing to Advocacy program for women with incarcerated loved ones, and the National Mama's Day Bail Out. Britt enjoys mothering her two children, Maya & Tay, as well as live music, discovering new exciting recipes and traveling.  

Zoe started her health care career serving immigrants/refugees with free health care at Street Level Health Project. She continued her health care dedication to underserved communities at La Clinica de La Raza, San Antonio Neighborhood Health Center, where she gained knowledge in perinatal and reproductive health. Shortly after beginning at San Antonio, she began her doula practice at UCSF doula volunteer program. Throughout all of these experiences, she bore witness to the internal and external factors impacting birth outcomes in communities of color. Even with the challenges encountered by these women they never failed to prove their resiliency during their pregnancy and labors. As a CAB member, Zoe hopes to close racial disparities in preterm birth rates and promote women of color's empowerment. 

Aimee Mallet feels blessed to have the opportunity to live in the lovely community of Clovis, CA, and work at an FQHC, Clinica Sierra Vista, in Fresno, CA. Aimee entered into the healthcare setting 15 years ago having a desire to help women learn their voice to advocate for their bodies, their health, and the future of their babies and the next generations. In her downtime, Aimee enjoys meditation, spending time growing her spirituality, being with family and friends, and watching silly movies. Life is an adventure to live fully.  

Michele works as a domestic engineer, caring for her five children, the youngest of which are a set of twins born at 23-week. Michele spends her time as a preterm birth advocate on PTBi-CA Parent Clinician Advisory Board along with being a breastfeeding peer counselor. Michele and her husband are passionate about spreading awareness about prematurity and making sure families get adequate support for as long as they may need. As a family, they love fishing, martial arts, and Star Wars!

D'Nita is a breastfeeding Counselor and Certified Lactation Educator who is currently working for Women’s Infant and Children’s West Oakland Health. The number one thing D'Nita loves is her (son)shine. He is the light of her life, and has completely changed her world. D'Nita also loves her city of Oakland. She loves its richness in culture, trendsetters and that it is the home of the Black Panthers Party. Reproductive justice is important to D'Nita because women have the right to know how history has affected their bodies. Also, families should know how to best protect and serve themselves and their loved ones.