The Leadership Edition- Calling Up, Calling Out

Doula That!

• Doula referrals in a Facebook group. 0:00
• Denise Bolds and Ravae Sinclair discuss common issues on social media related to birth work and leadership.
• Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss a post in a Facebook group for doulas of color where a request for referrals for a "high profile or celebrity burning person" was made in the middle of the day on February 6.
• The original poster asked a doula to tag a colleague in central New Jersey, but the doula tagged an agency owner instead, leading to confusion and negative commentary in the thread.
• Professionalism and authenticity in the birth worker community. 3:26
• Ravae Sinclair and Emily were discussing a client in a public thread when Emily tagged blindsided, a doula, in the comment.
• Blindsided replied to the comment, stating that it's not an issue of respect but authenticity, and her doula work is professional and discreet.
• Ravae Sinclair emphasizes authenticity in doula work and referrals.
• Ravae Sinclair shares her reaction to a negative exchange between two leaders in the birth worker community on social media, finding it sad and throwing her off during a positive moment.
• Denise comments on the impact of such interactions on the people watching, highlighting the importance of professionalism and leadership in the community.
• Using social media responsibly and avoiding negativity. 9:43
• Denise Bolds and Ravae Sinclair discuss the negative consequences of using social media to direct passive aggression towards someone, rather than having a private conversation.
• Ravae Sinclair expresses frustration with a public conversation between two colleagues, feeling it was unnecessary and unpleasant.
• Sinclair suggests that difficult conversations should be handled in private or with a small supportive group, rather than in a public space.
• Social media etiquette and backstabbing. 14:22
• Denise Bolds and Ravae Sinclair discuss the negative impact of social media on black maternal health disparities, including the potential for passive aggression and hostility when tagging someone in a post.
• The speakers emphasize the importance of being mindful of the potential consequences of tagging someone in a social media post, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like race and reproductive health.
• Denise Bolds and Ravae Sinclair discuss the concept of "karma" and how it relates to a person who has been mistreated, with Ravae expressing her belief that the person will ultimately ruin their own opportunities through their actions.
• Ravae shares her observations of the person's behavior, including their tendency to backstab and lack of loyalty, and how it has affected their relationships and opportunities.
• Ravae Sinclair expresses frustration with a recent incident in which someone was publicly criticized and believes it's a symptom of a larger problem in the birth worker space of not holding each other accountable for our actions.
• Denise Bolds agrees that there is a lack of accountability in the space and notes that it's important to call people in and hold them responsible for their behavior, but also recognizes that it's not always easy to know how to do this in a constructive way.
• Trust and accountability in the doula community. 23:11
• Denise Bolds and Ravae Sinclair discuss the importance of accountability in the birth work industry, with a focus on trustworthiness and reliability.
• They share examples of unethical behavior, such as a doula who took money for childbirth education but didn't provide the class, and a midwife who stole money from black birth workers.
• Denise Bolds discusses a Black doula who falsely claimed to have helped New York State doulas get their Medicaid certification, and how this has caused mistrust among birth workers in their community.
• The speakers call out the doula, who is not certified as a childbirth educator, for falsifying information and harming their community, but no one else seems to be taking action.
• Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss the importance of holding leaders accountable for their actions and setting standards for how we want to operate with one another.
• They emphasize the need to elevate and call out bad behavior, rather than ignoring it or being passive about it.

How to find us:

Ravae

Sinclair: @birthconnections and @natlbirthpostpartumpros

Childbirth classes: www.birth-connections.com/services

Denise

Bolds: @BoldDoula and @blackwomendovbac

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