KINDRED BIRTH COMPANIONS
Meet Our Doulas
Bria Donaldson
Kindred Birth Doula Coordinator
Bria Donaldson was born and raised in San Francisco and is the youngest child of 3. When she was around 2 years old her mother moved them to the Fillmore District where she has called home for the past 23 years. Since a young age, Bria always felt called to become a health care physician. It wasn’t until her college years where she became more invested in pursuing a career in Women’s Health. It was at Sonoma State where she dove deeper into learning not only about science but also about the discrepancies that plague our healthcare system, especially among women of color. It was during that time where she vowed to devote her life work to making sure women of color and other disadvantaged groups receive access to proper health care. She decided to turn her anger into action and got certified as a labor and postpartum doula in May 2017. She now works at UCSF as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Obgyn Department, more specifically in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility sector.
​
I feel like my reasoning to be apart of SisterWeb evolves every day. When I first joined SisterWeb I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to grow in my career path but over time it has proven to be much bigger than that. I am in SisterWeb to learn and grow as a spiritual human. I am in SisterWeb to heal from trauma. I am in SisterWeb to learn how to release burdens and cleanse my soul. I am in SisterWeb to feel love. I am in SisterWeb to connect and build relationships with beautiful like-minded individuals. I am in SisterWeb to feel empowered and strong as a black woman. Lastly, I am in SisterWeb to take all that I’ve learned and create something beautiful to give to other Black women so that they can feel loved, empowered, strong, and beautiful as well.
Azraa Muhammed
Kindred Birth Doula
I was born and raised in San Francisco. As the oldest of 4, my journey as a doula began after witnessing my youngest sibling come into this world. My mother had a doula present at this birth, and after seeing the impact that she had on my mother’s birth experience, I knew that this is what I wanted to do. At the age of 17, I began training with the International Center for Traditional Childbirth, where I was taught how to provide emotional support, acknowledge the spiritual aspects and traditions of all women, and promote birth as a joyous and positive experience to the families I’m serving. Now after graduating from California State University East Bay, with a degree in Pre-Clinical Sciences, I am ready to continue on this path as a doula in providing support to all women. I aspire to one day become a midwife, and I believe that working as a doula will help me to have a well-rounded approach to caring for women in the future.
​
I am so excited to be a part of a community whose beliefs surrounding pregnancy and birth align with my own. I believe that all women, especially women of color, deserve to be supported, heard and loved during this special time. I remember when I was 16 years old, I was supporting my best friend, who is a young mama, while she was going through labor, and I remember her providers started making decisions for her, taking away her power, autonomy and her voice. She told me later, that at some points, she felt like she wasn’t even in the room, because they were talking at her and not with her. I made it my mission to make sure that no woman ever feels this way during the birth of her child, and that as long as I am your doula, you will have a voice, and you will be heard, supported, cared for, and loved.
_JPG.jpg)
Ke'xia Draper
Kindred Birth Doula
I was born and raised in San Francisco. My whole life I wanted to help others in need, and with that journey, I found the being a doula/birth worker was exactly my purpose. Having experienced the birth of my child, furthered my compassion and understanding of the importance of being involved in such a sacred time. Also, I am pursuing to become a midwife in later years
.jpg)
Jaya Pruitt
Kindred Birth Doula
I was born and raised in the Bay Area and I am the middle child to two brothers. I grew up in a tight-knit family filled with mostly women so pregnancy was around me my whole life. I was always there when family members came home helping care for them and the baby in whatever I could. I started out as a pre-school teacher and a special education teacher’s assistant, both roles I enjoyed. I did my first official doula training in 2018 and immediately knew I had found my place. Learning about the birth disparities black women face and personal experience from my own birth made my drive to help women of color come alive. I have a special interest in breastfeeding as well and I hope I can help more black women have successful breastfeeding journeys. As an aspiring midwife and I know that being a doula will help me in my journey there.
I chose to work with SisterWeb because I want to help other birthing people experience power in their birth and postpartum time. When I had my daughter I had some of my power taken away from me and I want to help other birthing people know their rights so that can never happen. I chose this path because I want to make sure they feel loved, protected, well informed, and heard. I see it as my responsibility to my community to be of service and purposeful in the care I provide.
_JPG.jpg)
Fatima Oliver
Kindred Birth Companions Doula
My name is Fatima Oliver, I also go by Fati. I was born and raised in Downtown, San Francisco. I graduated with my bachelor’s from San Francisco State University in Mandarin, Chinese. While getting my degree in Mandarin, I studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia at RMIT University where I took various courses in Biology, Micro Biology, and Human Sexuality, which led me to find interest in birth work. I am inspired by my Fijian and Black culture, aiming to reclaim the narrative of indigenous practices in pregnancy and our society. In 2019, I completed my first doula training with Sisterweb and my second training with Sumi’s Touch. I quickly was exposed to the birthing community ever since. I am proud to have only worked with POC clients.
I am here to be present with my clients and to provide an experience that feels comfortable. I am a mother myself and during my own pregnancy, I was lucky to be supported by a doula, even with all the chaos that was going around in my life at the time. The way my doula helped me in having a successful birth outcome is how I want to support my clients. To me, birth is an initiation of trust and intuition, a karmic dance with mother and baby. I have chosen this profession because I genuinely care and understand that pregnancy is intense, and a lot of changes are happening. Just like islanders navigating the seas, I am here to support you in navigating your pregnancy.
Hamdia Sharif
Kindred Birth Companions Doula
Hamdia was born and raised in California as a first generation muslim to parents that immigrated from Ethiopia. Growing up she always gravitated towards children and helping care for the ones around her so naturally she spent a lot of time with her mom and her friends. The first time Hamdia became interested in birth work was after spending time with her aunt postpartum. She saw first hand what it looked like to show up and support. Without realizing it at the time these moments were shaping her into the person she is today. She would hear stories growing up about what happens when a woman gets pregnant but seeing first hand all the women in her community come together to support during this first time was nothing short of amazing. The extra support is something that is not questioned back in East Africa, women gladly rally together to support mom however they can. Seeing this sense of one amongst women really showed Hamdia how sacred it is to have community during these times. During the pandemic she was fortunate to take part in a doula training sponsored by SisterWeb. Soon after, she entered an apprenticeship through SisterWeb where she became a certified birth doula. Hamdia at her core is a nurturer, she shows up as her best self when she is caring for and encouraging the growth and development of others, specifically mothers and families. Hamdia chose to work with SisterWeb because of their commitment to serve black women during pregnancy and postpartum as well as their dedication to the professional growth of their doulas.
Shanee Jones
Kindred Birth Companions Doula
Shanee was born and raised in San Francisco and is the oldest child of 4. When she was 18 years old, she worked and volunteered in youth/family programs. She always wanted to help people within the community. Due to her growing up in Fillmore, her mom always made education a number priority.She went to school at San Francisco City College, studying Early Childhood Special Education. In 2018, she started as Preschool Teacher/Infant Toddler Lead at Bright Horizons Child Care.Then she decided to switch to another company called Wuyee Children Services Kirkwood Preschool in 2019-2021. After she experienced high risk pregnancy in 2021, due to COVID-19 related situations, she gave birth to a baby girl as a SisterWeb client for the SisterWeb program. Shanee felt so enlightened and well connected within her inner self. It helped her come to realize as a woman how amazing your mind, body, and soul is the most powerful while giving birth. The key of it all is being patient, having focus and a positive mindset at all times. Birth can be a very scary and nervous process when making sure baby and mom are healthy. This is when she knew it was her calling to be a part of the SisterWeb family. Shanee was so amazed by their services that she was inspired to join the first group of SisterWeb trainees. It uplifted her to want to help support other women who may have been in her situation. Overall, Shanee wants to bring more support and resources to families learning healthy eating and be an advocate for African American Women to learn their birth rights and prevent interventions.