Imani’s Village, previously For The Village Inc., is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing birth outcomes for mothers and babies in the Black community. We exist intentionally in response to the alarming rates of infant and maternal mortality within Black communities. Our goals are met primarily by training community doulas and by providing free doula services to Black birthing families.

About Us

OUR FOUNDER

Farah Antoine-Mayberry is a graduate from Howard University with a degree in Occupational Therapy. She worked as an OT in various adult and pediatric settings including the neonatal intensive care unit. Her passion for the perinatal population led her to become an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a doula, as well a midwife's assistant. She started her own practice in 2017, called Epiphany Birth Services, LLC and a year later founded Imani’s Village (formerly called For The Village, Inc). Farah’s vision for Imani’s Village was to be a part of an initiative that would help to develop more Black birthworkers. Farah and her husband are proud parents of 6 incredible children. Imani’s Village is named after Farah’s youngest daughter whose birth team was composed of a loving, intentional, and supportive village. “Every birthing parent deserves to have Imani’s Village.”

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Leah McEwen

PRESIDENT
Leah is a wife, mom, doula, and small business owner. She has had the pleasure of being the board president for Imani’s Village and serves as one of the original board members. This organization is so incredibly dear to her heart. She loves getting to hear the stories from families that have utilized our services. “Serving my community in a way that positively impacts birth outcomes for mother and child never gets old, and I am incredibly humbled to get to be a part of this team.”
Nechelle Zoller

TREASURER
Nechelle graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford with an Accounting degree with a Math minor and an MBA with Accounting emphasis. She is currently employed by the CPA firm Hamilton, Stone, & Brown PLLCs and works part time at Block Advisors, a division of H & R Block. Nechelle resides in Oklahoma City with her husband, two daughters, and two crazy cats. Being a part of Imani’s Village has caused an awakening in Nechelle. “I have come to realize how much doula services and lactation support are needed. I am here to help educate the community about the great need for better health outcomes for Black moms and babies and to empower black women to not be afraid to ask questions and to build a village of support around them as they go in this motherhood journey.”
Tamara Nelson

OFFICER
Tamara is the Founder and CEO of Sox of Love, Inc. and Laundry Love Central Oklahoma. She hails from El Reno, Oklahoma, attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah and is an Economic Development Specialist who has served the great state of Oklahoma at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce since 2005. She has one son, Nathan (21) who serves our country in the United States Navy and is the light of her life. Tamara operates with three core beliefs: That each of us were born to BUILD our communities, LOVE our Neighbors & SERVE ALL. Imani's Village connects with these core values by educating the community, being a voice for a Black . “The mission to have better birth outcomes for both black mothers and her babies speaks to my heart.”
Joy Ahmad

OFFICER
Joy Ahmad, a native of Baltimore, MD, is a retired counselor with over 40 years of counseling experience. She received a B.A. degree in political science and a M.A. degree in counseling psychology from Stanford University. She moved from San Francisco bay area with her husband and children where she counseled in public secondary schools, in the private sector, and at Rose State College where she also taught personal development psychology courses to entering students. Joy’s parents instilled in their children a great desire for equal opportunities for all. Early encounters with discrepancies in access to benefits developed a sense of responsibility to work toward a goal of equity of services. Years ago, Joy had the opportunity to be in the birth room with a dear friend during a delivery in a birth center. The assistance provided by the doula was so impactful that a once frightened mother-to-be had a beautifully remembered birth and healthy baby. The memory of that birth prompted Joy to connect with Imani’s Village. “Imani’s Village will provide for Black women access to the better birth outcomes that they deserve.”
Sandra Brown

OFFICER
Sandra R. Brown is a Registered Nurse with 37 years of experience in the healthcare field. She is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas and has a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University. She is board-certified in Women’s Health and has been a lactation education specialist. After retiring from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Little Rock where she worked for more than 30 years, she and her husband moved to Edmond, OK. Sandra is a consultant/trainer in Motivational Interviewing and is currently an Assistant Professor in Healthcare Administration at Langston University. She enjoys being a grandmother, traveling, learning about different cultures, and had the good fortune to live in Belize for 3 ½ years. “Being a part of Imani’s Village means being part of a collective that wants to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. This collective is determined to improve the sacred experience of a mom bringing new life into our world.”
Reletta Leblanc

BOARD MEMBER
Reletta is a dedicated advocate for maternal health and community support. She holds an impressive educational background, with an associates degree in Family Services and Early Childhood Development, as well as a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies that focuses on both Education and Health Care Management. Currently, she works as a community Engagement Liaison for Humana Healthy Horizons, where she connects families with essential health resources. As proud mother of three children, Reletta understands the importance of nurturing and support families in our communities. In addition to her professional and family commitments, Reletta is an active member of True Vine Ministries, where she finds joy in worship and community involvement. What truly drives her is her desire to be a part of Imani Village. She aims to help build a legacy for black women, creating a safe space where they can find support and education. Reletta is passionate about ensuring that women like her have support they need to thrive.

OUR BIRTHWORKERS

Brianna Lovelace

BIRTHWORKER
Brianna became a birthworker in 2019 after having two babies and seeing a need in her community for Black birthworkers who support physiological birth. In 2020, she was accepted as a birth worker with Imani’s Village and completed her doula certification. “Imani’s Village has supported me through not only two pregnancies but also through my continued education and growth as a Black woman and birthworker. I am now also a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and Student Midwife. Partnering with this community has stretched me to pursue my passions while showing me what it means to fully support families during their pregnancies and beyond. I believe that birth is a normal, natural event and that it can unfold beautifully when interventions are kept to a minimum. I’m excited to continue supporting families with Imani’s Village for many years to come!”
Mylke Rogers

BIRTHWORKER
Mylke has lived in a couple of other states before returning to a place she loves to call home, especially because she was born and raised here in Oklahoma. She is a mother of one rambunctious daughter and one angel baby whose birth and passing helped her fully develop my passion for birth work. “To be an Imani's Village birth worker is a tremendous privilege for me. I get to be a part of something so huge and that has such a positive impact. Being at the forefront allows me to see my direct effect within the community versus a gradual result, however I'm excited to see that aspect too!”
Kiona Rollins-Mink

BIRTHWORKER
Helloooo! I’m Kiona, and I’ve been a doula since 2021. I’m a wife and Mama of 2 kids. Being an Imani’s Village birthworker gives me an opportunity to help my community in a way I never thought possible! I love the work I do, and can’t wait to hold space for others.
Destiny Gregory

BIRTHWORKER
To work with Imani's Village is an absolute honor, and I am so thankful to have been chosen to be a part of this amazing organization and family! I hope to help cultivate beautiful birth stories for families for years to come!

OUR BIRTHWORKER PROGRAM

In the United States a Black baby is 2-3 times more likely to die before reaching their first birthday compared to a white baby. A Black woman is 3 to 4 times more likely to die due to pregnancy or labor complications compared to a white woman. Providing informed, genuine, empowering, and evidenced-based support to Black families during the peri-natal period will make a difference with these statistics. When these services are provided to Black families by Black birthworkers we have the potential to make an even bigger impact.

Why We Exist

We believe that Black lives absolutely matter.

We believe that normalizing healthy pregnancies and birth within the black community calls for an intentional and compassionate approach to recognizing and addressing how racial and health disparities contribute to the dire statistics claiming the lives of Black babies and Black mothers.

We believe the increasing the number of Black birth workers will help to normalize healthy pregnancies and births within the Black community.

We believe that when Black birth workers serve Black families, more lives can be healed and saved.