Birthmark Doula Collective

The Pitch

Birthmark provides physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their families during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.

Visit Birthmark Doula Collective >

Latona Giwa & Dana Keren

Latona Giwa & Dana Keren

The Entrepreneur

Latona Giwa is co-founder of Birthmark Doula Collective. She studied Sociology and Women’s Studies at Grinnell College in Iowa. In New Orleans, she first worked as a Community Organizer in Central City, while she trained as a doula and childbirth educator. Her goal is to empower New Orleans women, especially low-income and marginalized women, to be empowered in their reproductive health choices. While working to expand Birthmark Doula Collective, she will also be studying to become a Nurse-Midwife.

Dana Keren is co-founder of Birthmark Doula Collective. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dana moved from the Midwest to New Orleans to participate in Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps. Dana is a trained doula and childbirth educator, and is passionate about women’s reproductive health throughout the lifespan. Currently, she works at the Tulane Community Health Center and is working towards her MBA at Tulane University.

The Opportunity/Challenge

Louisiana has one of the highest C-section rates in the nation and one of the worst breast feeding rates globally. Doulas have been shown to decrease C-section rates, shorten length of hospital stay, increase successful breastfeeding outcomes, and reduce rates of postpartum depression.

The Impact

400 families provided with Doula services, including 200 low- income receiving services for free through Birthmark’s one-to-one program.

Class

2012-2013 Ventures

Sector

Structure

Non-Profit

Consultant

Press Coverage

News Posts

“Propeller has been an integral part of so many of our successes and we couldn’t have done it without them. We’ve been growing at such an amazing rate and it just doesn’t stop! It’s incredible to look back and think about where we were when we joined Propeller and how far we’ve come.”

Dana Keren
Co-Founder, Birthmark ('12)