Angela J. Brown has been a doula for 21 years. She is a Registered Nurse, Hypnobabies Childbirth Educator, Hypno-Doula, Pregnancy Life Coach, Author and Speaker. She is also a (retired) Prenatal Kundalini Yoga Instructor and Massage Therapist. She often utilizes these skills when she is attending a birth.

Angela has been a holistic practitioner for over 30 years, she graduated as a Spiritual Practitioner from Agape International Spiritual Center in 1992. From there, she attended the University of Santa Monica “USM,” Graduate Programs in Spiritual Psychology. Angela brings the culmination of her life expressions and experiences into her birthing practice. She has taught and supported countless women and families through childbirth, childbirth education classes, and private counseling. She reminds women to birth in alignment with their Innate Intelligence that already lives within them. Angela masterfully guides each woman throughout her entire pregnancy so that she taps into her innate intelligence in preparation for childbirth and motherhood.

Art Smocks, Co-Founder of the Arri Kenzo Foundation, Smocks Media Group, and Long Beach Neighborhood Leadership graduate, was born in Kansas City, Missouri before relocating to Texas and landing in Long Beach, California. He is a loving husband to Bri Smocks, and Father to Levi and Sage Smocks. 

He advocates for the empowerment of birthing people, climate justice, and childrens rights. His passions include taking in Japanese art/culture, being in nature, and helping people see their dreams to fruition.

Bixby Knolls Wellness Center was opened on June 1, 2018, by owner, Dr. Anna Pearl, D.C. Her vision is to provide highly effective and evidence-based holistic health care. She is dedicated to carefully evaluating her patients in order to provide quality and customized treatment plans.

Whether you are recovering from an injury, have pregnancy related pain, or simply want to optimize the way your body functions, the Bixby Knolls Wellness Center specializes in modern therapeutic techniques and is equipped to meet your health goals.

Bri Smocks is a breastfeeding mother of two, visionary strategist, and gifted education specialist who innovatively consults on community and philanthropic initiatives. She co-founded the Arri Kenzo Foundation (AKF) with her husband just one year ago. As an exceptionally trained, award-winning educator, she incorporates her teaching expertise and empathy into every project. She also implores the #BriEBS model which serves as the basis of her future research regarding the role of work in society. 

Professionally, Bri is the Chief Executive Officer of Smocks Media Group (SMG): she and her husband's multimedia conglomerate committed to a varied portfolio of developments meeting at the intersection of entertainment, education, and wellness. AKF operates as the non-profit arm of SMG, benefiting from a large network of exceptional thinkers, researchers, and creators who help to amplify/support maternal health and environmental causes pertinent to the Black community. By employing authentic, compassionate, and revolutionary strategies, Bri and her team craft solutions which will ultimately heal the planet. 

David Geathers, a devoted father and husband, is on a mission to empower fathers everywhere in their lifetime role. As the visionary behind Building Fatherhood, he facilitates open dialogues and supportive spaces, celebrating the challenges, beauty, and intricacies of fatherhood.

As a media producer and founder/CEO of We Engage Agency, a bespoke production company, David handles purposeful projects with strategic direction and soulful execution. His talents extend to music, film, and photography, displaying a kaleidoscopic range that mirrors his Los Angeles roots. Whether leading a team of specialists on a media project, or co-producing wellness audio products with his wife, David's endeavors converge at the crossroads of passion, creativity, and empowerment.

Fatherhood Coordinator for LA DPH - African American Infant & Maternal Mortality Initiative. San Diego State grad, M.S Human Services.

Expecting Father's Group Creator & Facilitator. Black Daddy Dialogue Co-Facilitator. Curated content to train professionals on how to improve engagement with Black fathers. Over a decade working with children and families in Human Services in Los Angeles County and Orange County.

Hoda Shawky is a pediatric nurse practitioner certified in pediatric primary care, behavioral health, and lactation consulting. Having worked with children and families for over 15 years and raising two wonderful sons, she has learned first-hand the importance of adult wellness as the foundation for kids to thrive. Currently she works as a consultant on equitable systems-level approaches to strengthening early relationships as a means to promote the healthy social and emotional development of infants, toddlers, and children.  During her free time, Hoda enjoys spending time with family out in nature to rejuvenate her mind and spirit. She also serves as Board President of HERstory, Inc.

James Gilbert, born in East Palo Alto, California, is a 4th generational hairdresser who found his passion through hair from ongoing traumatic life experiences. Telling a story through art is his goal. Spending time and money on education in Los Angeles and New York, James has the best mentors in his career and is utilizing what he learned to apply a new timeless chic experience and look to his clients. James is a father of two boys, Javin and Enzo, who are very artistic and have great personalities.

Krysta is a private chef and the owner of a home-based catering company, Open Mouth Katering (formerly known as KsKatering LLC). As a devoted mother to five children, Krysta has the capacity to service any type of event. She started with brown bag lunches as a little girl while gleaning inspiration and tips from her granny, who taught her how to to take simple things/small amounts and make a feast! As Krysta grew older, she took the same concept and decided to do just that when she started KsKatering in her apartment as a 21-year-old mother of one. After meeting and marrying her husband Tracee, he became the grill master and cooking teammate. 

Krysta is now transitioning into scaling Open Mouth Katering which serves up her original culinary creations. She experiments with soul food, various cultural cuisines, and every dish in-between (with vegan options as well). She strategically puts her heart into each meal she prepares.

Lavender Light is a specialized branch of HealYourLove (HYL), an expansive healing collective created by Darren and Gloria Hagood, where a primary focus is the fusion of breathwork and sound healing to enrich one's overall well-being. Sessions encompass the transformative journey of self-discovery through breathwork, sound therapy, and their powerful interplay, drawing inspiration from the tranquility of lavender and the illuminating brilliance of light. 

In the resonance of harmonious sound baths, discover an enhanced level of relaxation, soothing away symptoms of anxiety and depression. This, combined with breathwork, enhances mindfulness, balances energy, and promotes emotional health. This blend of healing methodologies, including breathwork and sound therapy, is our unique approach to help HealYourLove. 

Rone-iff A. Carr is native to Antigua. He is a recording saxophone artist. Music has always been a part of him and runs within his blood as his mom grew up singing in groups with her siblings and his dad plays several instruments. In Fairbanks, Alaska, where his youngest sister was born, he began playing the saxophone, at the age of nine. In 2002, he recorded his first album, Journey of Deliverance. His album is an inspirational infusion of jazz and gospel, with a Caribbean flare. He hopes listeners will find encouragement and strength.

Rone-iff graduated with a Master of Divinity from La Sierra University. He completed Clinical Pastoral Education residency at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, in Torrance, California. Carr serves his community as a Board-Certified Chaplain in health care and his country as a Reserve Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force. He is married to Chaplain Andrea Carr. They have a beautiful 1-year old daughter, Rael Aniyah.

Rose is a breastfeeding mother who was an integral member of HERstory, Inc.'s BIRRTH WOMXN OC’S first cohort of clients.

Shamiesha Ebhotemen currently resides in Anaheim, CA with her husband and 5-year-old daughter. She is also a Registered Nurse and Certified Lactation Educator, with more than 12 years of nursing experience in Pediatrics, Adult Cardiology, Nursing Education, and Community Health. She has spent more than 9 of those years as a travel nurse, which has given her the knowledge and skill set to interact with people from all walks of life. In September 2019, she opened NURSEMilk,LLC where her mission is to educate, advocate, empower women to breastfeed without fear, and erase the stigma that is still associated with breastfeeding. 

In December 2021, Shamiesha founded HERstory, Inc. out of necessity. HERstory,Inc is comprised of Doulas, Nurses, Lactation Consultants, Midwives, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners, and Social Workers who curate safe spaces for BIPOC birthing families to learn, create community, and thrive. Most recently, HERstory, Inc. co-created BIRRTH WOMXN OC (Birth Initiative for Reproductive Rights, Transforming and Healing Womxn of Color), which is Orange County’s first community-based doula program. In the future, HERstory,Inc. endeavors to open a freestanding birth center in the heart of Orange County.

Stephanie has a wide range of experiences to better connect with the families she serves as a practicing Doula. After working in the corporate world for 15 years, Stephanie switched career paths to pursue teaching. She has taught Special and General Education over the last six years, where she witnessed the importance of introducing American Sign Language at a young age. She started her business, “Signs of Harmony” to teach kids and parents ASL in a fun, engaging way. She now provides Doula childbirth services in conjunction with baby signing classes.

With love for expanding her knowledge, Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education. Stephanie is certified as a Birth doula and pre-certification as a Postpartum Doula from DONA International. She also holds her training for Perinatal Mental Health from Postpartum Support International (PSI). She is certified in Childbirth Education (Doula Training International / DTI), Spinning Babies techniques®, and Lactation Counseling specialist. She is on her journey to becoming an IBCLC. Stephanie now serves as a Community-Based Doula with Strength-Base Community Change (SBCC) and spends her leisure time as a PSI coordinator in conjunction with self-care and hobbies. She occasionally volunteers for multiple family-driven organizations, such as Joy in Birthing.  

Tara Farajian, Cofounder of Transitions In Motherhood is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 10 years of experience. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and Spanish. Tara received her Master’s degree in social work (multi-cultural concentration in children, youth and families) from California State University, Long Beach and is licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences, and she is a member of Postpartum Support International.

Jacque is a Certified Yoga Instructor and mother of a little yogi! She began her yoga practice at the beginning of the 2020 COVID lockdown with her 2-year old toddler crawling all over her. She rolled out her mat every day, desperately praying for peace and release from what she now knows was postpartum depression. Now, she specializes in both prenatal yoga to help mothers feel comfortable in their bodies' new form and 'Little Yogi Plus One' classes to show parents how to maintain a yoga practice by involving their children.