FIRST FOODS JUSTICE BREASTFEEDING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR DOULAS
Nourishing Our Babies to Nurture Ourselves
The course is intended to support individuals of marginalized identities as they uplift and serve their communities in nurturing themselves as they nourish their babies.
The Mama Glow Foundation is a 501c3 non profit committed to advancing reproductive justice and birth equity through education, advocacy, the arts, research and scholarship.
We are thrilled to announce the return of the Mama Glow Foundation FIRST FOODS JUSTICE: BREASTFEEDING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR DOULAS – Nourishing Our Babies to Nurture Ourselves 🙌🏾
The design of this course centers the safety and support of Black and Brown mothers, birthing people, and families as they navigate the unique challenges and joys of breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
This 12-hour course examines breastfeeding through the lens of first food justice—the principle that all infants have the right to optimal nutrition, and all caregivers the right to provide it. Centering this framework requires both honoring the joy and cultural significance of breastfeeding for Black mothers and mothers of color, and confronting the structural inequities that shape their experiences. Although human milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition, Black birthing people and families face persistent, systemic barriers to breastfeeding—barriers rooted in and perpetuated by the enduring legacy of chattel slavery in the United States.
Compared to their white counterparts, Black mothers and birthing people are less likely to initiate breastfeeding and, when they do, are less likely to sustain it for durations sufficient to confer optimal infant health benefits. This course situates these disparities within a broader framework of restorative justice and collective healing, while critically examining the targeted marketing practices of infant formula companies toward minoritized communities.
Designed to address persistent inequities in lactation support, the course provides professional lactation education to birth workers from communities disproportionately impacted by adverse health outcomes, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to serve within their own community contexts. Grounded in a sustained commitment to community-based care and workforce development, the program invests in the Mama Glow network of care workers and seeks to foster both professional validation and pathways toward healing.❤️
Upon successful completion of the course and examination, students receive a certificate recognizing their status as First Foods Justice Advocates on the pathway to certification. Fulfillment of all course requirements, including designated community hours, culminates in the award of the Certified Community Lactation Educator credential.
This course meets the Mama Glow Doula Certification requirment.
This course is a pathway to professional development opportunities with Mama Glow.
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
- Applicant must be a trained doula
- Applicant must currently serve marginalized communities
- Applicant must be able to attend all course sessions online
SUMMER 2026 COURSE DATES:
The course meets twice a week for 3 weeks for a total of 6 zoom sessions. Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm ET
- Week 1 – June 9th, 11th
- Week 2 – June 16th, 18th
- Week 3 – June 23rd, 25th
INVESTMENT: $425.00 + Processing Fees
The FIRST FOODS JUSTICE: BREASTFEEDING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR DOULAS is an educational and professional development initiative of the Mama Glow Foundation. Enrollment requires a $425.00 fee prior to onboarding, which covers tuition, administrative support, access to the student dashboard, mentorship, and certification processing. This course is made affordable through subsidy from the Mama Glow Foundation.
Program costs are subsidized by the Mama Glow Foundation to promote accessibility; no additional scholarships are available.
No refunds will be issued.