Published: Jun. 10, 2023, 5:30 a.m.
By Juliet Schulman-Hall | JSchulman-Hall@masslive.com
As we approach the Juneteenth holiday on June 19, MassLive asked readers and staff to identify people who are emerging Black leaders throughout the state, working to make a difference in their own area of interest, be it politics, education, business or the arts.
These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Age: 33
Community: Springfield
Her story: Shenell Ford is the founder of Heart2Heartbeat Lactation & Wellness, a community-based practice in Springfield that serves prenatal and lactating families, focusing on culturally-informed clinical breastfeeding management, equity in lactation professional development training, commUNITY breastfeeding classes, and lactation specific advocacy activities.
Ford is also a mayoral aide to Mayor Domenic Sarno in Springfield. She also serves on the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition Board of Directors, as Springfield Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Child Health Commission Chair, and is a member of U.S. Breastfeeding Committee’s CRASH Committee and Vital Village Network’s Black Breastfeeding Week Committee.
Ford’s passion for lactation began when she had her first child. Motivated by a lack of systemic support for lactation, especially for Black and Brown communities, Ford was inspired to become a Breastfeeding Peer Support Counselor with Tapestry North WIC. She later became a certified Lactation Counselor and an international board certified Lactation Consultant in 2019. Since then, she has also become a certified perinatal educator.
As a lactation consultant, Ford centers her work on making sure families in Springfield feel seen, heard, and respected.
According to Ford, health and lactation education and support are intertwined.
“I’m proud yet disheartened to be one of very few IBCLCs (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) of color in the Commonwealth, and committed to changing that. Culturally responsive care is vital and diversifying the pool of providers offering lactation services has direct impact on achieving positive health outcomes,” Ford said.
In her words: “Find your village and lean in, as often as you need! Especially for those aspiring Black and Brown lactation warriors, align yourself with those currently doing the work, locally, nationally, and globally. In the midst of holding space for our families, make sure to hold space for yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Each day, we will introduce more leaders, and we’re always open to hear about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.