Tiek JohnsonPROGRAMS DIRECTOR

Tiek Johnson is a daughter, mother, doula, advocate, and an aspiring IBCLC. She studied Public Relations at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and worked in the social services field supporting local artists and unhoused individuals for 7 years. Tiek was drawn to reproductive health after having a traumatic experience with the birth of her son.

In 2018, she joined Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, a BIPOC reproductive health collective, and further solidified her passion for reproductive justice. She has since taken doula trainings with Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, Doula Trainings International, and Sumi's Touch. Tiek believes that we can solve 90% of the world’s problems if we uplift the Earth and the marginalized folxs on it. One of her core values is uplifting the people around her so that they can feel loved, supported and valued.

Jessica DiggsLEAD EDUCATOR + CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Jessica is a LA-based midwife, doula, and childbirth educator. She began her journey as a birth worker in 2012. Her studies in biology and anthropology ignited an awe of the vastness, resilience, and adaptability of humankind, at the micro and macro level. The trainings, her mentors, and ultimately, her first birth as a doula honed her interest in reproductive justice through childbirth education and holistic practices.

Since relocating from North Carolina to California in 2014, her work has evolved. While still focusing on providing evidence-based information for people to make their own informed decisions; she has also been working to bring awareness and aid to health disparities among African-Americans and other marginalized communities. She hopes that her presence in the birth world as a black midwife and doula bridges gaps in maternity care.

Outside of birth work, Jessica spends a lot of time eating, having game nights with friends, and plotting her next adventure!

Jenny BennettDIRECTOR OF USER EXPERIENCE

After graduating with a degree in journalism and nearly 10 years in the corporate world, the birth of two babies fueled Jenny’s desire to pursue her own small business as a childbirth educator. In 2012 she founded her company Expecting the Best and began offering Hypnobabies classes. Not long after, the path to being a doula became evident.
Supporting students at their births was an easy fit, but it felt like just the beginning of the story. Shortly after attending her first birth, Jenny discovered Doula Trainings International and pursued their Birth and Postpartum certification. The importance of compassionate care for all birthing people drives Jenny’s passion to spread the word about DTI’s unique training model, not only within her city of D.C. but across the U.S.
She lives in northern Virginia with her husband of 16 years, daughter Avery, son Liam and their American foxhound puppy, Birdie.

Alyssa BarbeeMEDIA COORDINATOR

Alyssa is a quirky, easily excitable creative and advocate from Chicago. She is a recent UT Austin graduate, with a degree in advertising, and women’s + gender studies. After taking a class on fertility and reproduction, she found herself driven to learn more about the birth inequalities in the world, which led her to be the first intern at DTI!

Because of her mixed race identity of Pacific Islander and white, Alyssa’s passion in life is uplifting marginalized, underrepresented voices with the power of storytelling and education within the media. She has volunteered hundreds of hours at a local nonprofit, teaching young girls professional and interpersonal skills, including media literacy and self-compassion.

She now lives in Austin with her big-eyed and goofy yorkie, Cosmo.

Ashley GothardSCHOLARSHIP + COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

Ashley Gothard had to figure out where her niche was when she loved health but not direct care. Ashley was introduced in high school to public health where she could impact behavior choices from a community level focused on preventative methods. Public Health was her place and she never looked back. Ashley studied Public Health at UNC Charlotte and continued her studies in Public Health at the University of Georgia earning her MPH.

Ashley taught young people who were currently incarcerated comprehensive sexual health education curriculum in Georgia. It was there she found joy with young people and sexual health. Empowering young people to know their bodies and the ability to advocate for themselves was a pivotal moment that catapulted her career. Ashley relocated to New Orleans, LA in 2016 to work for a national non profit teaching a comprehensive sexual health curriculum in schools. Ashley moved onto working at the state level but holds sexual health near and dear to her heart.

Ashley currently lives in New Orleans, LA with her partner and son. In her free time she enjoys cooking, bike rides, and laughing until it hurts.

Gina GiordanoADVISOR

Gina Giordano is a doula and a creator. Originally from Miami Florida, she grew up in a close family unit. As the oldest of five children, she was taught how to support and nurture at a very young age. After studying fine arts in college, she moved to New York City where she was introduced to the idea of doula work. Just after one training her passion for working in pregnancy, childbirth and beyond was ignited. In 2005 she started a business, offering birth and postpartum doula services and education to families. Through her work she learned how to offer compassionate, dignified care for ALL families during childbirth and the postpartum time, no matter their choices. She also saw a need for more doulas. Driven to serve that need she co-founded DTI with her long time friend and business partner Tara Brooke. By working as the creative director of DTI, Gina’s mission is to bring awareness to all birth and reproductive options through innovative and curated design. She is the mother to two wild girls, married to her lifelong sweetheart and lives in Austin, TX.

Tara BrookeADVISOR

Tara Brooke is a social entrepreneur changing the conversation about reproductive health. She is the co-creator of both Born into This and DTI.

Tara is drawn to the energy manifested during major life transitions, from puberty to parenting to menopause.This fascination has grown to define her career.

Tara became a birth and postpartum doula in 1999 and has worked with over 1k parents through the transition of pregnancy, birth and the early postpartum period. This work led her to co-create the non profit Born into This that focuses on reproductive health through education, events and community work. DTI was established in 2011 as a new model of education and mentorship for doulas.