Episode Title: Doula, Advocate, Changemaker: Talethia Edwards on Birth Work & Community Leadership

Host: Melissa Harley, BA, AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE
Guest: Talethia Edwards – Doula, Advocate, Community Leader, and Author

In this inspiring episode of the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast, host Melissa Harley sits down with Talethia Edwards, a powerhouse in the birth and community advocacy space. Talethia shares her journey from becoming a doula to advocating for marginalized communities and working in urban planning. She discusses the deep intersections between birth work and community development, emphasizing the importance of doulas engaging in local advocacy. Talethia also shares about her reflective journal, Only Paper Understands, and how it can be a resource for doulas as they process experiences working with clients.

✔️ Talethia’s path to becoming a doula and how personal experience led her to advocacy
✔️ The role of doulas in community development and how birth work connects to broader social issues
✔️ The impact of Healthy Start doula programs in providing equitable access to doulas
✔️ The importance of reflective writing for doulas in processing birth experiences
✔️ Strategies for balancing a demanding career, personal life, and self-care

🗣 ”We really doula in community. That support—emotional, psychological, and physical—is about getting individuals and communities to the next place safely.” – Talethia Edwards

🗣 ”We don't have a right to be in the birth space, so it is an honor to be invited. But it's also a huge responsibility.” – Melissa Harley

📚 Only Paper Understands – Talethia Edwards’ reflective journal for personal growth (Amazon Link)

🌐 Website: https://talethiaedwards.com/
📷 Instagram: @TOEdwards
💼 LinkedIn: Talethia Edwards

About Talethia:

Talethia O. Edwards is a doula, author, community activist, wife, and mother of eight. Talethia became very passionate about family engagement and parental involvement by being hands-on with her own children who have a myriad of complexities that caused her to have to advocate and “fight” on their behalf.

Talethia realized that her voice was not only needed for her own family and children but for others who have yet to feel so empowered.

Talethia continues her commitment and advocacy through volunteerism and service through board work with agencies like Kids, Inc. of the Big Bend, Early Head Start, CACA Head Start, The PHI Center, Tallahassee Lenders Consortium, and committees like the Early Childhood Obesity Prevention (ECOP) task force, the Leon County school district advisory committee, and Title I advisory committee and more.

As her commitment and service list goes on, she is firmly committed to forwarding the work of parental engagement, advocacy, and empowerment because she believes in strong families and strong communities.

About Your Host:

Melissa has been a dedicated birth professional for over two decades, supporting more than 1,000+ families as a birth doula and childbirth educator. A DONA-approved trainer since 2010, she has trained over 1,200 doulas worldwide, blending evidence-based practices with insights from her extensive leadership experience. She served on the DONA International Board of Directors for seven years, including as President in 2020, contributing to strategic planning, education, and advocacy initiatives. Currently, she coordinates DONA’s conferences and webinars, fostering ongoing professional growth in the perinatal community.

Based in Florida, Melissa remains an active doula trainer, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor, committed to excellence and the advancement of birth work.

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