Daily Inspiration: Meet Ellen Ashley Branch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Ashley Branch.

Hi Ellen Ashley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Eastern North Carolina and have lived in Los Angeles since 2018. I graduated from East Carolina University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies and a multi-disciplinary minor in pre-nursing. My original goal was to be a nurse-midwife after witnessing my mother’s battle with post-partum depression in 2001. It took me three years to heed the guidance of the universe. After I was rejected twice from nursing school, I finally declared my major, Women’s Studies. It opened up an entirely new perspective for me. I learned about the shared journey of birthing people across history and their perceived role in society. This shift from anatomy and physiology to sociological theory opened me up and re-shaped the way I chose to support pregnant people and their families.

Everything changed when I went to Guatemala. After completing a post-graduation summer intensive, in Antigua, Guatemala, centering basic hygiene/preventative care at community health clinics and supporting the work of indigenous Quiche matronas (doulas); I realized that my passion to serve in the nursing field had transformed into something entirely holistic. In October of 2016, I successfully completed the Full-Spectrum/Holistic Doula Training from La Matrona based out of Columbia, SC. I have had to forge my own path toward professional midwifery. In doing so, I am honoring the traditions of my ancestors across the diaspora.

Since graduation, I have continued to fortify my knowledge base through attending trainings, certifications, and continuing education courses. I am also a Certified Lactation Education Specialist, Yoga Instructor RYT-200 hr, and Maternal Health Consultant. I use this knowledge to support birthing people and their families.

Once I moved to Los Angeles, I worked for the University of California at Los Angeles, Obstetrics and Gynecology Family Planning Clinic in Westwood from March 2019-February 2020. My position was funded through Title X; which gave me an opportunity to familiarize myself with state reproductive policy fine print, often covert policies that affect reproductive health access for many underserved populations Black, Queer, Indigenous, and People of Color. As the Title X Community Health Program Assistant at UCLA, I offered in-clinic birth control methods counseling for patients seeking a one-on-one informed family planning conversation. In the community, I offered her high energy and millennial mindset to teach reproductive and sexual health to middle and high school students in South Los Angeles. I taught at Hollenbeck Middle School in Boyle Heights & Luskin High School in Inglewood.

I started working for Black Women for Wellness in February 2020 amidst the global onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working for Black Women for Wellness afforded me the space and opportunity to clarify my strengths as it pertains to executing her career goals. My passion to empower through education and advocacy is deeply rooted in my ability to simplify complex issues into digestible culturally competent tidbits. Since then, I have been functioning as the lead group facilitator for i.D.R.E.A.M. for Racial Health Equity Black Mamas Glowing Peer Pregnancy Support Group. I lead outreach and engagement efforts to decrease isolation and build community within the Black birthing space. Over the course of 2 years, this program has connected over 100 Black women/birthing people to one another through virtual peer support group sessions.

In addition to group facilitation for i.D.R.E.A.M. for Racial Health Equity, I also co-lead prenatal and postpartum group interventions for the Black Infant Health program right here in South Los Angeles/ South Bay area.

As an individual, I bring a unique well-versed perspective to everything I do; from spoken word poetry to empowering laboring women to advocate for themselves. I am also a yoga instructor and group facilitator. I am committed to honoring myself, serving the community, and being a proud black queer woman!

During my free time, you can find me somewhere with my shoes off outdoors. I love watching sunsets at the beach, roller skating, and dancing with friends. I share laughter, moments of gratitude, and genuine connection with my families during their pregnancy journey, no matter the outcome.

Let’s take up space and chat over a cup of tea outdoors!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This road has not been smooth at all. Before I got the job at UCLA, I worked as a full-time shift supervisor at Starbucks Coffee Company in West Hollywood. Having to serve others taught me humility and grace. When COVID-19 hit LA, I was working from home so I feel extremely blessed for that, however the transition back to the office has been extremely difficult. Toward the end of the pandemic, I was serving Black families as a Community Doula. Being a Doula is heart work and during my time as a Community Doula for the AAIMM (African American Infant & Maternal Mortality) Program; I struggled to balance my own mental and emotional wellness as a result of all that had taken place. I had to step away from direct services in March 2022 to re-center and focus on my own healing.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I currently work as a group facilitator for the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program run by The Children’s Collective Inc. The BIH program is a state-wide public health prenatal and postpartum intervention initiative to decrease the rate at which Black mamas and babies die. There are thirteen BIH jurisdictions and I work for the South Los Angeles/South Bay site.

In the Black birthing community, I am most known as a community doula. Prior to working for BIH, I worked for Los Angeles County Department of Public Health African American Infant & Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Community Doula Program as a Community Doula. I am most proud of my unique approach when caring for Black birthing bodies. For example, I bring my knowledge of the birthing body and yoga to tone and prepare pregnant people for labor.

Birth-work like being a doula is a labor of love, so my ability to connect with others sets me apart. I feel that way because there is a level of nuance a doula has to have in order to build a quick rapport with a pregnant woman. We see these families at their most vulnerable. I am glad to be able to steward that journey in a positive, empowering, culturally appropriate way. If something is out of my scope as a doula, yoga instructor, lactation education specialist, maternal health consultant, and group facilitator; I will connect them with one of the many organizations, providers, and direct support within the AAIMM Village. I am grateful to have this network of support for these families.

I am most proud of my first official business, Simply Ellen Holistic Services, LLC. Everything that I bring to the table under one umbrella. I think there are a lot of gaps in knowledge when it comes to reproductive structure and function for most people. I have been working on an intro to childbearing curriculum since 2019. It’s an 8-hour course divided into two, four-hour classes (virtual/in-person). We cover anatomy, physiology, and hormones in each stage of childbearing.

In addition to the direct support curriculum launch, I also started the equitable care fund in 2022. My goal is $10,000 USD. Black Families need Equity over equality that is the only way we can improve our birth outcomes… And we need for us by us support. Culturally appropriate providers that are willing to advocate for birthing people is extremely rare but necessary in the Black community. Having a doula helps reduce the instances of hospital interventions thus decreasing African American infant and maternal mortality rate. I started the fund because Doulas deserve to be financially stable whilst serving the most vulnerable and underserved population; black birthing women/persons.

How do you think about luck?
I don’t really believe in good or bad luck. Life and business is about opportunity and preparation. I am a firm believer of putting your best foot forward. If there is a goal I am trying to reach, I try to position myself best I can to make that goal attainable. I rely heavily on the relationships I’ve built to help as well. One thing about birth that everyone knows to be true; It takes a village. At the end of the day, the people serving birthing families need the same village support too!

Contact Info:

• Website: simplyellen.org
• Instagram: simply_ellen_yoga
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenashleyb

Image Credits
David; M. Vision Photography