Board of Directors

Our volunteer boards are made up of breastfeeding moms and lactation professionals (and some of us are both!). We share a common dream of improving the culture of breastfeeding in Chicago.

Board of Directors

• Katrina Pavlik, founder of Breastfeed, Chicago!, M.Ed., certified postpartum doula(CAPPA), certified lactation specialist “My dream for Chicago is that it will become the most breastfeeding-friendly city in the country. Not only will new moms get the help and support they need from their health care providers, but they will benefit from an extensive breastfeeding-support network. Moms will be seen breastfeeding their children anywhere, anytime… and it will be considered a normal, natural way of feeding our children.”

• Jennifer Adams, currently a stay-at-home mom of two boys and postpartum doula in training (CAPPA)
  “I would love to see Breastfeed, Chicago! really put our city on the map as THE breastfeeding friendly city in the US. I want all the hospitals to provide quality information to new moms and families to help empower them with breastfeeding and then provide adequate follow-up care ensuring that the new moms have the support and encouragement they need to maintain a happy breastfeeding relationship with their newborn. I feel we can help all moms feel comfortable nursing in public, no matter the age of their child(ren), by establishing a rapport with different businesses and helping them understand why breastfeeding in public is a right all moms should have. And, finally, I envision Breastfeed, Chicago! as a place moms and moms-to-be can turn to for non-judgemental advice, resources, information, and education regarding all aspects of breastfeeding.”

• Patricia Berg-Drazin, RLC, IBCLC, CST, owner of Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions and Luminessence CranioSacral Therapy (I am one of three Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants who is also certified as a CranioSacral Therapist – world wide.)
  “My vision for Breastfeed Chicago is that we will help more women know about resources available for them so that they can reach their breastfeeding goals. I also see Breastfeed Chicago as a vehicle to educate the public and health care professionals.”

• Amy Capulong, mom to 2 sweet little girls, part-time gymnastics coach, and sometimes a birth doula
  “I see breastfeeding as the normal, expected way of feeding a child.  I see moms unafraid to breastfeed in public; I see businesses, employers and people in general more accepting and supportive of moms.  I see women getting the information and support they need for successful breastfeeding BEFORE they have problems.  I see breastfeeding being taught as the norm from early on (possibly in health class!!)  I see our role as advocates becoming obsolete before my daughters become mothers.

• Tricia Fitzgerald, (coming soon)

• Elizabeth Handler, I run my household, parent 4 children (5^th expected in the spring), and minimize chaos.  I also am a compulsive blogger at Makingitfun.net “I see a city and suburbs where women are eager to try breastfeeding, where they are confident and encouraged about breastfeeding.  I see babies thriving.  I see women helping each other and a sense of community growing.”

• Rebecca Jackson-Artis, certified lactation specialist, partner of The Monolatry Group LLC, co-founder of The Abiyamo Omo Society “Every mother in the Chicagoland area initiates and exclusively breastfeeds her child(ren).  If she cannot breastfeed her child(ren) she can receive breastmilk from other lactating mothers or a local breastmilk bank.”

• Mirjam Quinn loves her kids, her husband, her friends and her work as a psychologist. “My vision is a city where women have a choice about how to feed their children. I see a city where breastfeeding is visible and normal, where all moms have easy access to community support and education in all matters related to breastfeeding, and where there is an open dialogue – devoid of blame and shame – about breastfeeding.”

• Naa Marteki Reed, web developer, part-time tax preparer, 24/7 wife and first-time mom
  “I see a city and suburbs where women can breastfeed or pump at any time, any where, without fear of being singled out or shamed for choosing to use their body to feed a child. I see doctors’ offices where you can receive goody bags full of only breastfeeding supportive material, and hospitals where every single mother meets with a lactation counselor before discharge. I see a thriving network of resources that is able to be tapped within 48 hours for every single person with a question about breastfeeding. I see happy, nourished, healthy babies with happy, supported, educated mothers. I see happiness.”

• Robin Ross, Montessori Toddler Directress, Certified HypnoBirthing Instructor, Certified Birth Doula CD(DONA), Trained Lactation Educator CAPPA, Co-Owner of Bellies to Babies Studio, Downers Grove.
  “My vision for breastfeeding in Chicago, is to help build awareness city-wide through education about the importance of breastfeeding. My goal in this vision is to help support families by providing resources that will maintain confidence and trust in one’s ability to breastfeed, thus leading to a sense of empowerment.”

• Vanessa Stokes, certified lactation counselor, partner of The Monolatry Group LLC, co-founder of The Abiyamo Omo Society, wife and mom of 2 great breastfed kids!
  “I would like to see women comfortable to breastfeed their baby anywhere even in public.  And when people see women breastfeed, they would only give words of encouragement and looks of praise.  I would like to see Chicago start a trend for cities all across this country to be breastfeeding friendly.  Every hospital,  every business, every person in this city will be educated on breastfeeding. And all women will be able to make informed choices from infant feeding to labor and delivery.”

• Linda Szmulewitz, founder and group developer of The Chicago New Moms Group, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Postpartum Doula, mom of two.
  “My vision for breastfeeding in Chicago is for new moms to have all the necessary support in order to make breastfeeding work for them.  This means having lactation consultants readily available in hospitals (without having to ask for one because if you are just learning, sometimes you don’t even know enough to know you need help!) and adequate supports in place at home in order to promote an environment where success is the norm and new moms don’t have to suffer through many of the struggles that are so common today.”

Board of Advisors

• Mary Kay Burke
• Dr. Sheila Crowe
• Sarah Glover
• Amy Jarjusey
• Amanda McPhillips
• Melanie Nero
• Brandy Van Vossen