Our Team | Calming Nature Doula

Meet Our Team of Amazing Doulas.

Birth & Postpartum Doulas, who offer support during your pregnancy,

while you're in labor and in-home support after the birth of your baby.

Shannon Johns, CD (DONA), CLC Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

As the founder and Owner of Calming Nature Doula Center and Services, Shannon’s journey to becoming a Doula started well before her official DONA training. Mother to six children, all via natural births, Shannon learned a thing or two about what worked to reduce the perceptions of labor pain. Through her lived experience Shannon began helping the women in her circle as they navigated their own birth experiences. Encouraging and telling them what worked for her during labor could also work for them. It wasn't until 2014 that she officially trained with DONA and became a Certified Birth Doula. In addition to being a Certified Doula, Shannon has also taken numerous other trainings and certification, including becoming a Childbirth Educator and Certified Lactation Counselor, allowing her to present Evidence Based information and education to her community.
Shannon also founded the Breastfeeding Sisters Program. Breastfeeding Sisters is a breastfeeding peer support program, established to provide education, support and promotion of breastfeeding in the African American community. The program serves as cultural support for black women wanting to connect with other black women who are or plan to breastfeed. The goal of this program is to educate and truly support the mothers who would like to breastfeed.

Tiffany Blackmon, CD(DONA) Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

Tiffany's birthing journey started before she became a Doula. She is a mother of 5, and each child's birth was a different experience! Tiffany spent 18 years serving her community as a dental assistant. Tiffany began her Doula career starting out in 2022 as a DONA Birth Doula, then later added Postpartum Doula and placenta encapsulator to her skills. Tiffany's goal is to not only to create a safe and comfortable environment for moms, but for mothers know they can have fun, create positive energy, all while educating mothers at the same time. Tiffany believes having a doula is like having Mary Poppins available when needed!

Chinelle Smith LPN, CLC Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

Chinelle is a mother of three and a nurse by trade. With over seven years of experience serving as a community nurse, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work. Drawing from her own birth experiences, Chinelle was inspired to expand her knowledge and training in doula care.

She spent four years working closely with women recovering from substance use disorder, where she witnessed firsthand the lack of support many experience during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. This deepened her commitment to providing compassionate, accessible care for all families.

In addition to her doula work, Chinelle also serves as the Breastfeeding Coordinator for our breastfeeding programs, where she supports and empowers parents on their feeding journeys with education, encouragement, and individualized care.

Shawntay Respresss Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

Shawntay is a mother of 3 whos served the community as a case manager for over 15 years. For the past 10 years Shawntay has worked with women who experience mental or substance abuse disorders while pregnant and parenting youth who are in the foster care system. Shawntay's work experience in providing support, guidance, and assistance in navigating challenging circumstances has equipped her to advocate for others' rights and facilitate access to essential services. Shawntay observed that many women lacked adequate support systems to guide them through pregnancy and childbirth. This realization motivated her to train as a birth doula, enabling her to support women and young mothers during their birth experience. Shawntay understands the importance of compassionate and knowledgeable support during childbirth, and she is committed to offering guidance to all women throughout their birthing journey. Her goal is to uplift and empower those she serves, striving to make a positive impact in their lives.

Njeri Motley CD(DONA) Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

Njeri is a Birth Doula as well as a homemaker and provider. She is married and the mother of 6 children, 5 girls and 1 boy. Njeri believes that the power and strength given to woman during childbirth is incomprehensible, honorable and supernatural. Njeri has assisted friends, family and complete strangers in child birthing and her passion in this profession matches her dedication. Njeri's objective is to give her clients the absolute best experience when welcoming their child into the world.

Valerie Brown CD(DONA), CLC Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

Valerie, who likes being referred to as "Auntie Val" is extremely compassionate about her work as a doula. She loves empowering women during the birth process, and encourages women to be vocal during their entire birth journey. She has BS in Social Work, and with over 20 years experience working in human services. She adores working with families to enhance their birthing outcomes. Her trainings include Postpartum Doula Training , Vaginal Birth after a C Section, Vbac, and Certified Lactation Consultant training .

Kelly Wofford Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

Kelly Marie is a birth and postpartum doula who brings deep compassion and lived experience to her work with families. A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, depression, and suicidal experiences, she empowers others to “Be the light” by offering trauma-informed care, emotional support, and advocacy during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey. Her goal is to ensure that all parents—regardless of income—receive the nurturing, affirming care they deserve. She blends best practices with personal passion to envision healthier, more equitable beginnings for families. Her work as a doula reflects a commitment to healing, equity, and empowerment at every stage of the birthing experience.

Sydney Littlejohn Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

Sydney has been a practicing birth and postpartum doula for three years, providing continuous and compassionate support to the women she serves. Her passion for birth work began during her undergraduate studies, where a women’s health course opened her eyes to the challenges many birthing people face. These challenges which can contribute to inequities and poor birth outcomes.
Determined to be part of the solution and help shift the narrative for childbearing families, Sydney is committed to educating, empowering, and encouraging women to make informed decisions throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Her goal is for every mother to experience her birthing journey in the way she envisions, where she feels safe, respected, and well-supported.
Supporting families in her community has been a deeply meaningful and rewarding experience for her, and she remains dedicated to ensuring that every family receives the care they deserve.

Charnice McMillion-Martin, CLC

Charnice is a mother of one who breastfed for two years. She completed her Postpartum training in 2023 and holds a neonatal resuscitation certification. With a deep compassion for supporting women and families, she believes being a doula is her purpose. Her goal is to provide families with the support and guidance they need during the early weeks of parenthood. Charnice prioritizes fostering positivity and unity when working with families, and she is committed to educating and empowering her clients through their vulnerable and beautiful journey.

Ms Della Williams Birth & Postpartum NYS Certified Doula

Della is the proud mother of 5, grandmother of 17 and great grandmother of 9; she has attended and supported most of their deliveries, and many others. Della has 19 years of hospital experience in labor and delivery, nursery and postpartum.

It has always been Della’s desire to support women in their decision to control as much as they could of their birth plans and births. Over the years she has witnessed the shift as the medical profession has become more and more willing and in agreement that women and their partners should have a more active role in the planning their deliveries. Della now takes on a more supportive role within birth.

Ashley May-Smith Birth Doula NYS Certified Doula

Ashley's path to becoming a Doula began when she attended the birth of her niece as a birth coach. She was in awe of her sister's strength and bearing witness to new life being brought into the world that it changed her life forever! Ashley worked full-time as a people manager at her corporate job as she trained to become a Doula, and once she was fully certified, she decided to follow her passion and become a full-time Doula to help more families though this transformative time in their lives. Ashley's biggest motivation in life is helping others, and she feels that supporting people through pregnancy, birth and beyond is her personal higher calling.