Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Course (DEIC)

Stephanie Hutchinson (she/her/hers) is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and International Public Speaker who lives in southeastern Ohio - specifically Gallipolis, Ohio - with her wife and two daughters. She began her journey into the lactation field in 2007, after the birth of her first daughter. Starting as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer, Stephanie continued to pursue education and certifications, with hopes to mentor young, diverse lactation folx in Appalachia. Stephanie holds three degrees: AA in Communications, BS in Leadership with a Concentration in Maternal Child Health: Lactation Consulting, and MBA in Entrepreneurship with a Concentration on Non-Profit Leadership.   Stephanie earned her CLS (Certified Lactation Specialist) in 2012 and her CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) in 2013. She sat for the IBLCE in July 2015, to find out she passed and earned the credential of IBCLC in October 2015. Stephanie currently works as the Education Manager for Pediatric Products and owns a private practice in lactation consulting, Rainbow Mountain Lactation. She also works for Lactation Education Consultants as an instructor and media manager and is the Hotline Administrator for Appalachian Breastfeeding Network. Stephanie has presented to many different conferences and symposiums across the world and is also available to present on various Appalachian-centered and LGBTQIA2S+ lactation topics at conferences, meetings, or educational sessions. For more information click here.   It is Stephanie's mission, along with the help and guidance of many influential colleagues, to make equitable change in her state, as well as all of Appalachia. Her key focuses are on inclusivity, equitable access to lactation care, and diversification of what the lactation field looks like and how it will continue to grow. She believes in mentoring young aspiring lactation professionals to help them tap into their own strengths and skills, while also working to change policies and structures that are currently not conducive to empowering young folx to desire to enter the lactation field.  In May of 2016, Stephanie founded Appalachian Breastfeeding Network, dreaming that one day our parents would have the access to lactation care that they deserve. In just one year, the network grew to 11 states and 250 members. By 5 years, the network continued to grow to over 600 members across all 13 states in Appalachia - and beyond! Appalachian Breastfeeding Network continues to grow in its membership, its capacity, and its visibility. Stephanie received an award in March 2017 at Ohio Lactation Consultant Association's Annual "Breastfest" Conference as an "Outstanding Innovation as a Cultural Change Agent" and at this conference ABN received a $1,000 grant to help fund the 1st Annual Appalachian Breastfeeding Conference in October of 2017. ABN has been featured as USBC's June Coalition Spotlight in June 2017 and achieved 501(c)3 status in June 2017 as well. She received the "Emerging Leader Award" from USBC in August 2018. The first listed cultural coalition under USBC continues to grow as Stephanie, along with the rest of the board, works diligently to increase equitable access to care. Stephanie was awarded the 2019 Terry Jo Curtis Award from the United States Lactation Consultant Association for her work with equity and increasing access to care in Appalachia. Stephanie is also OutCare Certified, after completing an inclusivity competency training in 2019.   Stephanie is the ABN Member-At-Large to Ohio Breastfeeding Alliance and Ohio Lactation Consultant Association. She also serves as Vice Chair for Ohio Breastfeeding Alliance. Stephanie previously served as an Elected Board Director for the United States Breastfeeding Committee as well as many other positions on both regional and state organizational boards.  When not busy with the above, Stephanie enjoys being a wife and mother, traveling (especially to Disney World!), and jigsaw puzzles.​

Jo Ann is a seasoned professional in maternal and child health. She began her career as a pediatric nurse in 1978 and later developed a strong interest in obstetrical nursing. Jo Ann has been an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 1994.   Jo Ann’s professional experience includes Research Specialist in UIC College of Nursing on Preterm Labor and H-Hope projects, clinical nursing experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatric Emergency Department and Outpatient Departments. She worked as a Healthy Steps Specialist (Child Development Specialist) in Chicago. She has presented on nursing, infant care and infant-feeding topics with emphasis on different approaches health care providers can use to promote and support human milkfeeding.     She recently retired from her clinical staff nurse position at University of Chicago in the Woman’s Care Center.  Jo Ann also retired as OB clinical instructor and research specialist for the University of Illinois Chicago UIC), College of Nursing in Women’s Health.     In her current position as clinical program coordinator she provides care for families in the Englewood community on the southside of Chicago where she was born and raised. She enjoys spending time with her very large family and she is the proud mother of one son and grandmother of a two-year old granddaughter.     She has promoted and supported breastfeeding especially in marginalized populations for over 4 decades. She is proud of her community service as a member of Community Engagement Research Incubator and Strategy Hub (CERISH).   Past Co- Chair Chicago Region Breastfeeding Task Force (Current Active Member).  Co-Author-Structural Racism and Barriers to Breastfeeding on Chicagoland’s South Side, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, Feb. 2020  Proud recipient of Daisy Faculty Award 2018  Nursing Spectrum award in 2012   RN certification in Maternal and Neonatal Nursing  Past Co-Chair of March of Dimes Perinatal Advisory Council 

​Cissy Watkins (she/her/hers), CLC, CCHW, current member of the United States Breastfeeding Committee and co-founder of Black Lactation Circle, a breastfeeding group that is specifically for and founded by African American women, an endeavor intended to shift the culture around breastfeeding in the African American community in Columbus Ohio and impact the outcomes, reducing infant mortality and increasing maternal support during this population's most vulnerable time.  Cissy is an educator, a community liaison, and core advocate for women's health and family wellness. She is a mother of one and accomplished all of this after finding her passion after the birth of her son.

 Monique Hutchinson (she/her/hers) lives in Gallipolis, OH with her wife and two daughters. In 2020, Monique took the Certified Lactation Specialist course, hosted by Appalachian Breastfeeding Network. Monique has extensive experience with social media, hoping to bring more presence of Appalachia to the various social media outlets available. Monique is passionate about bringing awareness of intersectionality to Appalachia, as a Black LGBTQ+ Appalachian herself. Monique has lived in Appalachia her entire life, often growing up the only POC in the room. She remembers only once having a teacher that looked like her, and he happened to be her preacher at church as well. Culture is very important to her, with a distinct emphasis that Appalachia, too, is a culture. She believes in the mission of Appalachian Breastfeeding Network: to bring more access to care in our region. She is excited  to serve as Publicity Chair to Appalachian Breastfeeding Network.