Our Community Lactation Specialist Pathway Introduces a New International Board-Certified Lactation Specialist of Color in Washington State!
August 8, 2025 2:03 pm
Our CLS Program is overjoyed to announce we have a new IBCLC in Washington! Tiffany Renee has spent the past 7 years providing her communities with doula and lactation support, all while working towards achieving her IBCLC credential and attending midwifery school. Across all her work/studies she has had the honor of consistently supporting clients through their fertility, pregnancy, and/or loss journeys. Tiffany has been a long-time dancer/instructor, trained acupuncturist, and clinical herbalist before she stepped into birthwork.
Tiffany shares, “I am beyond grateful to serve my community as an IBCLC and, in the future, as a Midwife. I truly look forward to helping families thrive and lifting up future Black and Indigenous birth workers. I’ve gotten this far because I have been deeply and lovingly held by Black, Indigenous, and Allied IBCLC’s, Doulas, and Midwives. I cannot wait to ease the way for our future generations. We need more of us.”
Elizabeth Montez, IBCLC and Open Arms Lactation and Community Education Clinical Lead shared these words about Tiffany, “she pours her whole heart into her work with families, and weaves together her skills honed from years of birthwork, herbalism, and commitment to community with lactation expertise. Tiffany is an absolute treasure, Seattle is so fortunate to now have her as an IBCLC (and soon to be midwife too y’all!!!). We’re bringing ourselves to the table, we’re building whole new rooms and creating better systems – watch out!”
Learn more about Tiffany and her work here https://www.mahoganypoint.com/
Open Arms’ Community Lactation Specialist Pathway is part of the Community Education program that provides free birth doula, childbirth education, and lactation counseling training to community members from underrepresented communities in birth work. Unlike traditional training models, Open Arms’ Community Education program centers ancestral and cultural practices, complementing the larger effort from Black, Indigenous, and other perinatal providers of color to broaden access to culturally responsive perinatal support.
The Community Lactation Specialist Pathway covers the 95 hours of IBCLC Lactation Education requirements, and completion opens doors to optional mentorship and financial support for those interested in pursuing IBCLC certification. Graduates of the pathway are encouraged to “rematriate” their knowledge back to the community, seek IBCLC board certification, or join Open Arms as one of our direct service providers.