Black IBCLC Pathways Initiative

Coming Soon!

the obsidian milk collective’s

lactation access fund

Access Is Not Enough.

Care must also be available and representative.

Care may be present within a system yet remain financially, geographically, or culturally out of reach for the families most impacted by maternal–infant health disparities.

The Lactation Access Fund advances equitable lactation care in Alabama by addressing access, availability, and representation simultaneously. Through the Feed Without Barriers Initiative, families receive direct financial assistance to reduce cost-related barriers to culturally responsive lactation services. Through the Black IBCLC Pathways Initiative, aspiring Black IBCLCs receive support to strengthen workforce representation and long-term care availability.

Together, these initiatives build durable, equity-centered infrastructure that improves maternal–infant health outcomes statewide.

We are building infrastructure where Black families feel seen, supported, and safe in their feeding journeys. Through culturally responsive lactation education, direct financial assistance, community-centered learning spaces, and workforce development initiatives, we are reclaiming care as an act of dignity, resistance, and love.

Your donation helps us:

• Provide culturally responsive lactation education and services
• Remove financial barriers through direct assistance
• Host community-centered conversations and learning spaces
• Expand and strengthen the Black lactation workforce
• Sustain the operational foundation that keeps this work moving forward

When you give, you invest in equity, autonomy, and thriving Black families.

This work is rooted in community.
It is sustained through collective care.
And it grows through your support.

Every contribution — large or small — allows us to show up consistently, intentionally, and with integrity for the families we serve.

The Feed Without Barriers Initiative provides direct financial assistance to families seeking lactation care who would otherwise face cost-related barriers. By subsidizing consultations, education, and ongoing support, this initiative increases equitable access to evidence-informed, culturally responsive lactation services across Alabama.

Recognizing the link between early feeding support and improved maternal–infant health outcomes, this initiative reduces crisis-driven care gaps and strengthens family stability during the critical perinatal period.

The Black IBCLC Pathways Initiative invests in the recruitment, training, certification, and retention of Black aspiring International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) in Alabama. By reducing financial barriers to coursework, clinical hours, exam preparation, and mentorship, this initiative strengthens the pipeline of highly skilled Black lactation professionals in a state where representation remains disproportionately low.

Research demonstrates that provider–client racial concordance and culturally aligned care improve trust, engagement, and health outcomes. By expanding the number of Black IBCLCs, OMC advances workforce equity while increasing access to culturally responsive lactation care for families across the state.