Gail has 3 daughters and 4 grands; she has a degree in Child Development and MA in Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health, She has been a Bradley Childbirth teacher, pregnancy and postpartum doula, La Leche League Leader, IBCLC, founder of Parents’ Place, a parent education program in Pacific Grove and currently on the Board for the Parenting Connection of Monterey County. She has a parent coaching business: Roots and Wings Parent Coaching and enjoys time with family and friends, quilting, reading and scrapbooking.

Maryssa has a degree in Education and spent the first 10 years of her career working in after-school programs, family homes, and international ESL classrooms. Eventually, she realized she wanted to be able to provide more specialized support. She is now a Lactation Education Counselor and Full-Spectrum Doula. When she has the time, she continues to work in education & childcare as a Substitute Teacher and Nanny. As someone with lived-experience as a biracial individual (second-generation Mexican-American) raised in a multicultural & blended family, she's especially passionate about providing support to those that identify as members of historically resilient communities. She believes every person deserves care that is aware and inclusive of their values, abilities, lifestyle, and environment. When she's not working, she enjoys exploring local trails, playing her Switch (cozy games are her favorite!), reading, and creating art.

Caroline is a Los Angeles County native and former Cal State University, Monterey Bay transfer. Upon graduating- while pregnant with her second child- Caroline decided to claim the Monterey Peninsula as her home. Now, as a single parent with three neurodivergent children- two little ones under 5- she has welcomed unwavering support in early intervention services to address her family’s needs.

Caroline’s passion for advocacy began by speaking up for her older brother, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy upon birth. Accompanying him was a sheltered lifestyle, in which Caroline understood the role of a compassionate ally and later, a concerned caregiver.

Caroline is fervent toward empowering families by breaking barriers through self-help, advocacy, and community resources.

Ms. Carroll has served on local, state, and national coalitions to address and improve the disparities in education, health, housing, and employment. Her employment background is in case management, job development, and healthcare.

Caroline is resourceful and compassionate for the communities she serves, and her civic engagements are driven by, “passion meets opportunity!”

Lexi is a military spouse and mom to 4. She received her degree in business management and graduated from East Carolina University. After struggling with the effects of sleep deprivation as a new mom, she found a new passion in helping other tired families. She received a certification as Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Newborn Care Specialist, and Certified Postpartum & Infant Care Doula and has her own pediatric sleep consulting business, Lullaby Lexi Sleep.

In the last 6 years, her family has moved every 2 years for her husband's military career. She has lived in North Carolina, Virginia, and this is her second time living on the Monterey Peninsula.

Monterey is her favorite place that she has lived and she loves the tight knit community and resources here.

In her free time, she loves to travel and spend time with her family.

Michelle is a Campbell native who earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Design from CSU Monterey Bay and has over 7 years of experience working for high tech companies. She and her husband decided to leave the Bay Area and relocate to Monterey County, where they now call home.

She is already applying her expertise in tech, marketing, and project management to benefit the BNoMC, and looks forward to using those skills to expand the network.

Michelle values time spent with loved ones, exploring nature through hiking and beach walks, and capturing moments through photography. As they await the arrival of their first baby boy this July, she is looking forward to expanding her roots in the community.

Tara is a fierce advocate for justice, with a history of working with foster youth, female survivors of domestic violence, and most recently with veterans. Her devotion to the underrepresented populations in our community led her to study Psychology at Grand Canyon University. After obtaining her bachelors degree, she jumped into the field but quickly experienced many broken systems that were supposed to serve those most in need, this inspired her to return to school to pursue her Masters in Psychology, with an emphasis in Industrial Organization, with the desire to help change the broken systems that support our vulnerable. Her education and rich experience in her work help bring a different perspective and more support than we have ever had before. 

Tara is also a mother of two, with her first child born locally at the Monterey Birth and Wellness Center in 2021. Tara’s second was her son, who was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in utero, and born as a still born at 21 weeks in 2023. Both of her experiences in birth and postpartum have shaped her into a woman who is a champion for those who are pregnant, laboring, experiencing the depths of  postpartum, and mothers of babies who were gone far too soon.

Michele offers equitable, accessible, and respectful midwifery care. "Working with families during their perinatal year is my heart work…my life’s work. I am committed to caring for and supporting marginalized and underrepresented communities. I believe that everyone has the right to experience equitable, respectful, comprehensive, personalized, and evidence-based care.

Contact birthnetworkmonterey@gmail.com to inquire!

Ms. Rebecca Hardt, LMFT, PMH-C is a California coast native and proud mother of two under two born in 2019 and 2021. Ms. Hardt was cared for by a doula and local midwife during both pregnancies with her end goal of having a home birth. Unfortunately, babies have their own plans and Rebecca was transferred to the hospital for cesarean sections on both occasions. Following her second son's birth and his three month bout with colic, Ms. Hardt experienced postpartum PTSD which led her on a path of self discovery and great healing both physically and spiritually. Once on the other side of the most difficult time in her life as a mother, Ms. Hardt obtained a perinatal mental health certification through Postpartum Support International to add to her 10 years in practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist. Today, Ms. Hardt is especially passionate about volunteering her time as a clinician and fellow parent who experienced a PMAD yet landed on her feet. Ms. Hardt has the wish that every struggling parent is able to find the needed support to remain well, recover and feel whole again during their perinatal journey.

LyVesha aka Queen Tay, (she/her) was born and raised in Chicago, Il and she has lived in Monterey County for a little over five years now. She is 41 years old and a Mother of four beautiful children whom she loves dearly. She is a visionary leader and a BHC/Community Health Worker for the Monterey County VIDA Project. LyVesha is on the LEAD Council for the Coalition for Homeless Service Providers. She is one of the founding as well as currently active members of the Seaside Covid Action Team alongside respected Seaside City officials. She has received two Certificate’s of Recognition from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for her services to this community since the start of the pandemic. She is an Activist, a Poet, and a Model for the Annual Prancing Ponies Foundation Car/Fashion Show which raises funds to sponsor Women Leadership training classes for underprivileged Women. She is a local political advisor and a Motivational Speaker/Life Coach. Her passion for human service has led her to the Doula Community in which she is looking forward to learning, growing, sharing and inspiring to spark an increase in Black representation/engagement in what can be historically recognized as the legacy of Black Women. She is also Founder of Kweens Kounsel Inc., which is an initiative to build a Black Birthing community.

Angie is a recent Minnesota transplant who has been a birth and postpartum Doula for 15 years. She was a La Leche League leader for 10 years and attended the Eat, Pray Doula training in Bali. She has a passion for bringing people together and is eager to promote a sense of ownership within the membership of BNoMC. Angie also teaches parent education classes with the Parenting Connection of Monterey County. She and her husband enjoy living near the beach with their four children.

Kaleena returned home to the Monterey Peninsula in 2018 after a long and prestigious career of professional dance in the Bay Area. After the ecstatic home births of her children she became a Certified Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator. She also utilizes the pre and postnatal applications of The Gyrotonic ® Method movers so clients can enhance their understanding of their pelvic floor anatomy and function, create space in their ever changing bodies, and understand birth biomechanics to encourage optimal fetal positioning. In her free time Kaleena loves spending time with her family exploring all the beauty the Central Coast has to offer.

Carly Riley is a postpartum doula who began her work after the birth of her 2 daughters. She experienced firsthand the challenges and gaps in postpartum support, and felt a deep calling to help other mothers and families. "I believe that "it takes a village" to nurture and empower mothers and families. If a Mother is properly tended to in the first few weeks after giving birth, she will emerge with a body that is vibrant, a mind that is clear, and a relationship with baby/family that are deepened.

As a naturally curious and data-minded person, Maria McNamara brings both analytical insight and deep personal commitment to her role as Treasurer of the Birth Network of Monterey County. Her passion for evidence-based approaches and informed decision-making has shaped not only her professional life but also her journey through parenthood. Maria's dedication to supporting families stems from her own experiences with infertility and pregnancy loss, challenges that deepened her understanding of the complex paths many face toward parenthood. During her pregnancy, she found invaluable support through the Birth Network's community of birth workers, which sparked her desire to give back to the organization. These experiences, combined with her natural inclination to seek out and analyze evidence, have made her a thoughtful advocate for informed birth choices and parenting practices. In her role as Treasurer, Maria will draw on her previous non-profit board experience and analytical mindset to support the Birth Network's mission of protecting and enhancing the birth experience for families in our community. When not serving the organization or doing her day job (Manager, Technical Program Management at Zoox), she can be found exploring Monterey's scenic trails with her family and their beloved corgi Del.