Executive Staff

Administration Team

TAKISHA MILLER

(she/they)

Executive Director

As our Executive Director, Takisha (she/they) supervises the entire organization’s operations. You may find them sitting in on a training, recording an update in our Facebook group, sending an array of emails, or just checking in on the team. Her favorite task for CMC is developing partnerships with other organizations and building relationships that help strengthen the overall mission of the organization.

About Takisha

I am a Breastfeeding/Human Milk Advocate, Community Organizer, Homeschooling Parent, and now Executive Director of Chocolate Milk Café National Inc. I have been devoted to providing Lactation and community support since I became a parent in 2012. My desire to support black families on their lactating journeys ignited when I learned about Black Breastfeeding Week in 2016; where I organized my first event in New Jersey through Families for Equity. With my background in Interior Design and a passion for bringing visions to life; I have enjoyed utilizing the many parts of myself to support and serve our growing Lactation community.

You can find me throughout Chocolate Milk Café; supporting all of our amazing Facilitators, and I may pop in on a meeting from time to time!

Read Takisha's bio

JANELL BARRON

(she/her)

Executive Administrator

Janell’s (she/her) role as Executive Administrator is to monitor chapter and membership activity. She is responsible for managing day to day operations for the entire organization and ensuring everything is where it needs to be. You can always find Janell in her IG stories and following up on CMC content.

About Janell

Janell is a boy mom, Doula, CLC and Maternal Health Advocate. Janell began her nursing journey in October of 2012 and commenced 11 month later. She takes pride in her journey, but often reflects on how different it would have been if she had a community to support her.

Janell began community work in 2015 and has not stopped yet. Janell is passionate about community service and advocacy. She can be found providing folks with information, resources, referrals, and material items in the Harlem/Bronx area.

Janell looks forward to being a Chocolate Milk Café facilitator and adding to this organization in anyway she can.

Look out for Janell in joining our Harlem/Bronx chapter soon

Read Janell's bio
Elina Alston - MC

ELINA ALSTON

(she/her)

Meetings Coordinator

Elina’s (she/her) role has shifted to focus on supporting our chapters; ensuring their meeting information is front and center on our website. She also manages our email campaign reminders. Elina's curiosity and eagerness to learn and grow still motivates her to continue providing support on our grants management team.

About Elina

Elina is fluent in Haitian Creole and is doula trained from Ancient Songs. She nursed her 8 year old daughter for 7 months and is currently nursing her 4 year old son. Elina is a Certified Lactation Counselor and is one of the proud members of the Chocolate Milk Café North Jersey Chapter. She has a passion for supporting people and providing them with evidence based lactation information, so that they can make the best decision for their nursing journey. Elina is on path to become an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and looks forward to opening up her business.

Visit Elina and co-Facilitators at our Northern New Jersey meetings

Read Elina's bio

Leadership Development

LASHANDA DANDRICH

(she/her)

Trainings Coordinator

LaShanda (she/her) brings the energy of utilizing our CMC space to build her “Black Girl Army”. As our Trainings Coordinator, her role is to provide guidance to those who show interest in joining our National Network and seek to bring our sacred space to their lactating communities. We’re moving closer and closer to a Black Lactation Support Army with each passing day.

About LaShanda

My passion for breastfeeding bloomed when my daughter was born in 2009. “My favorite saying is that I birthed her and she birthed a Lactation Consultant”. The passion to support new families in the postpartum period also blossomed, especially supporting Black families. When I learned about the low rates coupled with the lack of support, I went on to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) as well as a Postpartum Doula. When I found out about Chocolate Milk Café I was excited to join a group of badass Facilitators and expand my network of providing Lactation/ Human Milk feeding support in the Black community.

Visit LaShanda and co-Facilitators at our Harlem meetings

Read LaShanda's bio

JILLIAN FAULKS

(she/her)

Facilitator Support

Jillian (she/her) is our “resident mindfulness guru”. Her role as Facilitator Support puts her coaching skills to great use. As a Chapter Liaison for the Northern New Jersey chapter, and our new Governing Board President, Jillian is in an ideal position to guide and support the facilitators of our organization with a shared experience and the appropriate tools to actively listen.

About Jillian

Jillian Faulks is the mother of 2 boys whom she breastfed for 2 and 3 years. She is the founder of Majuta Wellness based in Essex County, New Jersey, and is the Director of the Essex Pregnancy and Parenting Connection where she supports getting families connected to free prenatal and parenting services in Essex County, NJ.

In Chocolate Milk Café, Jillian serves as a facilitator of the Northern New Jersey Chapter, the Board President and Facilitator Support. She’s passionate about creating more spaces for families to live their most fulfilling lives from birth onward. Her mission is to learn, grow, and share ways to heal and elevate as a community.

Jillian has completed a 200hr Kemetic Yoga certification through Master Yirser Ra Hotep and a Holistic Health Coach Certification from the Legacy Holistic Health Institute with further training in trauma informed yoga and prenatal yoga. She is committed to galvanizing individuals, families, and communities to find greater peace through the lens of healing from trauma and finding strength within. Jillian has found many ways to use yoga and mindfulness in her work, presentations, when parenting her children and various parts of life.

Visit Jillian and co-Facilitators at our Northern New Jersey meetings

Read Jillian's bio

FINANCES

Ramara Harris

Ramara Harris

(she/her)

Director of Finances

Ramara (she/her) is bringing her finance expertise and love of all things numbers to our national CMC team as our director of finances. We are excited to welcome her to the team and to see how her passion and expertise will help elevate our budget management.

About Ramara

My name is Ramara Harris and I am the proud mother of two with the best of both worlds. I come to you with experience as a mother who knows what it feels like to be both defeated and triumphant.

I had my first child when I was 18 years old. At that time as a teen mom and a minority, breastfeeding is not something I grew up with. My mother, may she continue resting, supported me in the way she knew after witnessing the lack of resources within my community and lack of patience from the lactation consultant I was provided to guide me in successfully breastfeeding my child.

Fast forward to February 2021, my baby boy Dakota is born and my second chance to breastfeed is restored. Three weeks postpartum, I started feeling what I believed to be symptoms of COVID. After an ER visit, I learned I had Mastitis (infection in the breast) so I call my doctors office as instructed and I’m told “We don’t see patients for that.” At my six week checkup, I explain to my midwife all that I’ve been going through. She was appalled by the misinformation I was given because I should have absolutely been seen for the Mastitis, but only then did she tell me about Uzazi Village. It took an infection for me to be educated that there was a community of peers who looked like me that was ready and willing to provide support.

I joined the very next meeting when my son was eight weeks old. In that meeting alone, I was informed that I had an “oversupply” (a term I never heard), I should have been pumping on a schedule (something I was never told), and my flanges may not be sized correctly (something that made me realize why I may have stopped at two weeks 15 years prior). I even received tips on how to get baby directly on the breast even with an injured dominant hand. I have attended every meeting since April of 2021 and am proud to say that as of February 2022 I met my goal of 1 year exclusively breastfeeding with no desire to end. Our last latch will be just as beautiful as the first because of Chocolate Milk Café.

I am here now as an advocate to those with the desire but lack the resources. I want you to define your success and allow me the privilege to take the journey with you.

Visit Ramara and co-Facilitators at our Kansas City meetings

Read Ramara's bio

BRANDING

Wesley

Wesley Hargrett

(he/him)

Branding

Wes (he/him) has been part of the CMC community in partnership through Baby Carriers Provided (BCP) since 2020. We have been happy for him to join us in sprucing up our graphics and logos. He has joined our national team on a more consistent basis to help guide us through our mission and vision.

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