Sokana Collective Wins Workforce Development Grant

This month Sokana Collective received news that it won the E-town Innovation Grant from the Evanston Community Foundation. The organization prioritizes programs that help Evanston “thrive as a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community.” With this grant, Sokana Collective will implement a workforce development program for aspiring doulas. Up to 30 young adults living in Evanston, ages 17-24, will participate in the Sokana Collective Training Academy™.

“We are honored to receive this grant from the Evanston Community Foundation as we help young people launch a career pathway in equitable birthwork,” said Nancy Cowans, Sokana Collective Co-Founder. “Our organization is committed to increasing the number of well-trained, confident, and capable birth workers by removing financial barriers for aspiring doulas to access a full-spectrum birth justice doula certification program. This project will help to create a better experience for birthing families and improve maternal outcomes for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC) through doula support.”