“Exist to the fullness of who you are, show up in the fullness of you, and that is leading.”
Lucia Soraya DosSantos' earliest home was one of profound love and care, beginning in her mother’s womb and continuing through the dedication and commitment of her father. She reflects that, to this day, "What is viscerally in me, in my body, in my mind, and in my memory is love." Following the loss of her mother during childbirth, Soraya was raised by her grandmother in the close-knit Village of Txada Igreja, Picos, Cabo Verde. It was here, within the embrace of her village that Soraya first understood the truth behind the saying, "It takes a village to nurture." This formative experience instilled in her a lifelong understanding of the importance of knowing who you are, whoseyou are, and where you come from.
Stephanie Crawford (M.Ed) is a Boston Public School Kindergarten Teacher, a PhD student in Early Childhood Education, a doula, a peer support lactation buddy, a mother to a six year old son, and the founder of Propa City Community Outreach. The inspiration for founding this particular organization came from a life-altering event over a decade ago.
In 2011, Stephanie’s 39 week old son was stillborn. It was through this extreme loss that she became more interested in maternal health and started Propa City Community Outreach, where she works with families experiencing loss and helps them look toward healing while simultaneously supporting them through their grief journey. The Community Outreach Center expanded to include a space that addresses the broader needs of the community when Stephanie recognized this broader gap in service and support.
In December 2023, Ieshia Lee received the Vital Village Networks Unsung Hero Award for her outstanding leadership as an advocate for children and communities. She wears many hats, fulfilling different roles and capacities. She is a mom of six, a doula, a lactation counselor, an intensive care coordinator, a mediator, and has recently started her own business called Amanté WhileLaboring.
In our recent conversation with Ieshia, she shared an overview of all the valuable work she does within her community. To highlight a few, she participated in the United Against Race program with Mass General Brigham Hospital as a doula. She is also a certified participating doula through DONA International. She is currently getting a certification with Mama Glow as a Childbirth Educator.
Adriana Cordero Raines describes community connection as a group of individuals who have a common goal and purpose, come together intentionally, and, despite their differences, decide on something they want to improve or have an impact on.
“Community to me is a feeling… I walk into a Vital Village event and I belong there. So that feeling that this is your tribe. [They are] your people and you can relate to them.”
Although people in positions of power, such as political figures, are important because they help us move initiatives forward, Adriana recognizes the true power that lies with individuals and community members and their lived experiences. And because every individual has different experiences and priorities, when coming together with a common goal, it’s important to “organize, prioritize, and have a strategic structure on how to get there.”
Adriana is an Afro-Latina woman and the founder and CEO of a consultancy practice of 10 years, and she has been affiliated with Vital Village Networks for many years. In December 2023, she received the Unsung Hero Innovation Award for innovative leadership in service to children and families.
