Meet Our Team
"Where Better Birth Outcomes are Created"
Who We Are
The Doula Lab is a Black-led birth justice hub serving Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metro. We combine direct perinatal care, workforce development, and maternal health data. Our programs include the Doula Hub (Medicaid-covered doula matching and care coordination), childbirth education, lactation support, Dads to Doulas, and the CJBBE maternal health summit.
Our Founder, President, CEO
Charity S. Bean, CFSD, CLC, CHW, SPM
- •Founder, President, and CEO of The Doula Lab Pregnancy Resource Center & Doula Agency of Belleville, IL — the first Black-owned pregnancy resource center in St. Clair County.
- •Charity S. Bean is a Certified Full Spectrum Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, Community Health Worker, and Spinning Babies Parent Educator. She is also a birth justice advocate and public speaker.
- •Charity founded Doula Lab to address the maternal health crisis facing Black women in Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metro area, providing culturally competent doula care and community resources.
Every family deserves a doula.
Director of Fetus to Five Programming / Vice President
Kyra L. Betts
- •I'm Kyra L. Betts, a public health advocate, speaker, and policy strategist committed to advancing Black maternal and infant health.
Operations Manager, Perinatal Health Worker / Doula Training Supervisor, Treasurer
Marvella Ying Clayburne
- •Marvella Ying, founder and principal doula of M-Brace Birthing LLC, is a devoted mother, wife, birth worker, and advocate whose personal birthing experiences ignited her passion for this sacred work.
Director of Men's Community Health and Wellness Programming, Board Member
Brad Edwards
- •My role at Doula Lab is rooted in bridging men's voices and presence into the birthing and reproductive health space. As Director of Men's Programming, I focus on designing and leading initiatives that engage fathers, brothers, and sons as advocates for maternal health, birth equity, and family well-being.
Co-facilitator, Board Member
Talia Whittington, CNM
Hub Manager
Asia Jacobs
IBCLC — Lactation Consultant
Chazz Carr
Registered Nurse & Certified Lactation Specialist
Michelle J. Truss, BSN, RN, LCE, CLS
- •I am a Registered Nurse & Certified Lactation Specialist with over a decade of experience in my field. My passion for breastfeeding support started early in my nursing career as a Postpartum RN.
- •I will help guide, educate, and support all feeding journeys — Breastfeeding, Chestfeeding, Pumping, and Donor Human Milk — using evidence-based practices and information that support your individual feeding journey.
Illinois MomInBus Program Lead
Ronda Smith Branch
Our Mission
Our birth support mission is deeply rooted in a commitment to offering empathetic care to expectant parents.
Comprehensive & Empathetic Care
We're deeply committed to offering complete, understanding support to expectant parents.
Tailored Services
We provide personalized doula services, ensuring a supportive and safe birthing environment unique to your needs.
Empowering Journeys
Our goal is to guide you through a confident and empowered birthing experience, every step of the way.
Empower Your
Parenthood Journey
Gain the confidence and knowledge you need for a positive birth experience. Our expert-led training sessions are designed for expectant parents like you.
Explore Training Sessions
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're expecting, a birth worker, or a community ally — there's a place for you at The Doula Lab.