Biography
Jennifer is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, Miskwaadesii odoodeman (Painted Turtle Clan) on her paternal side and Sicilian on her maternal side. She joined the Center in June of 2024 with Family Spirit as a Lead Trainer. Jennifer’s pervious work includes doula/indigenous birth worker, home visitor, program coordinator and program director for a Tribal Maternal Child Health Home Visiting program with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe.
Outside of the tribal home visiting realm, Jennifer has worked as a Human Resources/Safety Director for a municipality, Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent for the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore for the Department of the Interior, Family Violence Prevention Advocate, and completed several tours for a Tribal AmeriCorps Program and received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Jennifer has been trained as a professional doula, lead doula/birth-worker trainings for her communities, and attended many births in hospitals, birth centers, homes, and traditional birthing lodges as a primary doula/birth-worker. She studied cultural and ceremonial birth-work under Dorene Day, Indigenous Midwife, for four years.
She is a Water Protector, has attended many water walks, and had the incredible honor to walk with Grandma Josephine Mandamin. Giinawind izichige onji nibi (We do it for the water)!