H.E.R. Institute ( NOLA BabyCafe')

Vision Healthy, Happy and Peaceful Communities Mission To inspire, educate and support women and their families on their journey to a healthier life through Health, Education and Research services. Motto Changing the Community Through H.E.R.

Our values:
• Maternity care should be caring, equitable, and mutually respectable between provider and woman
• Breastfeeding is the most essential form of nutrition for infant feeding and every family should be educated and encouraged to do so
• Each woman has an innate maternal instinct and should be guided to trust in this instinct
• A woman's right to choose her pathway should be embraced and nurtured
• The bond between mom and baby should be protected
• A father has a vital role as a member of the parenting team during pregnancy, infancy and beyond
• Families should be equipped to handle institutional racism which is a documented barrier to proper healthcare and a healthy living

Priorities

H.E.R. has chosen improving breastfeeding rates, decreasing maternal and infant mortality and improving reproductive health outcomes for women as the primary areas of focus for the next decade.

Current Programming

In June 2016 NOLA Baby Café was initiated by Portia L. Williams and Meshawn Siddiq to provide area families with free, informal, ongoing, high-quality drop-in lactation support

Testimonials

Being a mom of two is hard, especially without resources. I'm so thankful to have found Touro's Baby Cafe for breastfeeding support, expertise and fellowship. The program has changed my life in so many ways.
I am one of the first people in my family to breastfeed, and to do so unapologetically. My two year old and I are still going strong. When I found Baby Cafe, my son was still 1, and I honestly didn't know how much I needed the support until I received it. It was like a breath of fresh air. I found both Fit4Mom and BabyCafe at the same time, and it was like I had finally found my place in both. The community that's given just from walking through the doors is unlike anything else.