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Doula training group highlights local births aided by council funding, staff to pursue LA2050 grant
Summary
Birth Workers of Color Collective presented its doula training, services and scholarship opportunities to the Cudahy City Council, noting two families served with prior council funding; Council directed staff to pursue a countywide LA2050 grant with youth- and family-focused priorities.
Birth Workers of Color Collective told the Cudahy City Council on Monday that city funding last year helped doulas support two local families through pregnancy, birth and postpartum care, and the group asked the council to promote its upcoming training and scholarship opportunities.
"A doula is a trained support person that is there to walk with you in your birth journey," said Christina Lavez, a doula and lactation educator who presented the program. She said the collective offers free Medi‑Cal doula services, lactation and postpartum supports, and plans a virtual doula training in October with scholarships priced at $2,000 per local resident.
The council’s community services director described a separate funding opportunity that could amplify those services. The LA2050 grant program, a countywide, competitive one‑year grant that awards up to $75,000, is currently in a survey phase (phase 1). Staff asked council for direction to pursue the preliminary application and to identify priority themes.
Council members expressed broad support for youth, public‑health and culturally relevant programming as priorities that could strengthen an LA2050 submission. "We're all on the same page on the youth part," one councilmember said, urging staff to build on existing partnerships so the city’s application shows capacity and collaboration.
Staff noted the grant is one‑time funding and advised that proposal ideas be scalable and not dependent on ongoing city dollars. The council agreed to allow staff to proceed with the phase‑1 application and return if the city is invited to submit a full proposal.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the LA2050 phase‑1 application, continue outreach with the Birth Workers of Color Collective on local scholarships, and report back to the council if the city is invited to apply for phase 2.
