Staff

Wanja Ngugi, MPA, PMP serves as BMMA’s Director of Strategy. With over 17 years of experience in nonprofit development and leadership, she leads the development and initiatives units, working to bring funding to BMMA, and providing project management tools for programming activities. Additionally, Wanja provides organization-wide strategic insight and planning.

Wanja is passionate about women’s rights and creating a more equitable world. Her expertise lies in building high-performing teams, securing funding from diverse sources, and fostering strong relationships with donors and partners. A skilled communicator and project manager, she has a proven track record of success in creating and implementing systems that streamline processes and workflow, ultimately maximizing efficiency and impact.

Wanja holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University and a B.A. in International Studies and Women’s Studies from Denison University. A certified Project Management Professional, she leverages her skills and experience to support BMMA’s vision.

Outside of work, Wanja enjoys staying active through outdoor activities and yoga. She also loves spending time with family and friends and is thrilled to contribute to BMMA’s movement-building efforts.

Phoebe Wescott serves as the Senior Manager, Training & Technical Assistance for BMMA. In this role, she manages targeted technical assistance and comprehensive trainings, focusing on practice-based learning and a holistic maternity care framework to strengthen the Black maternal perinatal and reproductive health workforce.

Prior to joining BMMA, Phoebe served as the Director of Training & Business Development for Reproductive Health Impact (RHI). There, she supported maternal health equity initiatives by co-facilitating anti-racism training, conducting organizational assessments for health departments and hospital systems, and managing business development and outreach programming.

Phoebe earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her recent work focuses on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity and mortality, emphasizing quality improvement and respectful care. Additionally, her passion lies in early childhood health and education.

Outside of work, Phoebe is a dedicated wife and mother to two beautiful daughters. She enjoys staying active through workouts and exploring new places through travel.

Dkéama Alexis (they/them) serves as the Initiatives Associate for BMMA. In this role, they assist with operationalizing and implementing BMMA’s programs and initiatives. They hold a BA in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder. Dkéama has extensive facilitation, communications, and project/program coordination experience, most recently with Equitas Health and Sierra Club. Personally, professionally, and politically, their work has prioritized those belonging to marginalized communities, particularly Black folks, LGBTQIA+ communities, youth, and people living with HIV.

In 2017, they co-founded Black Queer & Intersectional Collective (BQIC), the Ohio-based grassroots abolitionist organization working towards the liberation of Black LGBTQIA+ people through community organizing, direct action, education, and creating spaces where our voices can be heard.

In their spare time, you can find Dkéama writing creative non-fiction and poetry, reading tarot, and dreaming towards a world without police, prisons, or borders.

Courtney Drayton serves as BMMA’s Clinical Services Analyst, providing strategic direction for the expansion of community-based perinatal and reproductive health service delivery. She supports workforce development programming, curates training resources, and partners with organizations on capacity-building initiatives. Courtney’s public health portfolio includes: Black maternal health research; evaluation of clinical mentorship programs for nursing and midwifery practice in maternal, infant, and pediatric HIV care across East and Southern Africa; management of a statewide breastfeeding initiative; identifying support for pregnancies complicated by chronic illnesses; and studying the impact of natural disasters on reproductive health. As a registered nurse, Courtney has experience in neonatal intensive care and in labor and delivery units. She earned her BS in Microbiology from Louisiana State University, MPH from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and an ASN from Louisiana Delta Community College. Courtney enjoys the outdoors, traveling, documentaries, and spending time with her loved ones.

Ajia Caldwell (she/her) serves as the Digital Media & Development Associate at BMMA. In this role, she supports BMMA’s digital communications and development efforts, including content creation, website updates, social media engagement, and donor data management. Ajia holds a Master of Public Health from Emory University and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Her background includes experience in sexual and reproductive health education, community-based organizing, and full-spectrum doula care. Through her work as a certified doula and founder of a wellness platform focused on Black women and gender-expansive people, Ajia brings a community-centered perspective that supports BMMA’s mission to advance Black maternal health, rights, and justice.

Christina Gordon (she/her) serves as the Partnerships Manager at Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA). In this role, she supports the management of BMMA’s portfolio of partners and stakeholders, helping to track engagement, coordinate agreements, and organize capacity-building efforts that advance the organization’s mission across key initiatives. Christina holds a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from South University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Columbia University.

Her public health background includes experience in wellness program development, curriculum design, and workforce development, with past roles in both academic and healthcare settings. Prior to joining BMMA, Christina served as a Wellness Professor at Spelman College, a Wellness Recruiter at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and a certified Perinatal Coach and Content Curator.

Outside of her work with BMMA, Christina is a proud mother of four. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, thrift shopping, listening to soul music, and watching Black television and cinema.

Jaina Reed Thompson serves as BMMA’s Operations Associate. In her role, she supports the development and management of systems, processes, and procedures, and helps to optimize all organizational functions. She has over a decade of experience in program development, change management, capacity building, process improvement, and implementation.

Jaina has a passion for youth development and closing gaps of inequity. She holds a BA in Public Relations from Hampton University and a Master of Business Administration. In her spare time, Jaina enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends. 

Oumie Mbye, MPH, serves as the Health Communications Manager at Black Mamas Matter Alliance. In this capacity, she plays a pivotal role in showcasing the organization’s impact, its movement-building efforts, and crafting health-focused content and communications for both organizational initiatives and programmatic endeavors.

Following her undergraduate studies, Oumie dedicated her time to projects and programs aimed at advancing the rights and safety of women and girls in The Gambia. She later earned her Master of Public Health from Oxford Brookes University, bringing a wealth of expertise in public health communications, research, programming, planning, and implementation to her role.

Oumie’s passion lies in women’s sexual and reproductive health and child development. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, dancing, and exploring culinary delights.

Diana Mendoza (she/they) serves as an Operations Associate at BMMA, providing comprehensive support to the organization’s daily processes, stakeholder engagement, financial and data accuracy, inventory, and development activities. Diana is a certified lactation educator & counselor and a full-spectrum doula with over 13 years of professional and personal experience in reproductive justice praxis. They hold a degree in Global Studies with an emphasis on the well-being of Indigenous migrant women of the diaspora and their kin. Diana has extensive experience as a bilingual organizer, educator, facilitator, and program manager. She has worked with education and health systems across southern and northern California. Diana and her family are new to Atlanta. They enjoy nature walks, drinking coffee, dancing cumbias, movie nights, holding babies, and bird watching.

Ayanna Woolfork serves as the Program Analyst, Workforce Development, where she manages continuing education credit procurement, program coordination, and stakeholder engagement for BMMA. Ayanna is graduate of Dillard University (BS Public Health) and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (Master of Public Health) and an alumna of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Associate Program where she worked with tribal communities and learned the importance of black and indigenous traditional perinatal care and the positive effect on birth outcomes that doula care can have for birthing people. Ayanna is a trained doula and is passionate about advocating for the right to holistic and respectful maternity care for black birthing people. 

Fatuma Dahir serves as the Director of Operations for BMMA and oversees all financial, accounting, human resources, operational policies, and professional services to ensure the daily function of the organization. She has over a decade of project/program management and human resource experience, primarily in higher education administration. She received her degree in political science and sociology from Georgia State University. As a project and people manager, she is committed to increasing the productivity, development and success of BMMA.

Stephanie Aristide serves as the Policy & Advocacy Associate with BMMA. In her role,, she supports BMMA’s current policy and advocacy portfolio with a focus on the state of Georgia and other southern regional stakeholders, including partner engagement; works
across organizational initiatives involving advocacy activities, and supports the development of policy-related educational information.

Stephanie received her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from Florida International University. She has experience in public health research, and program planning. Stephanie’s professional goals are to implement sustainable changes within health policy, women’s reproductive health education, and quality care improvement. Her hobbies include traveling, visiting museums, photography, and producing podcasts.

Danielle Rivers serves as the Research Associate with Black Mamas Matter Alliance. In her role, she works to support the research and evaluation department primarily through project coordination and data analysis. She has four years of experience working in public health research with a history of working with federal projects as well as state government. Danielle is an alumna of Purdue University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Genetics and Biology and her Master of Public Health from Georgia State University’s School of Public Health. Her professional interests include maternal and child health, child maltreatment, implementation research, and social determinants of health.

Shauna H. Frazier serves as the Donor Relations Manager at Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA). An Atlanta native, Shauna brings over four years of experience in the public health nonprofit sector, previously serving as a Regional Operations Manager and Development Manager for the American Diabetes Association, where she supported initiatives across five states. Shauna’s passion for holistic health spans more than 17 years and informs her approach to wellness-centered development work. She holds certifications in Natural Medicine, Thai Yoga, Reiki, and Neuromuscular Therapy, and is currently pursuing a certification as an Ayurveda Practitioner. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management and continues integrating her wellness background into her professional and personal life. In her free time, Shauna enjoys traveling, managing her wellness practices, and spending time with her husband and children.

Sang Hee Won serves as the MMRC (Maternal Mortality Review Committee) Project Director at BMMA, where she supports efforts to build the capacity of MMRCs and advance equitable practices within maternal health reviews. With over 15 years of experience in maternal and reproductive health, Sang Hee also works as a consultant on projects focused on respectful maternity care for birthing people of color, the impact of religious restrictions on reproductive and maternal health services, and the training and deployment of community health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, she conducted research on disrespect and abuse in childbirth through the Averting Maternal Death and Disability Program, led New York City’s first severe maternal morbidity surveillance initiative, and contributed to strengthening emergency obstetric care systems in low-income countries. Sang Hee is a mom of two and holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College.

Milan Spencer serves as the Associate Director, Workforce Development & Partnerships. In her role, she oversees BMMA’s workforce development initiatives, supports partnership management, and provides technical assistance to maternal health equity stakeholders. Additionally, she works to map out resources and helps inform BMMA’s overarching strategic goals in stakeholder engagement and Black Maternal Health movement-building. Milan has a BA in History with a concentration in African-American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education from California State University, Long Beach. Milan’s passion work is in Maternal Child & Adolescent health, specifically addressing disparities in perinatal care and birth outcomes among Black birthing persons, Black children, and Black families. She is a certified childbirth doula and a certified lactation education counselor. She is a mom of three beautiful children and in her free time enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, and watching true crime TV.

Dr. Ayanna Robinson serves as the Director, Research & Evaluation for BMMA. She has over 15 years of research and evaluation experience, primarily supporting initiatives at the federal level. She received her Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Behavior from the University of Georgia and a Certificate in Interdisciplinary Qualitative Research Studies, and a Master of Public Health degree from Morehouse School of Medicine’s Master of Public Health Program. As a public health researcher and evaluator experienced in qualitative and quantitative methods, she is committed to conducting research and translating that research into initiatives and products that dismantle systems of oppression, amplify the voices of Black women and birthing individuals, and create spaces for healing. Ayanna is also the founder of Black Girls’ Breastfeeding Club and the bEarth Work App. 

Gianna Wilson serves as the Manager of Strategic Initiatives. In her role, Gianna works collaboratively across the organization to oversee the logistical and operational implementation of BMMA’s major programming and initiatives. Gianna began working with local charitable organizations as an undergraduate student, leading to many years of service in the non-profit sector. Gianna previously worked in the environmental regulatory sector before returning to her non-profit roots by joining BMMA. Gianna has a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Public Policy and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Health. She takes television very seriously and is a lover of art in all mediums.

Angela Doyinsola Aina, DrPHc, MPH (she/her) is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of BMMA, Inc., a network of Black women-led organizations advancing Black maternal health, rights, and justice through policy, research, culture shift, and leadership development. A catalytic architect of the Black Maternal Health Movement, Angela is an award-recognized public health practitioner with over 19 years of experience in maternal health program development, evaluation, strategic planning, and advocacy. Since BMMA’s inception in 2016, Angela has led the organization in raising more than $2 million annually, creating jobs and fellowships, and expanding a national workforce rooted in birth and reproductive justice.

She, in collaboration with several partners, oversees efforts that convene community-rooted organizations, clinicians, midwives, birth workers, advocates, and researchers to shift maternal health systems through Black feminist praxis, Pan-African and respectful maternity care, and human rights frameworks. Angela is a strategic partner with Baby Dove’s Black Birth Equity Fund, helping to shape corporate social impact investments in maternal health equity initiatives. She is the visionary behind the Black Maternal Health Conference & Training Institute, the Black Maternal Health Incubator Hub, and co-founded the nationally recognized Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) campaign, which is now celebrated annually across the country and internationally.

Her public health career spans the academic, nonprofit, and government sectors, including over five years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she served as a Public Health Analyst, Health Communications Specialist, and Public Health Prevention Service Fellow. While at the CDC, she contributed to key federal responses, including the Zika and pregnancy initiative, scientific program management, and the 2014 Ebola outbreak staffing and deployment. Angela’s research includes a mixed-methods analysis on the reproductive health attitudes of Nigerian-born immigrant women in the U.S., completed during her Master of Public Health studies in International and Women’s Health at Morehouse School of Medicine. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and African-American Studies from Georgia State University and is currently completing her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree.

She has contributed to a growing number of maternal health-related peer-reviewed publications. She has been interviewed and featured in numerous media outlets, including PopSugar, Nonprofit Quarterly, The Atlantic, The Root, HuffPost, TIME Magazine, and HLN/CNN. In 2020, she was honored as a WebMD Health Hero for her advocacy work. Angela has provided expert testimony and statements before national and international bodies—including the UN High Commissioner Regional Meeting—advocating for the recognition of Black maternal health as a global movement, a professional practice, and a necessary solution to end maternal mortality and morbidity.

She is deeply committed to the self-determination and leadership of women of African descent, the elimination of gender-based violence, and the creation of womanist, community-centered solutions to public health and economic injustice. Outside of work, Angela enjoys exploring Black diasporic cultural expressions through dance, music, art, fashion, and film.