Author: Leona Hariharan

Born in San Diego, California, Leona Hariharan now calls Brooklyn, New York home. Since landing on the East Coast, Leona has brought her knowledge of the reproductive justice framework and experience as a doula to Mama Glow’s work advancing sexual and reproductive health across New York City. As Programs and Partnerships Coordinator, Leona connects Black and brown, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+ communities across the city to doula services to support efforts to combat rising maternal mortality rates. In her role, Leona fosters partnerships with institutions and private partners working alongside Mama Glow to advance their mission. She helped develop a doula competency course and shared a decision-making toolkit for 250 nurses at CVS Health/Aetna. Most recently, she co-led the development of a community lactation specialist curriculum and childbirth education certificate program to equip even more community members to be able to support the birthing process. As a GHC fellow, Leona is excited to connect with a network of peers, as well as gain access to professional support from mentors who can help her as she grows her leadership skills. As someone deeply invested in community health, Leona is committed to evolving as a leader to better show up for those she serves.