Join us at The Kota Alliance for a special Doula Discussion Circle focused on grants and funding opportunities for birth workers. This gathering is designed for doulas, midwives, and other birth professionals looking to sustain and expand their work through financial support.

The discussion will be led by Teresa Mateus, MSW, E-RYT 200. With extensive experience in nonprofit development and securing funding for mission-driven work, Teresa will provide insights into navigating the grant landscape and identifying opportunities.

This is a space for learning, sharing, and connecting with other birth workers who are seeking sustainable financial pathways to support their practice. Whether you're new to grant applications or looking for ways to refine your approach, this session will offer valuable guidance.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain knowledge, ask questions, and build community! We'll have some drinks and snacks; share experiences, good and bad; and make new friends. If you are only just thinking about training to become a doula or birth professional, you are welcome too.

If the event is sold out and you would like to be put on the waitlist, please email info@kota-alliance.org

Please note that by attending the event, you consent to film or photos from the event, potentially including your image, being shared publicly.

📍 Location & Accessibility

The Kota Alliance is located in the Sugar Hill neighborhood with walking distance from the A/B/C/D 145th Station and C 155th Station, along the M3 bus line.

Parking is very limited, with few street spots; the nearest paid lots are at 414 W 155th St and 457 W 150th St. Please note that our historic building currently lacks wheelchair accessibility (we are actively fundraising to change this). There are steps up from street level, as well as additional steps in the house. We are happy to answer any queries you may have.

Join LaShanda Dandrich, IBCLC to discuss/ answer all your questions about supporting your clients with their infant feeding journeys!

Kota is interested in doing something about the crisis in maternal mortality among, especially, Black and Brown people. Doulas are an important part of the solution, and so we are planning to support doulas in whatever way you all think is needed. We are starting 2025 with this networking/discussion event focused on the topic of infant feeding at Kota. Join LaShanda Dandrich, IBCLC to discuss/answer all your questions about supporting your clients with their infant feeding journeys! LaShanda Dandrich is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and the co-founder of Lactation Learning Collective. She is the Programs Director in Unconditional Love Doula Organization, and has been working with the lactation profession for over a decade in NYC with diverse families throughout the community.

We'll have some drinks and snacks; share experiences, good and bad; and make new friends. Midwifes are welcome to join us. If you are only just thinking about training to become a doula, you are welcome as well.

REGISTER HERE!

A Holistic Healing and Well-Being Community Open House Day

The Kota Alliance invites you to a wellness open house where you can come and join us to explore holistic health and wellness in Harlem. The work of Kota focuses on women/girls/gender marginalized persons in our work - engaging health/wellness and arts/culture in Harlem. We invite all who are interested to engage with our space, The Kota Nest, in the heart of the Sugar Hill neighborhood for a day of grounding, centering, and care.

We understand that we live in a world, a nation, a city and a community in a season of flux - in this time we invite you to a protected space and time to care for yourselves in community with fellow Harlem folks.

In partnership with Harlem Wellness and Ayni Healing Collective we are offering a day of well-being including opening yoga, (by appointment) holistic healthcare practices, healthful snacks and beverages, and closing sound healing. Join us for some or all of these offerings throughout the day. Try something new. Take care of you!

Day Flow

1- 1:30 PM Tea Time, Healing herbal teas to help soothe the nerves, Meet & Greet, Wellness Registration- energy movement

1:30- 2:00 PM Wellness circle- chair yoga, meditation, breathing

2:00 - 5: 30 PM Sample Mini Therapies - First come first served, Healing the Body, Mind & Spirit, Energy Medicine - Deep Relax Acupuncture, Acupressure, Reiki, BodyWork - Neck/Shoulder/Back Release, Hand/Arm Massage, Energy Readings - Tarot

2:30-3:00 PM Journaling/art space

6 - 6:30 PM Mindful Movement for EveryBody/ strong back, soft front-. Community play

6:30 - 7 PM Closing - Sound Healing Offering

Fee: $5 per single session or $20 for all day.

Harlem Community Healing Project: An Intergenerational Education & Healing Program for Girl/GNC Teens and Their Families

The Intergenerational Education & Healing Program for Harlem area high school teen girls and GNC teens and their family members is an exciting new collaborative project between The Kota Alliance and 4Ward Inclusion. This program will run from December 2024-June 2025 over 15 Saturday sessions.

This program will integrate The Kota Alliance's trauma-conscious holistic mental health support programming, creative and expressive arts practices, and intergenerational trauma and resilience content alongside 4ward Inclusion's racial equity and trauma informed educational practices and empowering activities that will encourage youth and families from marginalized communities to improve self esteem, self-empowerment and address the stress caused by issues of violence, grief, racism, and poverty.

We empower ourselves and our communities at all stages of life. This program supports teens and their families to engage with their own self-care, wellness and empowerment beginning with ourselves and into our communities!

The program will include:

• welcome self-care gift bag for all teens at our introduction sessions

• stipends+ metro cards for all teen participants

• seasonal family programming and graduation celebrations for participants highlighting teens' creative projects

• holistic health + wellness practices (including an introduction to acupressure, massage, and other somatic practices)

• games and activities to understand and address issues of identity (gender, race/ethnicity, economics), community, and personal stress

• creative and expressive arts including creative projects to engage throughout the program year and exhibit at closing ceremonies (both end of winter and end of spring)

• snacks for each session

Program Begins:

12/7 - Kota Alliance, 43 St Nicholas Pl, 11am - 2pm

Doula Social and Self-Care Event

Kota is interested in doing something about the crisis in maternal mortality among, especially, Black and Brown people. Doulas are an important part of the solution, and so we are planning to support doulas in whatever way you all think is needed. We are doing a few pilot events starting with this networking/ self-care event at Kota. DeenaLynn from our Ayni program is available to bring some healing modalities for us all to experience; we'll have some drinks and snacks; share experiences, good and bad; and make new friends. If you are only just thinking about training to become a doula, you are welcome as well.

Feel free to bring your children, but please be aware you are responsible for them while in the house (we are working on child care!)

Until we get some funding for this program, we appreciate a small donation to cover the cost of food and drink (including a glass of wine, if you wish - after all, it's happy hour!)

.......................................

HOW TO GET TO THE KOTA NEST: We are located at 152nd st. within walking distance from the 145th Street Subway Station (lines A, C and D).Also buses M2, M3, M100, M101, and Bx6.

COVID Policy: Vaccination is strongly encouraged. please stay home if you feel unwell; masks optional

ACCESSIBILITY: There is no elevator in the building. There are 4 steps to the first floor community room. The event may take place on the second floor.

PHOTO PERMISSION: By attending the event, you consent to film or photos from the event, potentially including your image, being shared publicly.

Join us at the Kota Alliance community space (43 St. Nicholas Place) in the historic neighborhood of Sugar Hill in West Harlem for our monthly celebrations!

Current theme relates to the different seasons where we lift up the richness of our communities, centering wisdoms and voices from BIPOC community and the Harlem area.

We will be joined by healers and creatives in the community to support the themes of the month and share in collective practices for healing as well as rituals from our various cultural traditions.

Please feel free to bring a side dish, non-alcoholic beverage or dessert if you would like to share with the community.

We will continue the Potluck events next year quarterly. More info on the dates coming up!

Dates of the previous Potluck dinners:

• October 16th

• November 20th

Free Yoga for Women in Harlem Wednesday Oct 9th!

Come join us for a relaxing yoga session in the heart of Harlem Wednesday Oct 9th at 7PM at the Kota Alliance! All women are welcome to participate.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to unwind, stretch, and connect with your inner self. Bring a friend or come solo - either way you're sure to leave feeling relaxed and refreshed!

Our yoga class will be led by yoga instructor Diana Diaz. Ms Diaz teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga for Harlem Wellness Center. She is also a founding member of IYINY's Racial Diversity and Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Sign up in Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-yoga-for-women-in-harlem-tickets-1042043178197?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Conversaremos con Ruro Caituro, Partera Tradicional y Obstetra, sobre la visión andina del embarazo, parto y postparto, los cuidados necesarios, y el por qué es importante continuar con las tradiciones ancestrales. Abierto a preguntas del público.

Fecha: 25 de septiembre de 2024
Hora: 18:00 - 20:00
Ubicación: Kota Alliance, 43 St Nicholas Place @152nd st.

Registrate aqui: https://tinyurl.com/4yyvb3s3

April 13, 2024

Join us on Saturday, April 13th, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Kota Alliance in New York City for a community care and conversation space celebrating Black Maternal Health Week. This event is designed for soon-to-be and new mothers from Harlem and surrounding areas, offering nurturing support, information, and resources for the birthing and mothering journey. Hosted by Kota Alliance and My Angel Doula Alliance, with support from Ayni Healing Collective, the schedule includes a welcoming meditation, herbal tea conversation, community games, holistic healing clinic, gratitude ritual, and a shared meal. Gift bags will be provided as tokens of appreciation.

Sign up on Eventbrite.

Join us for a special community dinner at Kota Alliance! We are coming together to raise awareness and support for women diagnosed with, or survivors of, breast cancer. At this in-person event we will enjoy healthy and delicious food, inspiring stories, and a chance to connect with others who have been affected by this disease.

We will have a guest speaker, Dr. Philip Kivitz. Dr Kivitz is a retired radiologist with expertise in breast cancer screening. Special guest: Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper of Sistaah.org (Survivors Inspiring Sisters Through Art and Advocacy for Health), an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to inform, encourage and facilitate access to early detection of breast cancer by connecting the medically underserved to free screening services.

We will be serving salmon, rice and greens - if you require special accommodations, eg. vegan, let us know by emailing info@kota-alliance.org.

Join us for this meaningful event! It's an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and help us spread awareness and show support for those affected by this disease.

Please, sign up to the event here.