May 17, 2012 6:00 am • Interviewed by DAVID WAHLBERG | Wisconsin State Journal | dwahlberg@madison.com
Tehmina Islam, 27, is the first person of color to become a licensed midwife in Wisconsin. She started Access Midwifery in January out of her home on Madison’s East Side.
Her parents are from India. She was born in Texas and moved to Madison 18 years ago. Islam, one of seven independent midwives in Madison who attend home births, wants to make minority women more aware of midwifery services.
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It’s a bit of a tragedy that people of color have not been able to see a midwife who looks like them. I received a phone call a few weeks ago from a young African-American woman who said, “I saw your flyer and I called you because you look like I do.” I’ve been building bridges with organizations that serve low-income people, women of color.
[…] sad I feel that it took until 2012 for Wisconsin to have its first licensed midwife of color, Tehmina Islam sounds like an amazing midwife…but really, we need more midwives of color, […]
[…] Wisconsin licences its first midwife of color. […]