Doulas Association of Southern California
This is the Board of Directors of DASC. The Doulas Association of Southern California was founded in 1997. We are a non-profit professional membership association of birthworkers led and run by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Meet the Board
Erin Fitzsimmons
President
I feel fortunate to have found the Doula community in Southern California through DASC. I am a Certified Postpartum Doula through DONA International, a trained Birth Doula through DONA International, a trained New Parent Educator, and have a certificate in Patient Advocacy from UCLA Extension. What drew me to doula work is my fundamental belief that all families deserve support when a newborn joins their family. I look forward to continuing to grow in this field and supporting the Doula community with educational programming and opportunities for connection.
I have two wonderful children and before I became a mother I worked in film production and development. Originally from New York City, I moved to the westside of Los Angeles in 1998.
tracy hartley
Vice President
Since beginning my journey as a doula in 1996, I’ve had the privilege of supporting over 700 births as a birth doula, mentor, and childbirth educator. My book, “700 Babies,” is a culmination of the lessons I’ve learned, written to help parents approach birth with confidence and avoid unnecessary interventions.
I’ve been an active member of the DASC Board of Directors for many years, serving in every position at some point. Supporting the doula community brings me as much joy as supporting new parents, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done together.
Outside of my doula work, I am a proud mom to two wonderful grown children and the grandmother of three amazing grown grandchildren. Before becoming a doula, I had a diverse career path – I trained service and hearing dogs, was a peer counselor for Vietnam veterans, was on a hot air balloon crew, and even served as an Air Traffic Controller in the Navy. Each of these roles has given me skills I use every day as a doula.
Michelle Brenhaug
Secretary
Sarah Pinder
Treasurer
I have been a member of DASC’s board since 2020, having served as a member-at-large, circle leader, Vice President and now Treasurer. I have enjoyed shaping and aiding the organization’s mission. A postpartum doula since 2019, I believe in spreading the word about doulas and birth workers and enjoy being a mentor for newer doulas and those beginning in this profession.
AJ Jonesco
Director of PR & Strategic Planning
As DASC’s Director of PR & Strategic Planning I look forward to welcoming even more doulas and birth professionals to DASC, as well as working with this dedicated and enthusiastic board to enhance our membership benefits (including more trainings, resources , discounts, and increased opportunities for connection and mentorship).Like many doulas, I was called to this profession—and thrilled it found me! I work primarily as a Postpartum Travel Doula (DONA Certified) and teach as a New Parent Educator (CAPPA trained). My client focus is antenatal planning and preparation, as well as postpartum support during the first six weeks. I love supporting new families during life‘s transitions with my professional mantra: “Give them roots to grow —and wings to fly.” In the past, I have served as a panel speaker at Los Angeles Baby Shows and state-wide nanny training organizations. Additionally, I am a Newborn Care Specialist and former communications executive, with professional sports/event management experience and professional organizing skillsets, as well as a degree in health promotion & wellness.Born in Ohio, the oldest of four, I have been passionate about caring for babies and supporting new families for as long as I can remember! I’ve lived in the west Los Angeles area since graduating college on the East coast. After raising an almost adult daughter and a guide dog puppy, I feel fortunate EVERY day that my empty nest is surrounded by puppies and babies!
VIOLET SZABO
Member at Large
Becoming a full spectrum doula seems to have been my unexpected calling for longer than I first thought. I always loved helping out with newborns, and watching families thrive from a young age. Once I thought about becoming a doula I could not stop thinking about it. After 6 months, I took my training and it was clear I was on the right path. Helping families get the birth they want brings me endless joy and pride. DASC’s wonderful community has helped me become a better doula for my clients and for myself.I grew up in a small town in northern California, and moved to southern Oregon where I got my degree in theater lighting. In 2014 I moved to Los Angeles and worked in the entertainment lighting industry for 9 years before becoming a full-spectrum doula.
Dana Morgan
Member at Large
After a lifetime of baby care, in January of 2015 I became a full spectrum Doula with DTI. My deep passion for all things birth, postpartum support and menstrual education led me to many families seeking support. I have been so lucky to witness and hold space for people as they become parents for the first, second or even third time. I have trained in placenta encapsulation and taken continued education courses in subjects like lactation. I have a deep passion for learning and staying up to date with birth related research!
Maria Pasquarelli
Member at Large
The majority of my adult life/career has been spent working with children. I started babysitting at age 13 and continued through high school and college where I studied acting, theater and film. While pursuing a professional acting career, I augmented my income by tutoring, teaching Theatre Arts Enrichment, mentoring children, and creating plays with incarcerated youth.
After the birth of my first child, in 2016, I developed a profound interest in breastfeeding and human lactation and began to study to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Another personal revelation arrived in 2018 with the birth of my second child when all of our friends, who had been so supportive the first time around, pretty much assumed we didn’t need help the second time around.
I realized how much help families really need when a new baby is brought home which sparked a period of self education and practical experimentation, ultimately leading me to take formal training to become a postpartum doula. Since late 2019, I have been serving families in the Los Angeles area - providing support, education and encouragement as their parenting journeys unfold.
Fredi Weitzel
Member at Large
As a trained ecologist, I am so grateful to have wandered into the world of birth work. Birth amazes me in its physiology and how it reconnects us so clearly to the natural world. Coming from years of study and work on regenerative farms, I now see my transition to birth work as a sensical continuation of my environmental stewardship roles. After all, we are nature, too. In early 2024, I was called to train as a doula with home birth midwife Michelle Welborn out of Natural Resources in San Francisco. She inspired my dream of eventually becoming a home birth midwife. For now, I am honored to serve families as a birth doula and yoga practitioner, and am interested in embodiment in all its forms. As a newcomer to Los Angeles, I couldn’t be more excited to be joining DASC. I look forward to contributing to the birth work community and learning from and with my peers.
Noemi martinez-bary
Member at Large
PD, CLC (she/her)
Hola! I'm a Visual Artist turned Birth Worker, serving families as a Postpartum Doula and Lactation Counselor. Unbeknown to me I started my training when I became a mom in 2006 & 2011. Two very different birthing experiences, one full term and one preterm birth, that took me through a path of incredible joy, as well as trauma. I expanded my training through my own journey of physical, PMAD and PTSD recovery.
In 2015, when reassessing my career and birth experiences, I looked back as far as high school, college and the 25+ years as a professional artist, and realized that there were recurring themes: conception, pregnancy, birth, and babies in most of my artwork. It became clear that I belong in this Birth Work World. I trained as a Postpartum Doula with DONA International.
My years of personal experience & training fed my desire to delve deeper into the psychological and physical care during pregnancy, birth, postpartum and lactation period. In short, my passion about the perinatal period is palpable in almost everything I do. I strongly believe in a culture where birth is a vulnerable creative force, just, inclusive, and fueled by courage. I'm honored to be part of this DASC community, an amazing organization in support of families and birth workers of Southern California. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and live in LA with my husband, son, daughter, dog and cat.
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