About Woven Womb: Leading Maternal Mortality Prevention in Maryland
At Woven Womb, a Silver Spring-based non-profit, we believe in the power of community, compassion, and support systems for birthing people and families across Maryland. As a 501(c)(3) organization, our mission is to weave a stronger fabric of care by providing resources, education, and assistance to underserved families in Montgomery County and beyond, empowering them to thrive amid maternal health challenges.
We address the unique obstacles faced by birthing people in Maryland, from financial hardships to accessing prenatal and postpartum care. Operating from our headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, Woven Womb ensures no family feels alone. We offer doula services, parenting workshops, and vital connections to reduce infant mortality and racial disparities in maternal health.
Our Support Extends to Maryland Communities:
- Expecting mothers in need of prenatal care resources
- Parents looking for guidance and education through workshops and community events
Woven Womb also collaborates with local organizations and businesses to amplify our impact. Whether it’s through donations, volunteer efforts, or awareness campaigns, we strive to bring the community together to make a lasting difference.
Our Vision for Maternal Health in Maryland
A world—and specifically a Maryland—where every family has equitable access to care. Based in Silver Spring, we envision empowered birthing people connected to compassionate networks, reducing maternal mortality rates statewide.
Board Members
Magdalena Gebrekristos
Magdalena Gebrekristos, Founder and CEO of Magadia Consulting, Inc., brings over 20 years of technology and project management expertise to Woven Womb. With experience serving Maryland government agencies, she guides our operations for efficient maternal health support in Silver Spring. She holds an M.S. in Management Information Systems and serves on the Bowie BIC Board.
Ms. Gebrekristos holds an M.S. in Management Information Systems and Information Assurance and a B.S. in Information Systems Management.S
Ms. Gebrekristos is also a member of the BOWIE BIC Board of Directors and a member of the WPO -Greenbelt Chapter.
BOWIE BIC Board of DirectorsTakisha Schulterbrandt, PhD, MPH
Dr. Takisha Schulterbrandt is an accomplished neuroscientist and public health professional. Passionate about promoting reproductive health and reducing maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, she has spent her career working on multiple biomedical and public health projects that promote healthy outcomes for women and children. Her experience spans over two decades from investigating brain mechanisms underlying female reproduction to providing technical assistance to maternal and child health leaders on cultural and linguistic competence to researching the health status of women and children in underserved communities to shape policy and improve health services and outcomes.
Currently Dr. Schulterbrandt is the owner and CEO of BCOMPLEX, a Health services and IT consulting firm in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Dr. Leia Medlock
Dr. Leia Medlock is a board certified OBGYN who has been practicing in the Maryland area since 2012. She attended Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia where she received her Bachelors of Science in Biology and her Masters of Science in Medical Science. She then proceeded to State University of New York Downstate in Brooklyn, New York where she received her doctorate in medicine. She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She has practiced in several different hospital systems in the state of Maryland. She currently is the founder and owner of a private practice entitled Strength In You OBGYN, LLC which will open in Laurel, Maryland in the summer of 2023. Dr. Leia Medlock is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as well as The ONYX Society of Howard County, Maryland. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children.
Nicole M. Lavallee
Nicole M. Lavallee, LM, CPM has educated and supported women in childbirth since 1992. She was certified as a childbirth educator in 1993, as a labor assistant in 1998 and as an EMT in 2001. She was also granted a license to practice midwifery in South Carolina in 2001. Nicole was trained under a traditional apprenticeship model, and is currently certified as a Licensed Midwife through SC DHEC, and a Certified Professional Midwife through the North American Registry of Midwives. She is also former Assistant Director of Jamaica Birth, an educational program committed to providing birth practitioners with a comprehensive variety of clinical experiences. In addition to her busy homebirth practice, Nicole stays active in current legislative efforts to improve birth state and nationwide.
Julian Haffner
"Helping entrepreneurs, businesses, and organizations thrive is my passion. I know you didn't start your business merely to survive – you want to thrive! I want to help you make your amazing entrepreneurial vision a reality."
Julian Haffner practices principally in the area of corporate law serving as general counsel to business people throughout the United States. Representing businesses from start-up ventures to emerging market leaders, Julian works with our clients in the sale or purchase of businesses, structuring company agreements and contracts, customizing operating, partnership and shareholder agreements, protecting valuable trade secrets and confidential information, and advising management on best practices for internal corporate controls.
A former Chair of the Maryland State Bar Association's Entertainment and Sports Law Section, Julian also practices entertainment law with a focus on music, television, and film law issues. His clients range from emerging artists and entrepreneurs to established professionals. Julian also has experience representing the business interests of professional athletes including NBA, NFL and Olympians.
