COALITION CO-CHAIR

Kristen has always had a passion for helping other women see their own strength and beauty. After having her own struggles and successes with breastfeeding, this passion developed into helping other moms in their breastfeeding journeys.

Kristen has been working with moms and families in Luzerne County for over 7 years as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor with Maternal and Family Health Services and became a Certified Lactation Counselor in 2022. Kristen is also a member of the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition.

COALITION CO-CHAIR

Jenny has deep experience within healthcare and social services spaces and has built her career in marketing and communications roles. Her most important role to date is being a mom to two little Hetro kids. Passionate about servant leadership within her community, along with co-chairing the Luzerne County Breastfeeding Coalution, she is a volunteer tee ball coach and a member of her church’s social justice committee. She believes strongly in supporting children and families. After watching our region’s significant gap in available lactation resources widen year over year, she most recently became a Certified Lactation Counselor in 2022. Jenny is a current member of the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition.

COALITION MEMBER

Maria Kolcharno is The Wright Center for Community Health’s Director of Addiction Services. She supervises the daily operations of addiction-related services and grant-funded clinical operations, including the Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence and Healthy MOMS program. Maria earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Marywood University, where she also currently serves as a field instructor. She was the 2010 recipient of Marywood University’s Caritas Distinguished Alumni Award and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers Pennsylvania Chapter.

COALITION MEMBER

COALITION MEMBER

Lauren is a registered dietitian, certified lactation counselor, and breastfeeding advocate. Growing up in a large Sicilian family it was the norm to see all of her aunts and grown cousins breastfeeding and sharing tips and stories of being a breastfeeding momma. Lauren is passionate about her work with Storkpump, an organization focused on providing high-quality personal use pumps fully covered by insurance, along with accessories, troubleshooting tips, or connection to clinical experts who can answer specific questions. Lauren is also a member of the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition.

COALITION MEMBER

Elizabeth (Dr. Liz) was born and raised in New York, attended Fordham University at Rose Hill, Bronx, NY, and Ross University Medical School, where she completed her pediatrics residency at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Dr Liz realized that although she loved helping children and young adults of all ages, she always gravitated towards newborns. She notes, "Since breastfeeding moms and babies often don't get the care and services they need to thrive, I realized I could have a direct positive impact on newborns and moms as a Lactation Consultant.” As an IBCLC and pediatrician, Dr. Liz provides newborns, moms and their families with comprehensive breastfeeding support and newborn-focused care.

Devon is the Program Manager of Breastfeeding Programs at the Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. Her work includes supporting physicians, hospitals, community organizations, and coalitions involved in lactation support across Pennsylvania. She has a bachelor's and master's degree in public health from West Chester University and holds certifications as a CHES (certified health education specialist) and CLC (certified lactation counselor).

COALITION MEMBER

Sandy’s passion for breastfeeding began with nursing her own daughter 25 years ago. She was lucky to have support from her mother and sisters, all of whom breastfed their children.

Sandy has been with the Maternal and Family Health Services WIC Program since 2005, serving as a Nutritionist and CLC. She became the manager of MFHS WIC Breastfeeding Services and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program in 2013 and is currently the Breastfeeding Coordinator for the organization’s 17-county service area. Sandy was also a member of the first Luzerne County Breastfeeding Coalition.

In her own words, Sandy says, “As a nutritionist, I find it fascinating how a mom can, with her own body, make the most perfect food for her infant to thrive. Helping other moms reach their breastfeeding goals has been very rewarding.”

COALITION MEMBER

Chelsea is the owner and CEO of Lingua Speech, Swallow and Voice Services.

COALITION MEMBER

Edoukou Aka-Ezoua is a certified full-spectrum community doula, childbirth educator, and owner of Nurture + Thrive Holistic Doula Care, a community based doula practice that provides perinatal doula care and support in the NEPA, Greater Philadelphia, and South Jersey areas. She is also a peer breastfeeding counselor and a licensed Pennsylvania social worker.

Edoukou is passionate about providing holistic, compassionate, and evidenced based care and support that acknowledges the educational, emotional, spiritual, social, and physical factors that can impact birth and postpartum experiences. By bringing evidenced based and comprehensive childbirth classes to the NEPA region, she hopes to help expectant parents and their support people feel more informed about the childbirth process and confident + prepared for their upcoming births.