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HBC Team

Star was a student homebirth midwife, having already been a community birth worker for over ten years, experientially and intimately aware of the harrowing depth of obstetric racism and health inequalities. Callan had studied public policy and sociology but was then a restless stay-at-home mom who desired to use her skills for social reformation yet couldn’t afford to go back to work. 

Then they met.

And when two fed-up Moms work together
amazing things can happen. 

About the Co-Founders

Sister Star

President

Often known as “Sister Star,” Star August Ali a mother, Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), doula, and childbirth educator is the co-founder of the Black-led non-profit organization Holistic Birth Collective, based on the South Side of Chicago. Her mission is simple: to increase the availability and accessibility of person-centered maternity care that is evidence-based and is responsive to the needs of Black families. 

Star, a descendant of a Grand Midwife who practiced in the early 1940’s, believes midwives, when empowered to work in community-based settings, are a viable solution to addressing the harrowing reality of disproportionate maternal and infant outcomes. When it became clear that current power structures in Illinois were not able to ensure equitable care for black families, she became a legislative advocate through Holistic Birth Collective with legislative bills in the IL House (HB3084, HB 5012, HB5013) and Senate (SB1826, SB1041).

Making history, Star became the first Black President of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives (ICCPM) and, having passed the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam to achieve credentialing as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM),  Star became the first Black CPM in the State of Illinois in 2022.

Callan (Kay-Lin)

Chief Strategy Officer

Callan Jaress is a data activist, cultural historian, and survivor of the Southside maternal health system. She studied sociology and public policy at the University of Chicago and then spent the remainder of her youth supporting a variety of public health and social science research projects at NORC at the University of Chicago.

In 2020, Callan’s friend and fellow mom, Star August, invited her to partner on a new project—together they founded Holistic Birth Collective NFP. Since 2021, Callan has served as HBC’s Chief Strategy Officer where she drives their public policy initiatives and health services research.

About the Co-Founders

Sister Star

President

Often known as “Sister Star,” Star August Ali a mother of four, Certified Professional Midwife, doula, and childbirth educator is the co-founder of the Black-led non-profit organization Holistic Birth Collective, based on the South Side of Chicago. Her mission is simple: to increase the availability and accessibility of person-centered maternity care that is evidence-based and is responsive to the needs of Black families. 

Star, a descendant of a Grand Midwife who practiced in the early 1940’s, believes midwives, when empowered to work in community-based settings, are a viable solution to addressing the harrowing reality of disproportionate maternal and infant outcomes. When it became clear that current power structures in Illinois were not able to ensure equitable care for black families, she became a legislative advocate through Holistic Birth Collective with legislative bills in the IL House (HB3084, HB 5012, HB5013) and Senate (SB1826, SB1041).

Making history, Star became the first Black President of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives (ICCPM) and, having passed the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam to achieve credentialing as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM),  Star became the first Black CPM in the State of Illinois in 2022.

Callan (Kay-Lin)

Chief Strategy Officer

Callan Jaress is a data activist, cultural historian, and survivor of the Southside maternal health system. She studied sociology and public policy at the University of Chicago and then spent the remainder of her youth supporting a variety of public health and social science research projects at NORC at the University of Chicago.

In 2020, Callan’s friend and fellow mom, Star August, invited her to partner on a new project—together they founded Holistic Birth Collective NFP. Since 2021, Callan has served as HBC’s Chief Strategy Officer where she drives their public policy initiatives and health services research.