Cecile D. Edwards
Senior Manager
Cecile Edwards, M.Ed has a passion for maternal & child health/family wellness and believes it is a cornerstone to a well society. Cecile is a Postpartum Doula, Maternal Equity Consultant and Maternal Mental Health & Wellness Advocate, NJ Paid Family Leave Leader, Perinatal/Postpartum Family Coach assisting individuals, families, organizations in facilitating conversations and creating systems that improve maternal wellness via her business MommyEvolve. Cecile is a 16+ year educator and a member of Advocates for Children of New Jersey’s Parent Leadership Council.
Cecile was a proud member of the New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance Community Advisory Committee and is happy to continue to work side by side as the new Senior Manager for the New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance. Cecile looks forward to working with philanthropic organizations and community organizations to build capacity for community work. Cecile loves to hike and travel. She lives in Somerset, NJ with her 14-year-old daughter.
Kérène Kabambi
Assistant Project Manager
As assistant project manager, Kérène is responsible for supporting all the going-ons of the Alliance, including collaborating with the Nurture NJ team, supporting NJBEFA grantees and technical assistance recipients, managing the NJBEFA Learning Series, and working with the Community Advisory Committee to award funding to community-based organizations led by and serving people of color.
Prior to joining the Alliance, Kérène completed a two-year fellowship at the Burke Foundation, where she managed a portfolio of maternal and infant health grants.
Joíní James
Program Assistant
Joíní James is a health professional and dynamic Project Manager with a bachelor’s degree in public health from Montclair State University. Joíní specializes in maternal health, with a proven track record of leading projects to success and developing comprehensive health education curriculums.
They have spent over five years in the maternal health sector where their efforts are concentrated on building sustainable doula reimbursement models, championing community solutions for maternal equity, and leveraging technology to enhance health education. They are also the proud owner and founder of The Resting Garden serving NJ/NY, which was founded to support community solutions for Black maternal mortality through holistic health education.