Cornerstone Oakland Doula Collaborative
Rooted in Advocacy. Growing through Community. Committed to Reproductive Justice.
Our purpose
The Cornerstone Oakland Doula Collaborative is dedicated to championing Reproductive Justice, community care, and harm reduction. Our mission is to strengthen and support culturally responsive, community-based birthwork through training, education, mentorship, scholarships, community organizing, advocacy, and research that uplifts and empowers birthworkers and the communities they serve. Through collaborative leadership and community-driven solutions, we aim to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable care for all people while uplifting the expertise and voices of birthworkers and the communities they serve.
Why Trees?
Throughout this site, you’ll see images of trees—especially oaks. These are more than visuals; they’re symbols of what we believe in.
We call on the Oaks of Oakland as a reminder of our deep roots in community, our connection to land, and the power of collective growth. Trees remind us that birthwork, like all care and support, is not linear—it’s layered, branching, and sustained by what lies beneath the surface.
Our work grows from the ground up: rooted in history, nourished by relationship, and always reaching toward a more just and thriving future.
As the movement to standardize and integrate doula care into healthcare systems grows, we work to ensure that community-based support systems remain grounded, autonomous, and uplifted.
Through scholarships, training, advocacy, and organizing, we invest in birthworkers who are deeply connected to the communities they serve—especially those most impacted by systemic oppression.
We champion culturally responsive care models rooted in Reproductive Justice and harm reduction, and we advocate for autonomy in practice, honoring lived experience and collective wisdom as essential components of quality care.
We are working toward a future where all people who want to give or receive care can do so with dignity, access, and support. We are committed to resourcing the birthwork ecosystem in ways that align with both community needs and evolving standards of care—ensuring sustainability, equity, and impact.
Our roots are in Oakland. Our reach is collective, national, and transformative.
Meet our Board
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Nickie Tilsner, President
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Juli Tilsner, Vice President
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Anna Balagtas, Secretary
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Camilla Muldrow, Treasurer
Support Our Work
We’re building a future where every birthworker—and every community they serve—has access to the tools, training, and support needed to thrive. Your contribution fuels scholarships, grassroots organizing, and the advancement of Reproductive Justice.