Our Community

Nuestra Comunidad

About Jacoba, our team, and our amazing community collaborators.

A woman smiling with closed eyes, wearing colorful beaded earrings, and standing outside in sunlight with a green leafy background.

Meet Jacoba (elle)

¡Hola! I’m Jacoba (elle), born and raised in the mountain lands of Borikén (Puerto Rico), where we walk barefoot in the rain, sip café with neighbors at 3 p.m., and grow what we eat. These roots continue to nourish me as I paddle rivers, talk to dogs, and tend to gardens in Skokie, IL—my home in the diaspora.

With over 20 years of experience walking alongside communities, I serve as a Sexual Health Educator and Coach, Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM), Integrative Health Practitioner, and companion through the full spectrum of reproductive experiences. My work bridges traditional healing and evidence-based care, centering clients in practices that honor their autonomy, stories, and ancestral wisdom.

I currently serve the North Chicago area, Northern Illinois suburbs, and offer virtual support year-round—with in-person offerings in Puerto Rico during winter and spring seasons.

Before any credentials, I am a Santigüadora and Yerbetera—because my Abuela Niña said so. These gifts ground my work in ancestral healing, herbalism, and body-based care. Professionally, I also hold certifications as a:

  • Direct Entry Midwife/ Partera

  • Certified Doula (Full Spectrum + End-of-Life)

  • Lactation Consultant (LC)

  • Childbirth Educator (CBE)

  • Women’s Health Herbal Consultant (WHHC)

  • WGSS (Women, Gender & Sexuality Specialist)

  • Reiki practitioner

  • Thanatology & Somatic/Sexologist Healing Specialist

My care is trauma-informed, deeply relational, and holistic. I support individuals and families through:

  • Fertility journeys

  • Natural gynecology & womb/pelvic care

  • Birth and postpartum

  • Sexual trauma and reproductive justice

  • Perinatal loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, and FGM/post-refugee trauma

My mission is to decolonize health by uplifting the cultural healing practices our communities have always known, while weaving in modern, evidence-informed tools. I’m a native Spanish speaker and also work in French and Moroccan Arabic. I proudly serve and advocate for the Global Majority, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Immigrant, Refugee, and Asylum-Seeking communities.

This path hasn't been easy. After stepping away from birth work to heal from my own unaccompanied fertility journey and multiple miscarriages, I found purpose in my pain. I realized that healing isn't about returning to what was, but about transforming what is. My practice is built on that knowing: that our most difficult chapters can become our greatest sources of purpose and connection.

I’m here to walk with you—not to lead or follow, but to stand beside you in care, companionship, and shared strength.

“ (JACOBA) ES UN SER HUMANO Y MUJER EXCEPCIONAL, DE UNA SENSIBILIDAD ACTIVA Y COMPROMETIDA CON LA JUSTICIA Y EQUIDAD EN TODAS SUS DIMENSIONES SOCIALES Y AMBIENTALES. CON UNA CAPACIDAD EN CONECTARSE CON LOS Y LAS DEMÁS, DE DESPERTAR EN LOS QUE LA CONOCEN -A QUIENES BRINDA AMOR- UNA SENSIBILIDAD POR LA VIDA”

— CARLOS A. MUÑIZ OSORIO, ED. D, PROYECTO ECO PAZ COLLABORATOR, 2013

Know our journey!

    • BA Modern Languages and Literatures, with a Minor in Sexuality focused on Human Rights (2001 UPRRP, DECEP and AIPR PR) Also did Photography studies which is still. passion to this day.

    • MA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Curriculum Development Minor (2009 WGSS, UIPR)

    • Stop Violence Against Women Campaign Coordinator, MA Internship. (2007-09) and Gender Based Violence Prevention Committee Coordinator, Promoted Post Internship (2009-12) Amnistía Internacional, Puerto Rico

    • Traditional Midwifery (Direct Entry Midwifery, DEM) with Escuela Dar a Luz (2009-12 PR), the former Hermandad de Parteras de P.R.’s Midwifery School (currently Asociación de Parteras de PR), as well as with Midwest Maternal Child Institute (2014-15 WI).

    • Trained in herbology since 1978 with diversity of ancestral popular spaces, to organizations. Certified Herbal Medicine for Women (2024) and finishing our preparation as Women's Functional & Integrative Medicine Credentials with Aviva Romm (2026).

    • Certified Birth Worker by Doula Caribe (2008 P.R.)

    • Maternal and Child Community Health Educator, by Red Relahacupan (2010, Argentina)

    • Perinatal and Breast/chestfeeding Educator by Midwest Maternal Child Institute, MMCI (2013 WI).

    • Certified in CPR and NRP (updated every 2 years)

    • Reiki Energy Healer I with Boriken Reiki, Reiki Master Edwin Rodriguez-Rivera (2010, P.R.).

    • Trained and certified in Community Trauma Support (TRACC Healer Movement member 2019)

    • Trained in Somatic Sexual Education-Coaching (Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education ISSSE 2019). Currently doing classes towards certification on Sexological Bodyworker with IPSA (International Professional Surrogates Association)

    • Art of Leadership for Women and Femmes of Color at Rockwood Leadership Institute (2023)

    • Trained in Intimacy Embodied techniques with The Embody Lab, and Thanatology with Instituto Mexicano de Tanatología (2025).

    • Youth development inclusion and diversity education and activities, community training, women's health specialist and Midwife Assistant at Peace Corps Morocco 2003-05

    • Proud Satigüadora (Healer) and Yerbetera (a person that works with herbs) since the days grandma Doña Niña said so as my first mentor.

    • Community Health Educator (since 2000, P.R.) with various youth centered projects like Sor Isolina Ferré (Caimito) where I utilized photography as channel to health and self esteem topics.

    • End of Life Doula since early ages assisting my mom in the community that raised me.

    • Midwife Assistant for mentor Midwife Aicha (2003-05, Morocco)

    • Community Health Educator and program coordination with Taller Salud, Inc (Loíza, PR 2006-13). Worked initiatives in local high schools and public housing, and created new programs around Masculinities and Grandmothers rising for the second time, including a community garden.

    • Full spectrum birth worker (Since 2008, P.R.). Doing abortion support since before it was a thing :)

    • Ob/Gyne and midwife assistant. Ob/Gyne Dr Velez (2009-10, P.R.)

    • Student to apprentice midwife with local midwives through my studies with Asociación de Parteras de Puerto Rico. (2009-13, P.R.)

    • Popular Health Clinics Program Coordinator and Facilitation for immigrant communities in Albany Park, Chicago, Mexico Solidarity Network, Chicago (2013-14)

    • Prenatal and Women's Health Popular Clinics with Universidad Popular, Little Village, Chicago (2014-16)

    • Direct-entry midwife (DEM)/2nd midwife in IL and WI with diverse midwives and community projects (2013-17)

    • All pregnancy outcomes and experiences companion: reproductive loss, birth and postpartum, adoption and fertility/conception loss support, menopause and gender doula (2011 to present in the same locations)

    • Co-creation of Chicago Birth Workers of Color (ChiBiWoCo) in 2015, aiming to bring collective support to communities of color in Chicagoland with a fierce group of BIPOC birth workers.

    • Member of RSMLAC since 2007 (Red de Salud Mujeres Latinoamericanas y del Caribe).

    • Directing comprehensive reproductive and abortion health clinic services at North Shore Health Center (FemHealthUSA/carafem 2018-2023).

    • Directing Operations at Chicago Women’s Health Center clinical programs that include Gender Affirming Therapy, Alternative Insemination, and Gyne care clinic services. (2023-24)

    • Providing Gyne Clinical Health Services as a specialist and health worker (11 years in Chicago Women’s Health Center), and natural gyne care through my private practice.

    • Providing Alternative Insemination (AI) care and Fertility Awareness/TTC education and consultations as an AI specialist and health worker (2015-23 Chicago Women’s Health Center), and at home inseminations in my private practice home-based, or Skokie location.

    • Full Spectrum trainer at the Birth Justice and Doula Academy Sokana/ Other Outcomes and Experiences of Pregnancy (2023-present) and Full Spectrum Doula Training Spanish cohorts. (2024-present)

    • Fertility, Adoption, Prenatal Loss and Abortion Doulas training at Embrace Full Spectrum Doula Trainings with Partum Health (2024-present)

  • After my needed break, trying to consciously slower my pace while immersing back into our communities....

    • Private practice at Evanston. Somatic bodywork specialist (level 1) and energy healing (Reiki), focused on sexual traumas and dysfunctions around pregnancy and trauma experiences and outcomes. Focus on Loss/Grief support within Thanatology principles.

    • Integrating our extensive ancestral and trained herbal and wellness education to our care, while finishing our preparation as Herbal Medicine for Women and Women's Functional & Integrative Medicine Credentials with Aviva Romm.

    • Personalized sacred loss/grief midwifery care at home for those needing support experiencing loss at perinatal, fertility, or abortion.

    • Senior Consultant of Women’s Health, FamilyPlanning, and Maternal-Child Health Specialist at the Ob/Gyne Midwives program, School Based Health Centers, refugees and asylum seekers shelters, and low income, uninsured and underserved communities utilizing a community health worker model at Alivio Medical Center in South Chicago. (2023-25)

    • Senior Consultant for Rockford Family Planning Foundation (2025)

    • Collaborating with local organizations and supporting other Doulas expansive training on “Other Outcomes and Experiences, as well as training Culturally Centered-Spanish speaking doulas.

    • Bringing harm-reduction, body-positive, queer-inclusive, and gender-expansive Sex Ed at Latinx communities (Spanish), at refugees’ communities around Chicago (Spanish and French) with the Outreach and Education Program (since 2013 with Chicago Women’s Health Center). Also, Training All Pregnancy Experiences and Outcomes Community Companions.

    • Coordinating care and education initiatives at our Cabaña Montuna for our communities any time we are home in Puerto Rico, and now soon our Casa Montuna in Illinois.

    • Planning our transition back to Puerto Rico!

Meet Team Montuna (PR)

  • A woman holding a young boy in her arms, both smiling, with a background featuring a poster with the word 'SEN' visible.

    Mijeyka J Santiago, (Ella/ FL)

    Programs Administrator

  • A woman with dark hair, sunglasses, and a septum piercing looking through a heart-shaped opening in a tree trunk during fall with yellow leaves.

    Ariadna M. Santiago (Ella/PR)

    Sobadora and Kitchen Alchemist. Co-Owner of Freshcura

  • A woman sitting in a cafe with a latte art coffee on a table in front of her, smiling at the camera.

    Tiara C. Santiago (Ella/ PR)

    Art Therapy

  • A woman with long dark hair wearing glasses, large colorful earrings, and a magenta top, smiling at the camera inside a warehouse or industrial building.

    Jellyka Cruz (Ella/FL)

    Outreach and Project Design

Meet Community Collaborators

  • A smiling woman surrounded by four young girls and a small dog outdoors, with trees and sky in the background.

    Juanita Montoya (she/them/ella)

    CPM, LMT, SpBCPE, SpBAP. Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), Spinning Babies Certified Parent Educator and Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner. Yoni Steam Facilitator, craniosacral therapist, and dedicated keeper of traditional cuarentena—postpartum care rooted in birth rituals and holistic healing.

    Owner of Partería 7 Generaciones Midwifery (Chicago/ Bilingüe Español)

  • A woman with long dark hair and hoop earrings smiling outdoors in a park, wearing an orange sleeveless top with crochet details.

    Sylvia Gonzalez (she/them/ella)

    Doctor of East Asian Medicine. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, body work, food therapy, and lifestyle recommendations to address a wide variety of health issues, and treats children, youth, adults, elderly, and pregnant people.

    Owner of Red Earth Acupunture

    Sanctuary Health Pilsen (Chicago/ Bilingüe-Español)

  • A black and white close-up portrait of a woman with short, curly hair smiling at the camera.

    Trini Hertz (she/her/ella)

    Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, Lactation Consultant and Childbirth Educator. Education and support around nutrition, movement, and physical well-being.

    Owner of La Luz Maternal (Chicago/Bilingüe-Español)

  • A woman with curly dark hair pulled back, wearing a black shirt and a gold necklace with a pendant, standing outdoors in front of a large tree and a wooden fence, smiling at the camera.

    Coté Sáez (she/her/ella)

    Certified Advanced Holistic Birth and Postpartum Doula, Birth Assistant, Holistic Childbirth Educator, and Birth Mentor, and Herbalist and Placenta Artist & Encapsulator, Traditional rebozo techniques and closing ceremony, and is also trained in Spinning Babies Technique.

    Owner of Our Healing Roots (Chicago, Bilingüe-Español)

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing earrings and a necklace, smiling while lying down against a light background.

    Mayra Elisa Buitrón (she/her/ella)

    Birth, postpartum , and bereavement Doula , and Perinatal Educator through CAPPA.

    Owner of bitty bitty bump bump

    (Chicago/Bilingüe-Español)