Our Community

Nuestra Comunidad

Meet Jacoba (elle) and the Montuna team — trauma‑informed midwives, reproductive health educators, and holistic practitioners serving BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and diverse communities.

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), now based in Skokie, IL. My roots inspire my work as a Sexual Health Educator, Consultant, and Coach, Bereavement Midwife/Monitrice, DEM, Integrative Health Practitioner, and companion through the full spectrum of reproductive experiences. I blend ancestral healing, herbalism, and body-based care with evidence-informed practices that center autonomy, stories, and cultural wisdom.

I 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.

Professional Credentials:

  • Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM)

  • Sexual Health & Sexology Educator and Coach

  • Full-Spectrum & End-of-Life Monitrice/Birth Worker

  • Lactation (Bodyfeeding) Consultant (LC)

  • Childbirth Educator (CBE)

  • Women’s Health Herbal Consultant (WHHC)

  • Women, Gender & Sexuality Specialist (WGSS)

  • Reiki Practitioner

  • Thanatology & Somatic/Sexologist Healing Specialist

Areas of Support:

  • Fertility journeys and reproductive wellness

  • Natural gynecology & womb/pelvic care

  • Birth, postpartum, and perinatal support

  • Sexual pleasure, trauma, and reproductive justice

  • Miscarriage, stillbirth, FGM, and post-refugee trauma

My Approach:
I provide trauma-informed, relational, and holistic care rooted in decolonizing health. I uplift cultural healing practices while integrating modern, evidence-informed tools. I work in English, Español, French, and Moroccan Arabic, proudly serving BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking communities.

My personal journey through fertility challenges and loss has shaped my practice: healing is not returning to what was, but transforming what is. I walk alongside clients with care, companionship, and shared strength—not to lead or follow, but to stand beside you.

“ (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!

Seal with the text "Unidad de Puerto Rico - Recinto de R�o Piedras 1903" encircling an illustration of a palm tree, a traditional building, a river, and a sun with rays.
The seal of Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, featuring a shield divided into four sections with a road and landscape, a ship, a dolphin and a map, and a cross, surrounded by the university name and founding year 1912 in gold and green colors.

  • Academic Background

    • BA in Modern Languages and Literatures, Minor in Sexuality focused on Human Rights – University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras (UPRRP, 2001)

    • Photography Studies – lifelong passion

    • MA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Curriculum Development Minor – University of Puerto Rico (WGSS, 2009)

    Professional Experience & Leadership

    • Stop Violence Against Women Campaign Coordinator, MA Internship (2007–09) – Amnistía Internacional, PR

    • Gender-Based Violence Prevention Committee Coordinator (2009–12) – Amnistía Internacional, PR

    Midwifery & Maternal-Child Care

    • Direct-Entry Midwifery (DEM) – Escuela Dar a Luz / Asociación de Parteras de PR (2009–12, PR); Midwest Maternal Child Institute (2014–15, WI)

    • Certified Birth Worker – Doula Caribe (2008, PR)

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

    • Perinatal & Breast/Chestfeeding Educator – MMCI (2013, WI)

    • CPR & NRP Certification (updated biennially)

    Herbalism & Integrative Health

    • Trained in herbalism since 1978; Certified Herbal Medicine for Women (2024)

    • Women's Functional & Integrative Medicine Certification in progress – Aviva Romm (2026)

    Energy Healing & Trauma Support

    • Reiki Energy Healer I – Boriken Reiki (2010, PR)

    • Community Trauma Support Training – TRACC Healer Movement (2019)

    • Somatic Sexual Education & Coaching – ISSSE (2019), Sexological Bodyworker Certification in progress – IPSA (2025)

    Sexual Health, Leadership & Embodied Practices

    • Sexual Health Alliance Certification in progress (June 2025)

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

    • Intimacy Embodied Techniques – The Embody Lab

    • Thanatology Training – Instituto Mexicano de Tanatología (2025)

  • Early Community & Youth Work

    • Youth Development, Inclusion & Diversity Education, Community Training, Women’s Health Specialist & Midwife Assistant – Peace Corps Morocco (2003–05)

    • Proud Santigüadora (Healer) and Yerbetera (Herbalist) since mentorship under Abuela Doña Niña

    • Community Sexual Health Educator since 2000 in Puerto Rico, including youth-centered projects like Sor Isolina Ferré (Caimito), using photography as a tool for health and self-esteem

    Midwifery & Reproductive Health

    • End-of-Life Monitrice care from early age assisting in community care

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

    • Full-Spectrum Birth Worker since 2008, including abortion support

    • OB/Gyne & Midwife Assistant – Dr. Velez (2009–10, PR)

    • Student/Apprentice Midwife – Hermandad de Parteras de Puerto Rico (2009–13)

    • Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM) & 2nd Midwife – IL & WI (2013–17)

    Community Health & Education

    • Program Coordinator & Community Sexual Health Educator – Taller Salud, Inc., Loíza, PR (2006–13)

    • Popular Health Clinics Program Coordinator & Facilitator – Albany Park, Chicago, Mexico Solidarity Network (2013–14)

    • Prenatal & Women’s Health Clinics – Universidad Popular, Little Village, Chicago (2014–16)

    • Co-Creator – Chicago Birth Workers of Color (ChiBiWoCo, 2015)

    • Member – Red de Salud Mujeres Latinoamericanas y del Caribe (RSMLAC, since 2007)

    Clinical Leadership & Specialized Care

    • Executive Director – Rockford Family Planning Foundation, Rockford, IL (2025)

    • Women & Maternal Health Program Manager – Alivio Medical Center, Chicago, IL (2024–25)

    • Director – Reproductive & Abortion Health Services, North Shore Health Center (FemHealthUSA/carafem, 2018–23)

    • Director of Operations – Clinical Programs, Chicago Women’s Health Center (2023–24), including Gender Affirming Therapy, Alternative Insemination, and Gynecological Care

    • Gyne Clinical Health Specialist – Chicago Women’s Health Center (11 years) & private practice

    • Alternative Insemination (AI) Specialist – Fertility Awareness/TTC consultations (2015–23)

    Training & Teaching

    • Full Spectrum Doula & Birth Justice Trainer – Birth Justice & Doula Academy Sokana (2023–present)

    • Fertility, Adoption, Prenatal Loss & Abortion Doula Trainer – Embrace Full Spectrum Doula Trainings with Partum Health (2024–present)

    Professional Memberships

    • Sexual Health Alliance (SHA)

    • American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)

  • After a needed break to consciously slow my pace, I’ve been immersing back into communities through private practice, consultation, and community-based initiatives.

    Private Practice & Somatic Care

    • Somatic Bodywork Specialist (Level 1) and Energy Healing (Reiki), focused on sexual trauma, pregnancy-related dysfunctions, and trauma-informed care

    • Loss & Grief support guided by Thanatology principles

    • Personalized sacred midwife (emerita) care at home for diverse reproductive journeys

    • Integrates ancestral and trained herbal medicine with ongoing preparation in Herbal Medicine for Women and Women’s Functional & Integrative Medicine with Aviva Romm

    Clinical & Community Consulting

    • Senior Consultant – Women’s Health, Family Planning, and Maternal-Child Health at Alivio Medical Center (2023–25), serving school-based health centers, refugee & asylum-seeker shelters, and low-income/underserved communities using a community health worker model

    • Senior Leader Consultant – Rockford Family Planning Foundation (2025)

    • Collaborates with local organizations and trains Doulas in full-spectrum care, culturally-centered practices, and Spanish-speaking support

    Education & Community Outreach

    • Provides harm-reduction, body-positive, queer-inclusive, and gender-expansive sexual education to Latinx and refugee communities in Chicago (Spanish & French) through Chicago Women’s Health Center Outreach & Education Program (since 2013)

    • Trains community companions in supporting all pregnancy outcomes and experiences

    Community Hubs & Local Initiatives

    • Coordinates care, education, and wellness programs at Cabaña Montuna in Puerto Rico and soon at Casa Montuna in Illinois

    • Preparing for a transition back to Puerto Rico to continue expanding community-centered healing

Logo of the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies at UPR-RP, featuring stylized red and gray architectural elements alongside text.
Text graphic with the words 'INSTITUTE for the STUDY of SOMATIC SEX EDUCATION' in black and orange letters.
Sexual Health Alliance logo representing inclusive sexual and reproductive health advocacy
Logo for Midwest Maternal Child Institute featuring a purple spiral with a hearts shape at the center, and text 'mmci' with 'mm' in purple and 'ci' in orange, followed by the full name in purple.
A logo featuring a stylized barn with a pregnant woman inside, surrounded by green plants and pink flowers, with the text "Escuela da Luz" at the top and "Partería y Salúd" at the bottom, and the year 2009 and the word "Daluz".
Logo of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM) with gold emblem and red text
Logo of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) featuring overlapping purple and orange circles with the organization's name and full description.
Logo for Doula Caribe featuring a stylized woman with long hair holding a lotus flower

Meet the Montuna Family (PR)

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

    Mijeyka, (Ella/FL)

    Adriansito’s Mama and 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 (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 (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 (Ella/FL)

    Designer at Atiko

  • A woman with blonde hair smiling and holding a baby boy with short light hair, dressed in a red outfit, in a bright, green tropical setting.

    Aida (Ella/PR)

    La Matrona

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)