ICAN is excited to announce Siusan Peek as our newest Chapter Leader!
“We aren’t anti-CS, that we are pro-CS when it’s needed and pro-woman always.” ~ Siusan Peek, ICAN of Birmingham
Please introduce yourself to ICAN:
I have a BA in History from Berea College and am currently a graduate student pursuing an MA in Humanities. I also work full time at a local community college as a Success Coach (which is a bit like being a doula for students). I am married and have two young children–my first was born by cesarean, the second by VBAC.
What led you to join ICAN?
I wandered into a store owned by a local midwife and told her I was afraid I wouldn’t have any decent shot at a VBAC “next time” … she gave me a card for ICAN of Huntsville, I joined the FB group that afternoon and found that I both had options and that I could be empowered to make options happen for myself if necessary.
How do you share ICAN as an organization with others?
My biggest belief is that no one should coerce a decision, that the choice between CS and VBAC is 100% up to the mother (and her partner–IF SHE WANTS) because she is the one who has to deal with the physical and emotional consequences of everything that goes right or wrong. Potentially getting to be for other moms what the Chapter Leaders in Huntsville were for me–a sounding board, an encourager, someone who was willing to fight alongside me, who helped me find my own empowerment – I am excited to be a support and a friend to women who need a tribe that “gets it.”
Where will you be serving families through ICAN?
ICAN of Birmingham serves (officially and unofficially) women in the following Alabama counties: Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount, Cullman, Walker, and Winston counties
Please share your upcoming Chapter meeting:
Our next meeting will be Friday, November 17th, 7 p.m., at TrainSmarter, 1105 Dunston Avenue, Birmingham, AL 35213.
Congratulations, Siusan!
