USBC Membership Meeting Mission Moment

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosted a Membership Meeting on Thursday, March 20. The biannual virtual event brings together representatives from the approximately 140 member organizations that comprise the USBC member network and work collaboratively to drive policy and practice changes that create a landscape of breastfeeding support.

At the opening of the meeting, USBC Executive Director Jennifer Day and Board Chair Tiana Pyles engaged in a “Mission Moment Fireside Chat.” The “Mission Moment” is a meeting-opening practice that serves to connect our work to the people we serve and the positive and impactful change we seek. This iteration was a conversation between USBC leaders Jennifer and Tiana. Deep gratitude to them for sharing their stories, grounding us in what is happening in the world, giving us hope about what is possible, and guiding us in what we can do right now!
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In the below excerpt from the fireside chat, Jennifer shares her personal story and a glimpse into what brought her to the field.  

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Jennifer Day
Executive Director, U.S. Breastfeeding Committee

I have the experience of having had family that all birthed their babies at home. Our family grew up in a really small, tight-knit community in southwestern Ontario, Canada and everyone was born at home. Everyone breastfed their babies. 
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And then I married an American and had babies here in the U.S. I had significant systemic challenges relevant to breastfeeding and birthing and did not know what I didn't know. That experience definitely rooted a desire and passion in me to support families. I started out as a breastfeeding peer counselor where I worked at our local WIC for several years and grew my desire to continue growing in my education, knowledge, and capacity.

I went on to support so many different families of my own, as well as friends and just deeply immersed myself in community. I grew such a passion for community-based organizations that have always had the solutions. As a black woman, I know that we've always had the solutions to our own communities. What we've lacked is resources, money, as well as policies to really support us in being able to do what it is that we do without systemic barriers. My own breastfeeding experience opened the door for me to support other families as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. As I became more immersed in community, my role naturally expanded—first as Chair of the Oakland County Breastfeeding Coalition, then as Co-Founder of the Southeast Michigan IBCLCs of Color, and eventually with the Michigan Breastfeeding Network, a statewide advocacy-based nonprofit, where I served as the Community Building Manager for several years. What began as a passion for direct, one-on-one support evolved into a deeper calling—advancing breastfeeding through advocacy, policy, and systems change rooted in equity and community power.

And now, here I am—rooted in a story deeply intertwined with my family, my grandmother, and her mother before her. Their ancestral wisdom lives on in me and continues through my daughter and son, who I pray will one day parent with that same legacy of love and strength. Having walked this journey and worked alongside so many of you in this field, I carry our shared commitment forward with deep purpose and power.

Some of you have watched my children grow up and my daughter reminded me just last week that she'll be 18 next year. To know that I started bringing her to the USBC conference when she was just a little toddler— I'm so deeply reminded that we have work to do. So that they have the system to go on to grow amazing families without the barriers that exist.

I'm deeply grateful to be in this space—entrusted by you, our board, our entire membership, and the broader community. That trust fuels and inspires me to serve alongside such a powerful collective of passionate, purpose-driven leaders committed to our shared mission and vision.

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​To review prior Mission Moments, please access them on our DEI webpage, and to learn more about joining the USBC membership network, please explore our website and complete the Membership Interest Form. Member organizations are listed in the Member Directory.