Kristen Mason, SM

Kristen, executive director of Birth It Forward a Kansas City-based nonprofit, grew up the daughter of entrepreneurs. She graduated in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree in history from Oklahoma State University and subsequently began studying at Johns’ Hopkins in 2015; however, the birth of her first child caused her to change course entirely. In 2017 Kristen began studying Bradley Method during her second pregnancy, this increased her love of birth and led to her certification as a Maternal Support Practitioner through Bebo Mia in 2020. Soon after she joined Birth It Forward as a volunteer doula. Within the next two years, she worked her way up the organization, helping to develop new programs, and eventually assumed her current role as the Executive Director. One of her crowning achievements has been the development and successful launch of an advocacy training tailored to birth workers, Standing Strong. Additional education includes certifications as a Birth and Bereavement Doula through Sillbirthday, Trauma Informed Coach through the Healing Centre, and certification in Peer Support Group Leading from GPS. Most recently, Kristen has begun working towards becoming a Certified Professional Midwife in Missouri.

Janice Ingram, CD/PCD, CHW-C, CBE/CEC

Janice is a full spectrum doula, childbirth educator, and Community Health Worker with her Masters from Liberty University in Business & Leadership. Her passion for the families she serves has led her to work in women’s health and advocate for the families of Kansas City and surrounding areas.

Brittney Brownell, SBD, BBYCBP, 200HR

Brittney is an associate director with Birth it Forward, a Kansas City based non-profit organization that provides doula support to families. She has a BS in health education, certified as a birth and bereavement doula with Stillbirthday, a certified yoga instructor, certified birth photographer and professional maternity, birth, newborn and family photographer. She has trained with DONA, Spinning Babies, is a Peanut Ball Ambassador and a certified trauma-informed coach through The Healing Centre. Brittney has supported over 150 families through the beautiful journey of birth and becoming a parent. Her passion for education, both for herself and educating others, knows no bounds as she continues to learn and grow within the birth field. Brittney can be found on the Birth it Forward social media including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Linked-in with educational content for families and doulas as well as free yoga classes for pregnant and postpartum mamas and doulas. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 children, eating pizza and devouring chips and salsa when not teaching,  supporting families or documenting their life journeys through photography.