What do you do when your organization’s name is well known, but what you actually do is NOT well known or understood? How do you educate the public and the healthcare community for greater awareness and support?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Silvia Quevedo, Executive Director of Lamaze International. Silvia discusses: 

• That Lamaze is so much more than a breathing technique. Lamaze is a philosophy, education, advocacy, and practices that foster healthy labor, delivery and early parenting.
• The maternal health crisis in the US, especially among women of color and women in rural communities.
• The six healthy birth practices that are supported by the World Health Organization.
• How being an association executive is Silvia’s second career, and how being an executive director for the first time is like drinking from a fire hose.
• Her biggest piece of advice to other association CEOs: listen more and listen to what’s being said and NOT said.
• How Lamaze expanded membership categories so that anyone working with pregnancy and birthing can join.
• How Lamaze is a brand and the organization licenses its name to products, including clothing and toys. The processing for vetting licensees is very thorough.
• Lamaze’s advocacy work includes supporting the Medicaid expansion in states, and support for workforce development programs.
• The member toolkits and resources Lamaze has developed, enabling members to better communicate the organization's mission and services.

References:

• Lamaze International website