Racha Tahani Lawler Queen (she/her) is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Licensed Midwife (LM) in California, and Virginia, Registered & Certified Sangoma (South African Traditional Healer Herbalist), fourth generation midwife, farmer, beekeeper and occasional textile artist. Mama to three brilliant children born postdates, at home in water. Married to dana washington queen, living on Powhatan/Shockoe /Musqueam territory a.k.a. Richmond, Virginia.
August 2022, marked 20-years of supporting over 1,600 homebirth families. This includes owning and operating Los Angeles California’s “The Community Birth Center” from 2011 to 2016, which prioritized Black families and midwifery students.
Gather Grounded Midwifery LLC is committed to maintaining the traditional midwifery care of the Black midwives Racha Tahani descends from. Honoring them and their legacies with the cowrie shell. African omens of fertility, protection in pregnancy, symbolizing abundance.
Mary Ellen Lawler (Adkins)
Althea Hall (Adkins) *Ancestor
Willie Mae Bailey *Ancestor
Louisa Adkins *Ancestor
Ma’ Belle Adkins *Ancestor
Lead midwife and creator of The Traditional Midwifery Freedom Path. Supporting Black, Brown, Indigenous, Queer midwives in Central Virginia in their journeys to licensure.