SUMI'S TOUCH
IS IMPROVING BIRTHING OUTCOMES
FOR BLACK & BROWN FOLX by transforming the culture around community care. Sumi’s Touch is a hub connecting birthing families to a range of practices and practitioners highlighting and gathering all elements of “The Village” for holistic care. Focusing on dynamic education to safeguard traditional birth work practices, Sumi’s Touch creates safe spaces for BIPOC birthers and their loved ones by activating traditional birth workers in their communities.
SUMI'S TOUCH WAS FOUNDED
BY SUMAYYAH FRANKLIN IN 2015
Sumayyah Franklin is a traditional midwife, a mother, and a mentor. Having learned what a midwife was at age 12, she knew she would be someone to care for mothers, parents, and their babies. She launched into the self- directed journey of birth work well before doulas were a buzz word in Black communities. She was initiated into traditional midwifery through her travels all over the globe and received her elders’ blessings to not only share what she was learning , but to remain a traditional sovereign midwife. There are now thousands of BIPOC people who have received this precious knowledge and as Sumi's Touch approaches its 10th birthday, they're leveling up to usher more Traditional BIPOC Midwives into the world.
Learn More About
Our Offerings
BIRTH WORKER EDUCATION
Our education pillar, This is A Calling Institute includes workshops, master classes and courses supporting full spectrum birth workers.
STUDY ABROAD
PROGRAM
Our student to midwifery pipeline includes several opportunities for our students to expand their knowledge at the feet of midwives around the globe. Check out our 2025 dates.
HYBRID APPRENTICESHIP
An apprentice gains 1 year as an assistant midwife. With the goals of becoming a student midwife providing supervised perinatal care.
Child Birth Preparation
Our Emerge Child Birth Preparation Course is for those who are supporting folks who are pregnant, giving birth, and postpartum
birth worker
directory
Connect with our diverse community of Birth Workers to gain direct services. Check out our directory now.
Private member community
Virtual Circle is our Private Membership platform bringing together birth workers, entrepreneurs and parents to build community.