About Sisterly Love
We offer sister care for family support that is hands down in tune with cultivating a stronger mother, sister, aunt, daughter and friend. Our services extend to the variety of ways women are in need of care and support; whether it's womb care for pre-conception, childbirth education, labor support and post partum. We share the wisdom that we have learned to the new and the seasoned mother. We can attest to knowing that when the whole self is cared for; body, mind and spirit- the woman is cared for. When she looks good; she begins to feel good. She can begin to feel confident about her own ability to become her own healer and a wealth of information for her family.
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Love Talita Akana began loving this work of teaching and caring for others at a very young age under the guidance of her grandmother, Emma Jean Jackson who was sweetly called "Big Mama". Love worked several home-centered jobs, from summer babysitting to providing care as a home health aide. Her focus turned to women when she began working for a non-profit organization that provided family planning services. She educated women and men about sexual health, reproduction, and pregnancy. After giving birth to their daughter, she was called by friends and family with questions. She felt honored to support them in childbirth and to be there to guide with breastfeeding assistance long before fully knowing that those passionate about this path were also called Doula's meaning woman caregiver. During the birth of their second daughter, she found herself surprisingly constrained by rules that did not allow her to labor naturally. She was determined from then on to be there to advise women to educate themselves on policies as it pertained to birth, their body, and knowing their rights.
In 2008, she pursued another passion by attending Cosmetology school. The conversations that moved women while attending to their "crown" caused her to look at the responsibility of hair dressing in a holistic way. From her own experience of having women outside her family touch her hair and say negative things, she wanted to shift the narrative and make sure that each individual left feeling uplifted. Not just by the healing conversation, but from the energy she gave while caring for them. While attending Cosmetology school, they were blessed with another daughter. She listened to the guidance of her beloved cousin to seek a midwife. The care, support and education she received during this time shifted her awareness in a very profound way. Love felt guided to assist more women and their families in the birth space. Through the Natural Birthing Project she was able to train with DONA as a Labor Doula. The experience of her natural birth called her to shift other areas in her life as well. She became more aware of the role nutrition and the food we eat effected our moods. Struggling silently over the years with childhood trauma, depression, and anxiety she decided to make some major changes. She began eating plant based and released other negative habits that were effecting her health. She began practicing yoga regularly and sharing it with loved ones. Love received her Yoga Teacher Certification and then went on to receive her certification as an Ayurveda Consultant. Love Talita's goal is to assist others in improving the quality of their life with support in educating loved ones on mindful eating, birthing, breathing and movement. |
A Sister's Love
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"You and Me us never part.
My kidada Me, my sister; us have one heart. My kidada Ain't no ocean, ain't no sea. My kidada Keep my sister away from me" -A sisters' chant from The Color Purple Our sister, La'Shunda Jean Richardson had a smile that could light up any room. This bright shining star was full of many talents. When the music moved her, she could be spotted in the center of the dance floor while others looked on in amazement of her fluidity and finesse. She danced like no one was watching. Shunda had a sense of style that was so unique! Although she was the youngest, I admired her bravery in so many ways. She never went with the crowd; instead she followed her heart and lived boldly. The name Sisterly Love was not only inspired by our love for one another, but from the love that we witnessed from generations of great women loving and caring for families. From our mother with her siblings, to our maternal Big Mama Emma, and paternal grandmother Ruthie Richardson, all modeled what it meant to be a good sister. Our love for one another is and will always be so beautiful. She listened and cared for me deeply. We held each others hands, long embraces, and sweet sister sugars. Shunda was not without her own life challenges and she sought to create peace in some way. I believe, she took one day at a time; striving to become the greatest version of herself. Shun's life was taken in November of 2015. My sister and the one true being that I knew without a doubt inner stood me in every way that mattered most. There has not been a day that passes that I do not think of both, our sister and mother. The care that we all need as women inspires me to continue this work and provide the kind of love that each of them shared with me. "I will continue to fight; in the kindest way possible." ~La'Shunda "Shun" J. Richardson |
