Kimberly Durdin and Allegra Hill wanted to make a difference in their community and now, the sleek new look of Kindred Space LA is a testament to that. The center, run by the two midwives, promises a unique birthing, education, and support facility.
When Allegra and Kimberly learned that black babies born in L.A. County were three times more likely than white babies to pass away before their first birthday and that Black mothers are four times more likely than white moms to endure fatal complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, they knew they needed to help.
"Allegra and I haven't been comfortable just being like, 'Wow, that really sucks. All this terrible stuff is happening'," Durdin told LAist. "We have literally pledged our lives at this moment to be a part of the solution."
Kindred Space LA was originally based in a Ladera Heights office building. While there, both Hill and Durdin handled clients who were planning home births by offering in-person classes for all involved. According to the two, their business model was based on "lots of people getting together and lots of hugging, lots of crying."
Then, a pandemic happened and suddenly hugging was no longer a possibility.
"It was like the universe was telling us like our time there was done," Durdin continued. "It was time for us to now focus on creating the space where families could come to birth."
With everything changing in March, it was only a matter of time before the group moved to Southwest Drive in Hyde Park, a larger location that can accommodate social distance, and where they can do some good for those in need.
"I always knew this property as like, this building right before you get to the liquor store," Durdin explained. "It wasn't very pretty on the outside at all."
Besides Kindred Space L.A., Kimberly and Allegra are also in charge of the Birthing People Foundation. This group focuses on the statistics stated earlier only by offering both free and low-cost training, education and certification for those working in the pregnancy field, as well as birth and postpartum for women of color.
On top of that, they also run a community clinic every two weeks. It is there where women can share stories, ask questions, or just share their own experiences. Women are even invited stay for one on one care after the meetings. They are given prenatal exams or offered lactation support.
If life is about paying it forward then both Kimberly Durdin and Allegra Hill are all about life. Thanks to people like them and their new facility, they can help others bring life into the world and watch it flourish.
Sources: LAist, Every Mother Counts