Host: Cori Guest: Leseliey Welch, MPH, MBA — Public Health Strategist, Social Entrepreneur, Poet, Founder of Birth Detroit & Birth Center Equity, Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow Welcome back to The Melanin Wellness Podcast, where we explore holistic wellness, healing, and empowerment for Black women. In this episode, I sit down with Leseliey Welch, a public health strategist, writer, and professional dreamer whose work centers on love, care, and community. Leseliey shares her journey into birth equity, the founding of Birth Detroit and Birth Center Equity, and why creating safe spaces for Black women is essential for healing, self-expression, and wellness. We also discuss how creativity, poetry, and personal reflection intersect with professional advocacy, and why softening, slowing down, and prioritizing rest are revolutionary acts for Black women in today's fast-paced world. If you’re interested in holistic health, wellness for Black women, maternal care equity, self-care, and community advocacy, this episode is for you.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Leseliey’s journey into public health and how her early experiences shaped her understanding of love, care, and community The impact of opening Birth Detroit, Detroit’s first freestanding community birth center How Birth Center Equity is transforming birth care access for Black, Indigenous, and communities of color across the U.S. Defining safe spaces for Black women in both wellness and healthcare settings How poetry, creativity, and public health intersect to inspire social change The importance of softening, slowing down, and self-care in maintaining balance and wellness Advice for Black women claiming their voice, space, and wellness without guilt Connect with Leseliey Welch: Birth Detroit: https://www.birthdetroit.org Birth Center Equity: https://www.birthcenterequity.org Poetry / Chapbook: Awaken LOVE (available Valentine’s Day) Subscribe & Stay Connected: Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to The Melanin Wellness Podcast on your favorite streaming platform. Follow along for more on holistic wellness, self-care, maternal health equity, and Black women’s empowerment. If this episode inspired you, leave a review, share your favorite takeaways, or send a voice message via SpeakPipe. Your engagement helps us reach more Black women seeking healing, wellness, and empowerment. Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/themelaninwellnesspodcast