Latoya Blueford

Founder & Executive Director 

Latoya Blueford is a child-loss-survivor, former NICU-mother, Certified Pregnancy and Infant Loss Advocate, Postpartum-Doula, Legislative Advocate, , former Rape-crisis Advocate through Lifelines Counseling Services,  PreemieWorld Foundation board member,  Hope for Healing Partnership advisory board member, member of the NICU Parent Network, and a member of the AngelEye Health Parent & Family Collaborative. Her life's work is to walk the NICU and bereavement journey with families offering a display of hope and reassurance that no matter what the final outcome is, they are not alone and given the proper resources and support they will overcome any obstacle. Her goal is to bring awareness to NICU postpartum care by giving the world a glimpse inside the this world. A NICU mother is still a postpartum mother but with a critical baby, a devastating reality.

It is her mission to develop and implement new ways to improve conditions, heal, and help NICU and bereaved families.therapeutically process trauma.

President 

Candie Harling is a dedicated project manager with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Clark Atlanta University. With a strong foundation in technology and leadership, Candie excels in her field while also being rooted in her compassionate nature.

She is a busy mom, devoted sister, beloved daughter, and cherished auntie. Candie's passion for helping others is deeply influenced by her personal experiences. Witnessing her niece's journey in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) profoundly impacted her family and has inspired her to advocate for families facing similar challenges. She is committed to ensuring that they know support and resources are available and reminding them that they are never alone in their struggles.

Beyond her professional life, Candie actively engages in her community and church. She volunteers at higher education festivals, supports homeless shelters, and contributes her time to assist victims of domestic violence. Candie believes that everyone has a unique journey, and she is committed to sharing her testimony to uplift others during their storms. Her faith is a guiding force, reinforcing her belief that every challenge has a purpose. Candie often shares the wisdom that “God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggle, and a reward for your faithfulness. Trust Him and never give up.” Through her work and volunteer efforts, Candie Harling continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, embodying the principles of compassion, resilience, and community service.

Secretary  

Emily Locke is a PhD student in medical anthropology at the University of Alabama, a postpartum doula, and a volunteer community birth doula. She first learned about The Skylar Project when she was collecting data for her masters thesis that explored the impact of multiple natural disasters on infant health, well-being, and feeding in Alabama’s gulf coast. Emily is a passionate advocate for equitable access to doula care, midwifery, and evidence-based practice. She loves to support moms by connecting them to resources that help them thrive.

Treasurer

Arielle Arroyo is a Physician Assistant student and  graduate from Norfolk State University with Bachelors of Science in Mass Communications;  She is versed in the areas of basic patient care, emergency healthcare, project management, social media outreach, audience engagement and public speaking. She is dependable, result-oriented young professional who is a team player and self-starter. Her education background and previous work experience has prepared her for the capabilities to succeed in fast-paced, evolving and intense work environments. Her professional experiences have allowed me to efficiently manage logistics and perform supervision of teams in order to fulfill the requirements of a project from its inception to conclusion.

Deb Discenza gave birth to her daughter at 30 weeks gestation in 2003. From day one she was thrust into advocating and never looked back.  Whether it was her starting the award-winning Preemie Magazine in 2005 or co-writing The Preemie Parent’s Survival Guide to the NICU and launching PreemieWorld, she saw a huge void in parent education in and out of the NICU especially in underserved communities.  In 2020 she Co-Founded the Alliance for Black NICU Families, a non-profit providing racial and health equity in the form of a free wearable breast pump.  In 2023 she founded and is the Executive Director of PreemieWorld Foundation, Inc., providing equitable access to patient education in the form of like-minded books and long term outcomes data for premature infants into the geriatric years. Also in 2023 she founded and is the Executive Director of the Books for Healing Partnership, Inc. going no where no one else can with patient education in the form of a children’s story to be used in all forms of healthcare.  When not doing all of that, Deb serves or has served on numerous boards and committees including the International Neonatal Consortium, the National Coalition for Infant Health and NICU Parent Network, International Children’s Advisory Network as well as the NICHD Neonatal Research Network’ Community Engagement Board and the Board of Directors for Kindred 360.

Dr. Maheshwari is an esteemed neonatologist and the Founding Chair of the Global Newborn Society. He holds prestigious fellowships with several prominent organizations. He received medical education at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh in India. He then relocated to the University of Florida at Gainesville  for further training in clinical pediatrics and laboratory research. Two years later, he relocated with the same team to the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida (USF) to continue his research and for fellowship training in neonatology.. His career includes notable positions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of South Florida, as well as Johns Hopkins University, where he has made significant contributions to neonatal medicine and education. He is committed to newborn health and maternal health equity. 

Dr. Sonji Fatima (Daniel) Harold is a transformational leader, educator, author, and advocate whose life’s

work is a testament to the power of resilience, purpose, and healing over adversity. Her journey is both deeply personal and profoundly impactful, shaped by experiences of loss, injustice, and a steadfast commitment to equity and healing. With an unwavering dedication to trauma-informed education, maternal and infant health advocacy, and social justice, Dr. Harold has devoted her life to empowering historically marginalized communities and uplifting the voices silenced by systemic neglect. Her advocacy began with a personal tragedy that would forever change the trajectory of her life. Dr. Harold lost her son, Sabree Marquis Daniel, and his stepmother, Mrs. Renay Daniel, to domestic violence; a devastating event that became the cornerstone of her mission. In their memory, she founded S.A.B.R.E.E. Enrichment Academy, Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a powerful mission to Seize Abundance Because of Resilience, Empowerment, and Edification. S.A.B.R.E.E. operates under aholistic, healing-centered model of mentorship that disrupts intergenerational cycles of poverty, trauma,

and educational inequity, beginning with early childhood intervention and extending through youth and adult development.

At the heart of S.A.B.R.E.E.'s mission is the belief that education, mentorship, and emotional resilienceare transformative forces capable of rewriting life trajectories. Through life skills training, academic

support, community engagement, and trauma-informed care, Dr. Harold’s vision for S.A.B.R.E.E. transcends traditional mentorship by addressing not just educational gaps, but the emotional and spiritual restoration necessary for true healing. As part of her visionary leadership, Dr. Harold is committed to

spearheading national and global initiatives that champion equitable, healing-centered care for infants, young children, and families within historically marginalized communities.

Dr. Harold also serves as an Advisory Committee Member for Kindred 360, a nonprofit dedicated to developing, creating, and promoting policies and procedures that overcome historic racism, end Black maternal and child health crisis, and provide supportive services. Her lived experience as a mother who has endured profound loss informs her compassionate and strategic approach to maternal and infant health

disparities. Through her role, she champions trauma-informed care, bereavement support, and community-based healing initiatives designed to provide solace and strength to families facing unimaginable challenges.

Ashley O’Neil, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner, writer, and speaker whose advocacy is rooted in lived experience. As a NICU/preemie mother, a widow, and a bereaved parent, Ashley brings a deeply personal perspective to maternal and neonatal health. With over a decade in nursing and five years as a family nurse practitioner, she now uses her voice to elevate the needs of NICU families, offering practical resources, compassionate support, and hope.

She is the author of It’s a NICU World, a children’s book, and It’s a NICU World: Your Guide During Your Baby’s NICU Stay, a resource designed to support and empower NICU parents. Ashley also hosts the Ask a NICU Mama podcast, where she candidly explores the emotional and medical complexities of life in and after the NICU.

Through her work, Ashley is committed to ensuring families feel seen, supported, and empowered, even in their most vulnerable moments.

Tiffani Simmons, Esq. is an accomplished attorney, maternal health advocate, and the founder of Kindred 360, a non-profit organization committed to supporting Black parents and caregivers through culturally affirming mental health resources, support groups, education, and community care. Her advocacy is deeply rooted in personal experience—as a mother of a NICU graduate, Tiffani has firsthand insight into the emotional, medical, and systemic challenges NICU families face.

Driven by her own traumatic birth experience and postpartum depression, Tiffani launched Kindred 360 to ensure that Black families, especially those navigating pregnancy, premature birth, and early parenting, are met with compassion, understanding, and resources that address their unique needs. Under her leadership, Kindred 360 has become a growing national platform offering webinars, peer-led support groups, expert-led content, and wellness programming designed to break isolation and promote healing.

Tiffani brings a powerful blend of legal acumen, lived experience, and community-based leadership to her work. She is a respected voice on maternal health equity and is passionate about reshaping the narrative for NICU families—particularly Black mothers and fathers who are statistically underserved and underrepresented.