Organizational Change At INELDA

by Henry Fersko-Weiss

All organizations change over time. It’s inevitable. INELDA has already gone through many changes in its relatively short lifespan. But 2020 is a year of unparalleled change. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we moved all our doula training sessions online through Zoom. While that has been very successful, it required some big adjustments. We are also at the beginning of addressing issues of racial equity in the structure of the organization and in the educational products we provide, which will necessitate major changes over the rest of 2020 and beyond. And now we are in the throes of yet another very consequential shift in the life of INELDA, as two of our main leaders, Janie Rakow and Jeri Glatter, have decided to leave the organization after five plus years of building and growing the organization.

To put it very simply: INELDA would not have achieved the great success it has without the tireless work of Janie and Jeri. They have been passionate about the mission and vision of the organization and instrumental in shaping our voice in the doula movement. Every person who has taken our doula training, purchased our Business Development Class, become a member, read our newsletter, or attended a webinar has had contact in one way or another with both of them.

Whenever I taught the doula class people would come up to me and ask if Janie and Jeri are there. And when the other trainers taught, one of the first questions they had was are you Janie or Jeri. Their impact on the doulas who train with us has been profound. They have responded to countless questions about training, the doula work itself, and the process of certification. They have offered insightful comments and posts on our public and private Facebook pages. I know many of our doulas would not have built their private practice or found their way to volunteer at a hospice if it hadn’t been for the support and encouragement of Janie and Jeri.

The two of them also became extremely skilled and gifted trainers. Neither of them had much experience teaching before they began doing that at INELDA. But their depth of experience in the doula work, and their devotion to educating prospective doulas, turned them into top notch trainers who always received high praise in post-training evaluations. They wove into the class presentations wonderfully illustrative stories from their direct doula work that brought the material alive and led people to grasp ideas in very concrete terms. At the same time, they helped students feel the meaning of the work in their hearts. They were also extremely funny, which brought great balance to the seriousness of some of the learning and exercises.

Janie and Jeri’s importance to INELDA goes well beyond the obvious impact they have had on the structure and output of the organization. At a personal level, they have been incredible partners on this continuing journey. They challenged my thinking when it needed to be challenged. They were generous in their support of me when I needed that support. They cared about what was happening in my life outside of INELDA. And they inspired me with their devotion to changing how people die in our culture.

While they will be greatly missed by those of us who remain, as well as by many of our trained doulas they have stayed in contact with, INELDA will go on. We have an incredible team who have been brought along over time. They are all extremely talented and dedicated to the mission of INELDA. That team is already working hard on new offerings to educate and support the people who choose to learn with us and grow in their ability to serve the dying. Change brings challenges, but it also brings great opportunity. We are embracing both.

The words I have written here don’t fully capture what Janie and Jeri have meant to the life of INELDA or to me personally. Some things we just carry in our hearts. All of us at INELDA wish them well as they move on from here in whatever directions their lives take.

Now, I want you to hear from Janie and Jeri themselves:

Janie: After five and a half years, I have decided to step down as President of INELDA.  

Looking back to the very beginning, it amazes me how much INELDA has grown. What started as a yearning to “change the face of dying” has blossomed into a movement with so many beautiful souls on the same path. Without the leadership and foresight of my partners, Henry and Jeri, we could have never accomplished the growth and community that has been fostered. I am sincerely grateful to have been part of this organization, and to have taught and met so many incredible doulas.  

My decision to step down as president has come after some reflection and soul searching. It is time to shift and move in a different direction. Working with people who are dying has been my life’s passion. I hope to continue to serve my community and local hospices as an end of life doula, and give back in any way that I can. I am excited to see where this next chapter in life takes me!

It has been a pleasure to serve all of you, and please, feel free to reach out. Here’s where you can find me: [email protected]. Stay in touch!

In Gratitude and Love, Janie

 

Jeri: With the decision to resign as Vice President of INELDA I am filled with gratitude for the experience and opportunity to meet, interact with, and teach so many end of life doulas. I am honored to have accompanied many of you on this courageous and deeply meaningful journey. Your trailblazing spirit and intention to serve the dying inspires me. We have, and we continue to, change the face of dying. Let us remain steadfast — our work is not done. Especially during this time of pause, it is important to reflect on our collective experiences, embrace new understandings, and move forward to ensure all people live and die unencumbered by injustices.

Being with the dying has provided me with lessons about myself and influenced how I live my life. I am humbled and thankful to each person and their loved ones, who invited me to walk alongside them during their last days. I hold these precious moments as gifts in my heart and carry them with me.

I will miss the camaraderie and enthusiasm of Team INELDA that energized us as we carved our path over the last five years. Together we navigated the unique challenges of growing a non-profit organization and fostering a thriving community of end of life doulas. We began by training 25 doulas in 2015 to 2,500 today, many who provide support through the Doula Directory that INELDA pioneered. 

As the next chapter in my journey unfolds, I look forward to bringing with me the insightful learnings, shared memories, and heartfelt interactions that defined my experience working alongside all of you. Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]