Staff

Chardá Bell, IBCLC, Executive Director
(pronounced shar-day)

Chardá Bell, IBCLC is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Doula, Spinning Babies Certified Parent Educator in private practice (Melanin Milk SD) @melaninmilksd serving families in San Diego, CA.  "My distinct perspective is rooted in my previous position as a board member of the SDBFCF, a scholarship recipient, and my personal experience as a Black breastfeeding mother. My socio-cultural experiences mirror those of the populations served by the foundation, providing me with intimate knowledge and respect for the values and beliefs of many African American and Black diaspora women and communities."

Marrying her love of birth with lactation, her clinical interest is in the influence of labor and delivery factors, including fetal positioning as well as social determinants of health that may impact initiation and duration of breastfeeding success. When she is not immersed in all things lactation, she volunteers her time to causes related to human milk, Black maternal child health & reproductive justice and aims to increase diversity in the lactation field through mentorship. Chardá and her partner Dr. Tré Watkins, are natives of San Diego and share a beautiful blended family of five children.

Executive Assistant (Open - Hiring Soon)