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The Cypher Origin Story

Learning midwives practicing blood draws.
Learning Midwives practicing skills in a Spinning Babies training.
Two learning midiwves standing in a hallway wearing matching black t-shirts with a graphic for Free Midwifery for the People.

The Cypher Collective's journey began in 2023 at a midwifery training in Denver, Colorado. There, Audrey, Kandice, and Trinity first connected, not yet realizing that their paths would intertwine far beyond that initial gathering. What started as casual conversations between learning midwives soon evolved into deep connections forged through virtual training, endless Zoom study sessions, and collaborative student projects.

Fate had more in store for them. Each eventually found their way to Virginia, securing apprenticeships within Richmond’s midwifery community. When these Learning Midwives weren’t in the clinic, they were together—practicing hands-on skills, running role-plays in their living rooms, and diving deep into their studies. What began as support and accountability organically transformed into something bigger: a space of learning, growth, and radical empowerment.

Thus, the Cypher was born…

Inspired by 1990 rap cyphers, The Cypher Collective is a space where Black midwifery students and baby midwives come together, each bringing their own strengths, knowledge, and wisdom to the circle. With the blessing and encouragement of fourth-generation, 22-year Midwife Racha Tahani Lawler-Queen, this will serve as a space of exchange, rhythm, and movement where skills, stories, and traditions flow freely, lifting and amplifying each other’s voices.

Welcome to The Cypher! Where we gather, grounded.

The Marathon Continues...

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Our Mission

Honoring Our Elders. Empowering Ourselves. Building Community

The Cypher Collective exists to cultivate community, education, and mentorship among learning midwives and new baby midwives of the African diaspora.

They say that when an elder dies, a library burns. As our Elder Midwives transition, they carry with them generations of traditional knowledge and sacred rituals. Our mission is to gather, preserve, and pass down these traditions—ensuring that no more libraries are lost to the flames of time.

Many are called, few are chosen.

The Vision

  • Preserve and pass on ancestral and cultural birthing practices.

  • Uplift and support Black midwifery students and midwives through mentorship and skill-sharing.

  • Create safe spaces for education, connection, and growth.

  • Build a thriving, sustainable collective that grows future generations of midwives.

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