The California Breastfeeding Coalition Board of Directors has named Jasmine Pettis Marquez as its new executive director, effective July 1, 2023.
A Vacaville resident, Marquez has been the coalition’s program and convening manager since 2020, overseeing the planning and execution of the annual California Breastfeeding Summit. In her role as executive director, Marquez is the general manager and chief executive officer of the coalition. She oversees a three-person staff in fulfillment of the coalition’s mission to protect, promote and support breast, chest and human milk feeding in the state of California.
With significant consideration given to the skills, experiences and expertise required to run a statewide coalition, Board Chair Gaby Cavins said Marquez is the ideal choice to successfully guide the CBC in its next phase of growth.
“Jasmine is decisive, fair, and committed to dismantling the racist systems and structures that prevent California families from making truly informed infant-feeding decisions,” Cavins said.
Marquez is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), earning her credentials through UC San Diego’s Extended Studies Lactation and Perinatal Education program. She has a Master’s of Public Health from San Jose State University and a bachelor’s degree in health science from California State University, Sacramento.
Having worked for the California WIC Association, WIC program, and as a private practice and clinical lactation consultant, Marquez has seen firsthand the conflicts families face when trying to feed their children.
“As a country, we agree human milk is the optimal, species-specific food for human babies and yet we do a terrible job of supporting families in their lactation efforts,” Marquez said. “California has some of the strongest lactation policies and practices in the nation, but we still see a huge gap in the number of families whose breastfeeding experiences do not align with their desires. These families don’t need to try harder. We need to work harder to support them. That’s where the California Breastfeeding Coalition comes in.”
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About the California Breastfeeding Coalition
Since 2011, the California Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC) has worked collaboratively to bolster the infant feeding landscape in California by protecting, promoting and supporting chest, breast and human milk feeding across all populations. Through a comprehensive and coordinated approach, the CBC convenes partners from across the continuum of care to enact sustainable and effective systems change while amplifying the voices and experiences of those who have been historically ignored. For information, visit www.californiabreastfeeding.org