Shaping the Future of Lactation Equity—One System at a Time
Brenda Vieyra, BS, IBCLC, is a force for change in the lactation field—blending deep public health expertise, community-rooted leadership, and personal experience to advance equitable lactation support across California. As Program Director for BreastfeedLA and Co-Chair of the California Breastfeeding Coalition, Brenda is already leading innovative programs that uplift some of the state’s most marginalized communities—including Black, Indigenous, and Latinx families, and lactating people impacted by incarceration.
Her groundbreaking Incarceration and Lactation Project addresses a long-overlooked population: lactating individuals in carceral settings. Brenda collaborates with correctional staff, legal advocates, and health systems to push for policy change, train jail personnel, and distribute culturally responsive materials that protect lactation rights behind bars.
In parallel, Brenda leads BreastfeedLA’s Breastfeeding in Emergencies Initiative, which has already made a lifesaving difference. During the 2025 Los Angeles Fires, she coordinated emergency relief efforts that supported over 47 families with breast pumps, infant feeding supplies, and on-the-ground clinical care. Her team created one of the first lactation-focused disaster preparedness resources for the LA County Department of Public Health—helping ensure infant feeding isn’t forgotten in crisis response.
Brenda’s impact also extends into workforce development. As interim leader of BreastfeedLA’s Lactation Education Program, she’s mentoring a new generation of lactation professionals—especially those from underrepresented communities—while sustaining high graduation rates and program capacity.
Her leadership is driven by both passion and vision. As a member of the California Latinx Lactation Collective, Unión de Líderes de Lactancia Latino, and the California Work & Family Coalition, Brenda is amplifying reproductive justice, shaping inclusive policies, and fighting for culturally affirming care at the state level.
Brenda’s work proves that early leadership doesn’t mean small impact. Her systems-level thinking, storytelling, and advocacy are already transforming how California supports lactating families—especially during crisis, transition, and systemic neglect. With bold vision and a deep commitment to equity, Brenda Vieyra is not just a rising star—she’s lighting the path for the future of lactation justice.