Our Story:
Flora’s Village was born from both a personal awakening and a collective need.
In 2021, I—Sunumi Brown— co-founded what was then called Village of Mothers, after my own experience of pregnancy revealed the stark disparities in maternal health care. Despite having the support of a midwife and doula, I experienced the emotional toll of baby blues and witnessed firsthand how many mothers, especially those from historically marginalized backgrounds, were navigating birth and postpartum with little to no support.
Thanks to a $12,000 grant from The Victoria Project, I was able to access the care I needed—and that moment changed my life. I knew I wanted to continue championing this work and create a space where others could receive the kind of advocacy and education that had made all the difference for me.
With roots in community rehabilitation and ancestral wisdom, Village of Mothers quickly grew into a safe haven for maternal health education, grief support, and holistic care.
My background—as a postpartum doula, entheogenic educator and public school teacher with Caribbean, Native American, and Sicilian ancestry —allowed me to bridge worlds and build offerings rooted in both tradition and transformation.
By 2022, we publicly launched, serving prenatal and postpartum women through maternal wellness education and monthly women’s circles. After two years of consistent community building, we began to recognize that the wellbeing of mothers and families is deeply connected to the environments and communities in which they live, gather, grow, and heal. By 2024, we reemerged as Flora’s Village—a name inspired by flora and fauna, an ode to Mother Nature herself and a reflection of our growing commitment to land stewardship as a foundational practice.
This evolution expanded our understanding of healing beyond individual maternal wellness to include the restoration and care of the land, the cultivation of community spaces, and opportunities for families and young people to develop meaningful relationships with nature. The rebrand reflected our natural evolution: from centering solely on mothers to supporting entire families, caregivers, and communities as they navigate life’s biggest thresholds, while recognizing land and community as essential parts of collective wellbeing.
Empowered Families Collective Care
2024, was a pivotal year for Flora’s Village as we expanded our reach and deepened our impact. From launching The Memory Orchards to honor lives lost in the maternal health crisis to providing permaculture and gardening classes for youth, we touched over 300 families this year.
In 2023, Flora’s Village deepened its commitment to empowering women, families, and communities through impactful events, healing workshops, and strategic partnerships. The highlight of the year was our crowdfunding campaign; Flower Festival, which brought together over 150 community members, 15 vendors, 16 panelists, 12 artists, and 6 corporate sponsors, raising $10,000 to support holistic education initiatives.
2022 was a transformative year for Flora’s Village, marked by impactful community engagement, wellness education, and strategic partnerships. By prioritizing food security, women’s wellness, and holistic support, we empowered over 300 individuals through innovative programming and collaborations. Our efforts laid a strong foundation for our mission to create a village that uplifts and sustains women and families for years to come.
