Meet Trailblazer Dr. Taj Anwar Baoll

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Taj Anwar Baoll.

Dr. Baoll, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I earned college degrees from Georgia State University in sociology. The science of people in their environments, as well as the factors and adversities they face, depending on their race, gender, class, sexuality and socioeconomic status have always piqued my interest and it plays heavily in the way I run Realistically Wholistic.

I have been growing food since a child being raised on the west side of Atlanta My grandmother and her sisters grew out of necessity to cut down on their grocery bill. They passed that green thumb to me. As I became an adult and Atlanta became more inhabited, I noticed the food desert became a real thing – food sources were being eradicated to make more room for living spaces. So, I created my farm and mobile market to not only feed myself but to bring the resources to the people. And sometimes so people could keep their food stamps, I would barter as payment. People from all over the metro area began to seek my market out. When I added herbology, homeopathy, and spiritual plant medicine as well as the community education classes such as CPR, business began to boom.

I became an emergency medical technician in 2008, a paramedic in 2011 and critical care paramedic in 2013. In that small time frame, I had been present at around 10-15 births in the field, so gravitation into birthwork was natural as I was already doing it. I was often the only female on a truck so the guys would stand outside while I went to work. That naturally brought me into the field of doula and midwifery- known as birthwork. I established my own practice in 2015 after working under the umbrella of others. Opening my own practice gave me the flexibility to offer to barter as an option for those with limited resources to still benefit from having a fully holistic supported birth.

This work keeps me working as an activist, fighting against my barriers that prevent access to holistic living and practices, as well an autonomy over our own lives.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Because I was a self-taught farmer without fancy certificates in agriculture or connections, I was initially shunned from the farming community at large. I had to prove and establish myself as credible There has always been a division between the types of doulas and midwives, some valuing one tract of education over other, thus discrediting another group. However, because me knowing what I do is for the benefit of the community, I never let the naysayers stop the work. I’ve earned my stripes and the respect of my peers through my work. The proof is in the “put in,” as activist Kalonji Jama Changa says.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Realistically Wholistic – what should we know?
I am most proud of my open door policy. That is what makes me different from all practitioners. Everybody knows my phone number and how to reach me. My goal in wellness is to remove the red tape and velvet rope to whole wellness. It’s all about access, and I’m not a gatekeeper. I’m a gate opener.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
In general, the barriers to female leadership is the belief that we don’t have the decision-making skills to effectively lead because we are too emotional. I find that my emotional intelligence is what makes me be able to adapt my style to different situations because not all situations are the same. The benefit to running my own business allows me the flexibility to run it, and still effectively serve the people with a continuum of care that they expect from me. When I begin to lack that characteristic, then it’s time for me to step down because Realistically Wholistic is for the people.

Pricing:

• Placenta Care and Encapsulation or Ceremony $276
• Birthwork Services (Hospital Only) $500
• Herbal Bar (Homeopathy & Holistic Service) $125 for 32 ounce
• 25 Pounds of Produce $25

Contact Info:

• Website: www.realisticallywholistic.com
• Phone: 4046926927
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @realwhole
• Facebook: @realwhole
• Twitter: @realwhole

Image Credit:
AD “Kaya” Clark/@kayashoots

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