Melissa Philippe shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Melissa, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
A bit chaotic, actually. I work as an International English and Social Sciences educator, so my mornings begin at 3:00 am, quiet, peaceful, filled with wonder, work and the hope that my toddler hasn’t wandered out of bed.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Melissa Philippe, an Afro-Indigenous Traditional Midwife, herbalist, and founder of Rooted in Wisdom, a nonprofit dedicated to holistic wellness, maternal care, and community empowerment. Through Rooted in Wisdom, I strive to create spaces where people can connect, learn, and receive culturally informed care that honours ancestral practices while integrating modern knowledge.
One of our signature initiatives is the Birthkeeper Pathway, a mentorship and training program designed to equip aspiring birth workers with the skills, confidence, and cultural knowledge necessary to support families throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. What makes this program unique is its grounding in Afro-Indigenous practices, community-based care, and a holistic approach that nurtures both the practitioner and the families they serve.
Right now, we are fundraising to establish a land-based Birth and Wellness Sanctuary where our Birthkeepers, community members, and families can gather for training, healing, and retreats. Our work is about more than education; it’s about building a thriving, supportive community and ensuring that culturally-rooted care is accessible to everyone, especially those often overlooked in maternal health spaces.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I was ugly. Growing up in a light-skinned family on my father’s side, I was often ridiculed for my dark skin, both by relatives and by others during our summers in Florida. School bullies didn’t make it easier, and being a Haitian immigrant with an accent added another layer of feeling “different.” I wanted to bleach my skin, straighten my hair, and live a life that looked “white,” even imagining a white husband and a different version of myself.
Now, I love being me. I proudly embrace my dark skin, wear my hair in locs, and am happily married to a Haitian man. Our daughter, with her beautiful chocolate skin, is a daily reminder of the beauty and strength in our identity. I no longer believe I need to conform to anyone else’s standards. I celebrate who I am, where I come from, and the richness of my culture.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realised that carrying it silently was only keeping me small. From a young age, I faced relentless bullying, was sexually abused from age five to seventeen, and carried so much hurt and confusion that I didn’t know how to simply exist without shame. For years, I tried to hide, to blend in, to make myself “smaller” so the world wouldn’t notice my pain.
The turning point came when I decided that my experiences would not define me; they would refine me. I began to channel my story into a purpose, one of healing and service to others. That pain became a source of power when I used it to build Rooted in Wisdom, to guide and train other birthkeepers, and to create spaces where women, families, and communities could feel seen, supported, and whole. What once tried to break me now fuels me; my hurt transformed into advocacy, education, and strength.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the maternal and wellness industries tell themselves is that one-size-fits-all care works for everyone. Many systems claim to prioritise “patient choice” or “cultural competence,” but in reality, care often centres on what’s easiest, fastest, or most profitable, leaving BIPOC families and those from marginalised communities underserved. Another pervasive lie is that traditional, ancestral, and community-based practices are “less professional” or “optional,” when in fact they are vital to holistic health, mental wellbeing, and building trust. The industry often undervalues the power of culturally-informed care, community support, and the lived expertise of those who have historically been excluded from mainstream healthcare.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am doing what I was born to do. For a long time, I followed what others expected of me. I tried to shape myself into the version of womanhood that seemed safest. Quiet. Acceptable. Palatable.
Stepping into birthwork, community care, and Rooted in Wisdom stemmed from a calling that felt older than I was. It felt like memory, like inheritance, like something placed in my spirit long before I had language for it. My life experiences, healing, faith, and culture drew me to this work with a force that never wavered.
Today, everything I do comes from purpose, not pressure. My work is not a script. It is a return.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rootedinwisdomnonprofit.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedinwisdomnonprofit/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-philippe-8a55a6a6/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blissfullconnectionsllc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Faithandmama
Image Credits
none
