Birth Matters' 2008 Annual Awards Gathering and Fundraiser

These biographies of our Award Recipients were submitted as their nominations:

Therese Hak-Kuhn of Richmond~
Therese Hak-Kuhn has been involved with birth since her first daughter was born in 1980. She gave birth to 5 more children, all at home, over the next twelve years. In 1992, she began attending births professionally, and has since attended hundreds of births both at home and in hospital in her capacity as a midwife's assistant and labor assistant. Since 1996, she has been facilitating and teaching labor assistant and doula training workshops through the international group, ALACE (Assoc. of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators.) In addition to her work as a midwife's assistant, educator of both pregnant mamas and future professionals, prenatal counselor and provider of labor and post-partum support, Therese has also been the compassionate facilitator of the Richmond Home Birth Circle for many years. Therese is an advocate for women in general and birth education specifically; an advocate for women's choices surrounding birth--home or hospital based. She is a kind and responsive teacher. She is a vessel from which many, many women have drunk and they have walked away changed and enlightened. She has given selflessly and generously and has inspired the birth community in Virginia, and elsewhere, for 16 years. Birth is her passion. Therese lives her passion, works for her passion and shares her passion every single day. She is a remarkable example of the fact that we CAN truly make a difference in the way women are treated and the way birth is viewed.

Brynne Potter, CPM, of Charlottesville~ View her acceptance speech: When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Immoveable Object

Brynne is a Certified Professional Midwife, CPM, living and practicing in Charlottesville, VA. She is married to John and has two sons, Max and Jeremy. Brynne has practiced midwifery for several years. For the last 6 years or so, she has worked as the political liaison for Commonwealth Midwives Alliance with the General Assembly. She has spent countless hours eating, sleeping, and working on midwifery legislation across the Commonwealth and in Richmond during legislative sessions, as CPMs have gained licensure. She continues to be a strong political presence there as CPMs continue to work through the legislative maze she so skillfully negotiates. We honor her as a mother and wife, a midwife, our negotiator extraordinaire, and a woman.

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