Leading with Gratitude: Building Birth Freedom Through Community and Collaboration

By Lainey Stancil

When I founded the Peach State Birth Coalition, I didn’t have a roadmap—only a conviction that families in Georgia deserved more choices and compassionate care when it came to birth. What began as a small vision has grown into a statewide nonprofit dedicated to expanding midwife licensure, protecting birth freedom, and closing maternal care gaps. But the real heartbeat of our growth hasn’t been strategy or structure, it’s been gratitude.

Gratitude has been my guiding principle as a woman leading in a space often marked by resistance, advocacy fatigue, and emotional complexity. It’s what helps me see possibility instead of barriers. In every meeting, every conversation with a mother sharing her birth story, and every collaboration with midwives and advocates, I remind myself: we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

In a grassroots organization, there’s no such thing as success in isolation. Every milestone, the passing of a local resolution, a new partnership, or an educational event is the product of many hands and hearts. I’ve learned to lead not by commanding, but by connecting. Gratitude turns collaboration into fuel.

One of the most rewarding parts of this work has been mentoring other women who are passionate about birth equity and community change. Many of our moms and volunteers come to us searching for a way to make a difference. I always tell them: your voice matters. Whether they’re helping with event planning, creating educational content, or simply sharing our mission online, their contributions ripple outward. When they feel seen and valued, they lead with confidence and that’s how real impact multiplies.

As a young nonprofit, our resources are limited, but our appreciation is abundant. We celebrate small wins and personal growth just as much as big achievements. Gratitude is our culture, it keeps us grounded and inspired even when challenges arise.

This mindset has also shaped how I approach leadership personally. Gratitude reminds me to stay teachable. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with incredible midwives, birth workers, and policy advocates who’ve walked this path far longer than I have. Their mentorship has shown me that leadership isn’t about knowing everything it’s about listening deeply, honoring experience, and making space for new voices.

At Peach State Birth Coalition, we make it a priority to uplift and collaborate with other organizations working toward similar goals. We believe gratitude creates bridges where competition might otherwise exist. When we approach partnerships with appreciation rather than agenda, innovation happens naturally. Together, we can amplify our impact far beyond what any of us could accomplish alone.

Gratitude also keeps our advocacy human. It reminds us that the work we do isn’t about policies or data points. It’s about mothers, babies, and families who deserve dignity and choice. It’s about remembering to thank the midwife who worked through the night, the legislator who took time to listen, and the volunteer who stayed late printing flyers.

In a world where leadership often prizes speed, scale, and success metrics, I’ve found power in slowing down and saying thank you. Gratitude cultivates resilience. It turns burnout into belief. It turns a group of volunteers into a movement.

Leading with gratitude hasn’t just shaped how I build an organization, it’s shaped who I’m becoming. Every day, I’m grateful to stand alongside strong women who are changing the conversation around birth in Georgia. Together, we’re proving that leadership rooted in appreciation and collaboration doesn’t just change organizations, it changes lives!

Connect With Lainey

www.peachstatebirthco.org

Instagram & facebook: @peachstatebirthcoalition