First Food Fridays: A Lactation Support Group with Jillian Faulks
Join us for First Food Fridays, a support group and learning space for Black lactating parents and their young children led by peer lactation support counselor, mindfulness facilitator, and well-being coach Jillian Faulks.
These monthly sessions will include a grounding exercise, gentle movement, story time, and a craft to encourage positive familial engagement with food from the start!
Prenatal parents planning to breast/chest-feed are also encouraged to join.
This space is ideal for children aged 5 and under; parents should plan to be with their children throughout the session.
These sessions are free but RSVP is required. We look forward to hosting you!
Please note: these sessions are designed for Black parents and families. We may be able to add sessions over time — stay tuned!
More about the participants
Jillian Faulks, Founder & CEO of Majuta Wellness, is dedicated to fostering wellbeing and mindful leadership for individuals, families, and communities. With a rich background spanning African-American Studies, Photojournalism, and Nonprofit Management, Jillian’s lived experiences have shaped her holistic approach to wellness. She recognizes that true health encompasses much more than the physical. This insight led her to certifications in Kemetic Yoga, Holistic Health Coaching, Prenatal Yoga, and lactation support.
Currently a PhD student in Family Science and Human Development at Montclair State University and a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Certification student at Brown University, Jillian’s research explores the intersections of mindfulness, breastfeeding, and health equity. Through her leadership roles—including Director of Essex Pregnancy and Parenting Connection and Wellbeing Lead for Mosaic Coaching Solutions—she champions trauma-informed, healing-centered care designed to cultivate resilience, harmony, and fulfillment.
At Majuta Wellness, Jillian offers mindfulness workshops, wellness series, and coaching programs aimed at supporting parents and caregivers through every stage of their journey. Her mission is to cultivate nurturing spaces where mindful leadership and inner peace empower families to thrive amid the complexities of life from home to the workplace, and within the community.
More about BEM
BEM Cultural Foundation (BCF) is the sibling nonprofit to BEM | books & more, a bookstore and culinary hub dedicated to global Black foodways and storytelling.
Established in 2025, BCF creates programs and experiences that deepen the public’s knowledge of Black culinary and literary traditions across the diaspora. BCF prioritizes communal gatherings, creating space to celebrate and explore Black food through literature while serving as a home for readers, writers, cooks, and eaters passionate about Black cultures in all their diversity.