![Jessica Mabson poses for a portrait while holding her four month old son, Ennis, on April 5, 2023. Jessica is a 31-year-old midwife student, veteran, mother of two, wife, and educator. As a babywearing educator, Jessica is trained in methods that help parents learn techniques for hands-free carrying and bonding with the baby. “I am very big on reproductive justice — that is my jam,” Jessica said. “My work brings me joy, being able to bring accessibility to people of the global majority is really what does it for me; being able to educate people on options they have as far as birth and locations [for birthing] that people are not aware they have.”](https://theievoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1280x721_voice_PIR-1200x721.png)
Black Voice News and IE Voice’s Year in Photos report provides a glimpse into the diverse moments that unfolded across the Inland Empire in 2023, including those working to make memorial services more accessible for veteran families, local restaurant owners bringing their native cuisines to the IE, individuals navigating modern redlining, and families sharing their experiences about the joy of parenthood.
