BOLD Locations

Duluth, Minnesota

We had two performances. Both performances sold out with approximately 80-90 people at each. Last night my Biology of Women professor from a few years ago was there along with several nursing students. They were great participants in the Talkback.

Duluth is "the biggest small town" I know. The major employers in the area are the two hospitals. There is no midwifery care in the hospitals (unless you are Native American, then there is one midwife who can work in the hospitals but her induction and intervention rate is as high or higher than many doctors). Ninety-five percent of women here use Obstetricians and the hospitals have a 33% and 29% c-section rate. We had one of the OBs on our BOLD Talkback panel and it went well. She actually spoke first, in reference to the scene in the play where nurses are counting to ten in the birthing room. "No one is counting to ten in my birthing rooms again," she said, recognizing that the way it sounded was horrible and unhelpful to women. Wow…we might have changed her attitude about birth and maternity care just a little bit. That is amazing! After the play, she told me that she wants to hold a special performance for the ob docs and nurses.! I told her I'm gonna hold her to it!

The play is life changing. I am so sad it's over and so very fulfilled. I can't wait to do it next year.

Thank you, BOLD, for this opportunity.

Caralee Isbell was the BOLD Organizer in Duluth. BOLD Duluth’s performance raised money for Birthing Ways-Doula Connection.