Founder & Board

Makiya Newman's story begins in Southeast Arkansas, where she was born In Pine Bluff and raised in the small community of Grady. Growing up in the Arkansas Delta gave her an early understanding of the strength of close-knit communities, but also of the challenges families face when resources, services, and opportunities are limited by geography. As her career in nursing grew, so did her awareness of how deeply access to care, education, transporation, and basic necessities can shape a mother's experience before, during, and after birth.

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Makiya began her nursing career in 2020 and has since built a career centered on caring for women, newborns, and families. Through her work in maternal-newborn nursing and healthcare leadership, she has witnessed firsthand how much a mother's experience after birth can be influenced by factors far beyond the hospital walls-- from access to basic necessities and reliable transportation to education, community resources, and simply having someone there to say, you do not have to navigate this alone.

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Those experiences, combined with her deep connection to Southeast Arkansas, inspired Makiya to create The Whole Mama project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conntecting mothers and families with resources, education, and a community that nurtures healing, hope, and well-being throughout the perinatal journey. 

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Makiya's leadership and professional work include:

• Clinical Nurse Supervisor

• Master of Science in Nursing Leadership & Management

• 2026 Emerging Leaders Award reciepient from the North Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership

• Presenter at the 2026 AWHONN Convention on improving care for late preterm infants

• Graduate commencement speaker

• Active involvement in professional and community organizations focused on women, infants, and families