Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss their experiences with being scammed by Augustine Colebrook, who promised a Belize retreat for November 2024 but changed it to February 2025, causing scheduling conflicts.

Despite paying in installments, they were unable to get refunds, with Colebrook citing financial difficulties and potential bankruptcy.

They highlight the broader issue of Colebrook's history of financial mishandling, including a $2,000 loss for a skills and drills conference cancellation and allegations of harming families in Oregon and Hawaii.

They urge caution for other birth workers and emphasize the importance of transparency and integrity in business practices.

Part 1 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/535CkMmvlgs?si=uCPE37UE6u1vyNv-

Part 2 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MVdtv3IZxsg

Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discussed their observations from a recent meeting of DONA International, a nonprofit organization for doulas. They highlighted issues such as the lack of transparency, missing meeting minutes for three years, and inconsistencies in financial reporting. They noted that DONA's membership has declined from 7,000 to around 2,700 certified members in two years, and its revenue has dropped significantly. They also criticized the lack of translation services and the rushed certification process, which may compromise quality. They emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in doula organizations and announced plans to provide a resource for informed consumer decisions.

• Click here to find an organization's 990 tax filings to verify the financial information shared.
• Here's a resource to provide more transparency and information about doula and birth worker training organizations.

• Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds introduce themselves and acknowledge the post-election energy.
• The meeting is focused on observations from a recent meeting of an organization they were previously leaders of.
• Ravae emphasizes the importance of transparency for nonprofit organizations, especially regarding financial and membership information.
• The goal is to provide feedback and create accountability within the organization, Dona International.

• Denise Bolds discusses the annual member meeting, highlighting the lack of transparency in posting meeting minutes and budgets.
• The organization claims to be transparent, but Denise notes that meeting minutes and agendas have not been posted in several years.
• Denise mentions that she kept slides from the meeting to track information and questions the organization's financial health.
• Ravae and Denise express concern about the inconsistencies in the organization's claims of transparency.

• Denise shares a screen to present certification and membership numbers, revealing a significant drop in certified doulas since 2017.
• The organization claims to have over 2000 birth doulas and just over 500 postpartum doulas certified.
• Ravae and Denise discuss the importance of these numbers and the discrepancy between the organization's claims and actual figures.
• They note that the organization's membership has been declining, especially in Canada, due to unmet needs and issues with the organization.

• Ravae discusses the organization's financial health, noting that it was once a million-dollar company but is now losing ground.
• The organization's revenue has decreased significantly, with a drop of $300,000 to $400,000 in the past two years.
• Ravae explains that the organization's revenue comes primarily from membership dues and trainer fees, with a recent change requiring trainers to pay per head.
• Despite the changes, the organization's financial situation remains precarious, with lower revenue than in previous years.

• Ravae and Denise highlight...

Be Aware of Scammers!

Ravae Sinclair, a co-host of the Doula That podcast, shares her experience of being scammed by Augustine Colebrook, who promised a retreat for birth workers. Ravae paid $1,400 for a retreat scheduled for November 2024, but it was changed to February 2025, which was unacceptable. Despite multiple requests for a refund, Colebrook delayed and eventually took an additional $600 without authorization. Ravae emphasizes the importance of being informed consumers, using business credit cards for transactions, and the need for clear communication from service providers. She urges others to be cautious and to support her in recovering her money.

Ravae Sinclair @birthconnections @natlbirthpostpartumpros

Augustine Colebrook @artofbirthing @midwiferywisdom

Youtube:https://youtu.be/535CkMmvlgs?si=uCPE37UE6u1vyNv-

Outline

Scammers in the Birth Space

• Ravae Sinclair introduces herself and the topic of scammers in the birth space.
• She mentions that she and her co-host Denise have been impacted by scammers, with her matter still unresolved.
• Ravae emphasizes that it's important to speak out if one has been scammed to prevent others from falling victim.
• She encourages birth workers not to feel shame if they have been scammed, as it's not their fault.

The Scam Story Begins

• Ravae shares a story about planning to attend a retreat with her co-host Denise, inspired by a promotional ad.
• They made payments from January to June, expecting a retreat in November, but received no updates or communication.
• In July, they learned the conference in New Orleans had changed to virtual, raising suspicions about the retreat.
• The retreat dates were later changed to February 2025, which was unacceptable for Ravae due to her schedule and client commitments.

Attempts to Get a Refund

• Ravae and Denise reached out to Augustine Colebrook, the organizer, requesting a refund due to the significant date change.
• Augustine agreed to the refund but delayed it, initially saying it would be at the end of November.
• Denise's company was able to get provisional credit back on her credit card, but Ravae's payments were made through a business debit card, making it harder to challenge.
• Despite multiple emails and requests, Augustine did not provide the refund or communicate effectively.

The Scam Escalates

• In October, Ravae discovered an unauthorized $600 charge from Augustine, under a different business name.
• She had to cancel her debit card to prevent further unauthorized charges.
• Ravae expressed deep disappointment and frustration, especially seeing Augustine's social media posts about her activities in Bali while not returning the money.
• She emphasized the importance of being an informed consumer and the need for better communication and transparency from service providers.

Final Plea and Lessons Learned

• Ravae urged listeners to be cautious and informed when making purchases, especially in the birth space.
• She shared her frustration and the emotional toll of being scammed, especially by someone who claimed to be an ally.
• Ravae highlighted the importance of having a business credit card for transactions to have advocacy and protection.
• She called on listeners to support her in getting her money back and to be vigilant about who they do business with.