About
Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition (TCOBCO) was established in 2011
as a grassroots movement to increase breastfeeding practices in Tarrant County.
Today, we continue that work with a focus on serving all families
on their lactation journey to support access to human milk for all infants.
Our coalition is proud to host the annual Family Expo and Big Latch On in Tarrant County each August.
Coalition membership is comprised of current and former nursing parents and their partners,
community supporters, lactation professionals, healthcare providers, and community organizations -
each and every one of which make accomplishing our mission possible.
Source: United States Breastfeeding Committee
Source: United States Breastfeeding Committee
Source: United States Breastfeeding Committee
BOARD MEMBERS: 2021
Makeba Waller, RDMS, RVT, LVN, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Educator
Chair, Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition
Makeba Waller is a sonographer, nurse, breastfeeding educator and veteran of the U.S. Navy with a passion to inspire families to have a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy spirit. She focuses on the whole YOU.
She owns/operates Ultrasound Imaging Concepts, LLC (Ultraview Imaging) in Arlington, Texas. She is trusted by doctors and midwives in the DFW area because of her compassion and understanding of each individual and her 25 plus years of sonography experience. Makeba is also known for her volunteer work in the community, and she supports her husband with his nonprofit that helps to restore and rebuild families. She is a bridge builder and loves connecting and sharing resources with everyone in the community.
Makeba lives in Mansfield with her husband of 29 years. She has 3 amazing sons and her 1st grandchild will be making his debut May 2019.
Guillerma Trejo-Martin
Treasurer, Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition
Co-Chair, Hispanic Breastfeeding Task Force
Guillerma Trejo-Martin serves as the Treasurer for the Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition, and is a founding Co-Chair of TCoBCo's new Hispanic Breastfeeding Task Force. She is actively pursuing a degree in nursing and hopes to become an IBCLC.
Vickiesha Echols-Johnson
Co-Chair, African American Breastfeeding Task Force
Vickiesha Echols-Johnson is a non practicing Licensed Certified Respiratory Therapist with experience in pediatrics and pediatric CPR. An aspiring Postpartum Doula, she works alongside her family at the Crunchy Boutique located in Arlington, TX.
Vickiesha is a social butterfly with a passion for changing the infant & maternal mortality rate among the African American community. She is married to Brandon Echols and they share four beautiful daughters. She was born and raised in Southern California and has lived in Arlington for the last 15 years. Vikiesha is excited to be apart of the Tcobco community and looks forward to working with everyone.
Photo Coming Soon!
Amanda Alvarez, MS, IBCLC
Secretary, Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition
Amanda Alvarez is an IBCLC dedicated to helping all families reach their breastfeeding goals. She has been an active member of TCoBCo since moving to Texas in 2015; and served as chair for the 2017/2018 term. Currently, Amanda works at Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas as Education and Enrichment Manager. In that role she provides clinical lactation care, manages a multi-site Baby Cafe Cluster, and directs other educational programming for the organization. She represents Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas and TCoBCo through leadership and participation in multiple local maternal health coalitions, Texas Breastfeeding Coalition, United States Breastfeeding Committee, and the United States Lactation Consultant Association. Amanda is a graduate of the University of South Alabama (MS, Health Education) and Spring Hill College (BA, Communication). She lives with her husband, their three children, and a menagerie of pets. Amanda enjoys running, cooking, travel, and volunteer work in social justice.
Shanequa Williams
Co-Chair, African American Breastfeeding Task Force
Event Chair, Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition
Amy Vickers, MSN, RN, IBCLC
Past-Chair, Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition
Amy Vickers has worked as the executive director of the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas since it was founded in 2004. She has participated in and published research related to the use of donor human milk. Amy is an RN with a Master’s degree in nursing and healthcare leadership and has a certificate of non-profit leadership from SMU and the Center for Non-profit Management. Prior to her position at the milk bank, Amy was an NICU nurse, child-birth educator and lactation consultant. Amy has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1998 and has written exam questions for the IBLCE exam.
Amy is also involved with the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) as a member of the executive board and has served on multiple committees and oversees the headquarters of the association which is located within the Fort Worth milk bank. She is a past president of HMBANA. She is proud to be a charter member of both the Texas Breastfeeding Coalition and the Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition.
Amy lives in Fort Worth with her husband of 27 years. She has two grown children.