A place for families to gather, connect, and feel supported.
About UsNest & Gather was created out of lived experience and a shared belief that families deserve more support, connection, and care—especially in the early years.
Founded by experienced birth and postpartum doulas, Nest & Gather exists to fill a gap we saw in our own community: a welcoming, accessible space where parents, caregivers, and young children can gather, learn and feel held. Too often, the transition into parenthood feels isolating. We believe it doesn’t have to be that way.
Our space is designed to be welcoming and inclusive—a place for open play, classes, workshops, support groups, and small celebrations. It’s a space where kids can explore, caregivers can connect, and community can grow naturally.
At our core, Nest & Gather is about creating a modern village. We bring together thoughtful programming, experienced practitioners, and a warm physical space to support families through pregnancy, postpartum, and early childhood. Whether you’re here for playtime, education, connection, or celebration, our hope is that you leave feeling more supported than when you arrived.
We’re so glad you’re here!
Meet Our Founders
Lauren Miller
I’m a birth and postpartum doula, lactation counselor, and babywearing educator—and most importantly, a mom of three young kids! I’ve felt deeply called to this work since the birth of my first child in 2020, when I experienced firsthand how meaningful (and vulnerable) this season of life can be. I love supporting families as they find their footing and build confidence during pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. I’m also slightly obsessed with babywearing and love talking all things carriers!
Nest & Gather has been a vision of mine for many years. Long before there was a name or a physical space, I was imagining a place where families could access perinatal support, gather with one another, and feel held during the early years. With Demi by my side, I’m so excited to finally bring this idea to life and to offer a space that supports families and improves access to resources in our community.
When I’m not at Nest & Gather, you’ll find me adventuring with my kids— some of our favorites are ice skating fun in the winter and spending long summer days at the lake!
Demi-Joy Carr
I am a Vermont-based birth and postpartum doula. I was born and raised in New York City, where I trained and worked as a doula before moving to Vermont. I am a mom of three and truly love motherhood in all its real, messy, tender moments. Through my work as a doula, I discovered how much I value building community and how essential it is for families to have support through pregnancy, birth, and the early days of parenthood. That love for connection and continuous care inspired me to co-create Nest & Gather. I bring both professional experience and lived perspective to my work, offering birth and postpartum support, lactation guidance, and parent groups with warmth, care, and a steady presence.
When I’m not at Nest & Gather I love being home by the fire with my family, hiking and being outdoors and enjoying a warm beverage with someone I love.
Our Village - Teachers and Practitioners
Sa Budnitz
OT, Family coach
Sa is a pediatric occupational therapist and a somatic dance therapist from Germany.
She specializes in encouraging healthy child development with a strong emphasis on creating and nurturing healthy relationships.
Sa lives and loves in Charlotte, VT with her husband and adolescent daughter.
Please contact me with any questions or for more information!
Lisa Velasquez Kerns
BS, IBCLC, RLC
Lisa is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with 17 years as the owner/operator of Promise Lactation Consulting. Owner of Lactation Resources of VT, Inc, A Durable Medical Equipment company selling breast pumps and supplies statewide. A retired La Leche League Leader and 12 years as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor with the VT Department of Heath. Mother of two breastfed children, currently enjoying watching them navigate young adulthood.
Sarah Nevison
Hi, I’m Sarah! I live in my little homestead in Rutland County with my husband of 11 years and our three beautiful children. We have a big garden, lots of fruits trees and bushes, a small maple set up, goats, chickens, bees, dogs, and a cat!
Breastfeeding is a passion that I didn’t know I had until I became a Mom. Both of my daughters breastfed for 3 years each, and me and my son are still on our breastfeeding journey together (he will be 3 this summer!)
I currently work at WIC as the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, I run the local chapter of La Leche League, I volunteer at the hospital with my partner visiting new moms on the Mother & Baby unit, we also teach breastfeeding classes together, and host meet ups and events all year long. In my free time I am taking college course to get closer to obtaining my IBCLC!
Ajah Tier
Ajah is an Addison County native and lives with her two boys and husband in their mountainside residence in Ripton.
She is a trained graphic designer and artist with a passion for making everyday magic with her family through creativity. Whether for her home or just for fun the projects never stop. Printmaking and painting are some of her favorite ways to create meaningful art with her children.
She is also a seasoned planner, taking the task for creating memories and special events seriously. When not making things, Ajah and her family like to do yoga, mountain biking, gardening and cooking.
To see some of her work, or reach out about any of the above you can visit her website at ajahctier.com
Kelly Bessette
My name is Kelly. I am a wife, a mother of two boys, a social worker, photographer, and postpartum doula. I was born and raised in Addison County. I graduated from Champlain College and Walden University, and I lived in Colorado for ten years before moving back home during COVID to raise my family in the community that shaped me.
After the birth of my second son, I experienced a deeply challenging postpartum season. I struggled with postpartum depression, mom rage, emotional numbness, and difficulty bonding to my newborn. I felt isolated and unsupported. There were no groups, no connections, and no space where I felt truly seen.
I started my postpartum mom support group because I don’t want other mothers to feel the way I did – alone in one of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives. My mission is to create a safe, honest, and compassionate space where moms can connect, feel supported, and know they are never alone.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, being outdoors and traveling.
Ericka Weik
My name is Ericka and I bring over 25 years of experience in birth work and integrative health to the sacred work of postpartum support. Through my business, Nourished Mama, I offer intentional, nurturing care, rooted in ancient traditions.
My own postpartum experiences, both with my own daughter and as a surrogate, had a profound impact on me, challenging my belief in my own capacity and shaping my views on what nourishing support looks and feels like. It is through these experiences, as well as through my work with countless families over the years, that I have come to passionately believe that we were never meant to do this in isolation.
In many cultures, new mothers are surrounded by rest, food, ritual, and care. Nourished Mama is my way of bringing that wisdom into modern postpartum—gently, practically, and with deep love. Whether through gentle guidance, compassionate hands, or warm meals from the heart, I aim to embody the village all families deserve. A place to be held, heard, and deeply nourished.
Melissa Mae Bartley. LMT, RYT, CRM
Melissa has been offering 1on1 healing services, group wellness classes and gatherings since 2015. Her studies and experiences exploring human anatomy, nervous systems, and healing approaches has instilled in her a deep love, respect, and curiosity for our abilities to recalibrate and reconnect with our innate healing capabilities. She moved to Vermont from southern New York in 2017 and has spent every year since falling more in love with the Green Mountains and the people who live here! Through Massage, Yoga, and Community Gatherings she offers her heart and hopes to amplify a healing, loving, and connected world.
Melissa Mae is a licensed massage therapist specializing in Myofascial release and CranioSacral Therapy for all ages. She is a certified yoga teacher with a focus in Bhakti Yoga and Restorative Yoga. Melissa is also a certified Reiki Master practitioner and teacher, circle facilitator, Bodywork educator, and advocate of love.
Aless Delia-Lôbo
Aless Delia-Lôbo (she/her) is a birth worker and mom of two, passionate about supporting families through their transition to parenthood and the tender early years following birth. Aless is an experienced full-spectrum doula and has worked as a consulting writer and editor of several childbirth education curricula, books, and other educational materials on pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. She has also worked as a midwife’s assistant, mother-baby nursing assistant, and art instructor.
Aless holds a BFA in Visual Art from Lesley University and brings together her background in art, growth and development, and family education in the classes and support she offers. Currently a nursing student at Vermont State University, she is working toward her long-term goal of becoming a midwife.
Aless lives in Middlebury on the traditional homelands of the Mohican and Wabanaki peoples, with her endlessly supportive spouse, their two lovely children, and one goofy rescue cat.
Molly Paskin
I’m a birth and postpartum doula, prenatal yoga teacher, massage therapist, and a childbirth educator through Evidence Based Birth®. My work centers on providing clear, research-backed information that empowers families to make informed decisions with confidence. I believe education should be accessible, honest, and free of fear or pressure because when people understand their options, they’re better equipped to advocate for the kind of care they want and deserve.
I’ve supported births in homes, hospitals, operating rooms, and birth centers, and I bring that real-world experience into every class I teach.
I’m also a mom of three, including twins, and my own experiences span a wide range of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum realities. That perspective keeps my teaching rooted in real life: flexible, inclusive, and respectful of the many ways families grow and babies arrive.