The Cornerstone origin story

Cornerstone was co-founded by Nickie and Juli Tilsner, who each brought extensive experience in the birth world. Prior to co founding Cornerstone, they both practiced as doulas for six years, attended births as a mother-daughter team, underwent midwifery apprenticeships, worked at an out-of-hospital birth center, and taught childbirth education.

This extensive background revealed significant gaps in available doula training, particularly in areas such as birth justice, advocacy, community activism, mental health, and trauma-informed care. Driven by the need for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach, Nickie and Juli established Cornerstone to address these gaps. Juli also ran a homebirth midwifery practice in the San Francisco Bay Area for 18 years, further supporting the local birthing community.

Nickie Tilsner brings over 20 years of expertise in harm reduction services, working primarily within the Bay Area. Her extensive background includes syringe exchange services, overdose prevention education, community naloxone distribution, street outreach, and case management. She has also managed the implementation of a model HCV intervention targeting young people who live with substance use disorder in Sacramento, CA, and Newark, NJ.

Their shared vision has established Cornerstone as leading innovators in the birthwork community. Nickie now serves as a nurse leader, advancing trauma-informed care and harm reduction in nursing.