Racquel Hykes is proud of many of her accomplishments in the year she's been a breast-feeding peer counselor at the Cole County Health Department.
One of her biggest accomplishments is founding Cole County's Chocolate Milk Cafe breast-feeding support group.
The group is tailored to the needs of African-American and black women.
"What we found is that women bond at these groups when they can talk about things they can relate to," Hykes said.
She said many of her clients have said they don't see a lot of black women breast-feeding.
"The group gets the word out to women, black women, who are breast-feeding," she said. "It's my job to normalize breastfeeding."
Organizing breastfeeding support groups is not Hykes' only job.
"I see everyone that comes to our clinic and talk to the moms about the benefits of breast-feeding, whether they want to do it or not," she said. "I'm here to listen to them and meet their goals, whether they plan to breast-feed for two days or three years."
She not only advises current mothers, but prenatal ones as well.
"I'm also calling moms with breast pumps," Hykes said. "I like to see how everything is going for them."
Her most important duty is listening to clients.
"But the best part is when a mom breast-feeds who never thought she would consider it," Hykes said.
She said someone in her role needs to have breast-fed a baby so that they are a true resource for moms. She believes a breast-feeding peer counselor also needs to be compassionate and non-judgmental.
Hykes has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Lincoln University and is working toward a master's degree in health and wellness. Her goal is to become a lactation consultant.
Prior to joining the Health Department in March 2013, she was a site director for childcare at the YMCA for five years.
She has three children - a 12-year-old daughter, a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.