Leah Jacobson is the founder and CEO of The Guiding Star Project, a national non-profit organization working to revolutionize women's health care. She has over 15 years of experience in women's health, lactation consulting, youth ministry, and the pro-life movement. She frequently gives talks on topics related to women's health, feminism, and pro-life issues.

1. Leah A. Jacobson, MA, IBCLC, RLC
PO Box 238
Ironton, MN 56455
Phone: 218-545-0024
Email: leahjacobson@theguidingstarproject.org
www.theguidingstarproject.com
Hailing from central Minnesota, Leah has been working with young
people and mothers since 2000. Her passion for women’s health and
the pro-life movement has led her to found The Guiding Star Project,
a national non-profit organization working to revolutionize the way we
talk about and view women’s bodies and contributions. She is also an
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant running her own private
practice called Naturally Nourished Baby. She can be reached about
breastfeeding talks and presentations at leah@naturallynourishedbaby.com.
Speaking Subjects:
History of the “Old” Feminist Movement and the Dawn of John Paul II’s “New Feminism”
Traditional Feminist Ideologies and their Failings for Modern Women
The Language of Women’s Health and the Implications on Authentic Treatment and Care
The Guiding Star Project: Holistic Women’s Health and Pro-Life Collaboration
The “Feminine Abilities”: Reclaiming Female Bodies with Ovulation, Gestation, & Lactation
Teen/College Talk on Feminine Abilities (Fertility, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding)
The Role of Breastfeeding in Open Adoptions
Education:
Master of Arts: Health and Wellness 2012
Union Institute and University, Cincinnati, OH
Women’s Health Lactation Consulting track, Graduated with Honors
Thesis: “Empowering Natural Femininity: An Exploration of Language Relating to Body
Image: A Discourse Analysis of a Popular Women’s Magazine”
Bachelors of Applied Science Degree in Psychology 2003
University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN
Minor in Coaching, Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Highest Honors
Staples/Motley High School 2000
Staples, MN
National Honor Society, Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Highest Honors

2. Experience and Accomplishments:
Camp Counselor and Lifeguard at Catholic Youth Camp, McGregor, MN 2000-2002
• Worked with youth ages 7-18 years in a semi wilderness setting
• Excelled in working with middle school aged girls in explaining the dignity of their bodies, the
transition to womanhood, and the joys of self knowledge and control
• Developed a very good rapport and ability to communicate with and understand young people
Youth and Young Adult Ministry Diocesan Committee, Diocese of Duluth, MN 2001-2005
• Served on hand-selected committee established by Bishop Dennis Schnurr
• Worked to establish Diocesan Confirmation Retreats and provided training and leadership to the
college-aged staff for these retreats
• Led Diocesan Pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2005 Cologne, Germany. Handled planning and
registrations.
• Implemented the first Theology of Tap program for the Diocese of Duluth.
Catholic Campus Ministry Coordinator, University of Minnesota Duluth, MN 2002-2006
• Oversaw all aspects of program planning, management, and implementation of the Newman
Center on the UMD campus
• Lived in the Newman House on campus and was available to students at all times, thus facing
some challenging situations and life problems they were dealing with
• Recruited Student leadership and established a thriving program of engaged young adults
• Grew program from about 5 to 75 active student leaders, and increased mass and general program
attendance by 40%.
Guiding Star Duluth & The Guiding Star Project, Founder and CEO 2007-Present
The mission of Guiding Star is to create holistic women’s health centers across the country that can appeal
to every woman. We seek to create a model of organic and integrative women’s health care that truly
honors the female body and the complementarity of the sexes.
• Began work in 2007 on creating greater collaboration in the pro-life and pro-women movements in
Duluth, MN
• Founded first non-profit, Guiding Star Duluth, officially in 2009
• Held numerous meetings and fundraisers and raised approximately $100,000 in Duluth for local
initiatives to serve women and children
• Founded the national organization The Guiding Star Project in 2011 and officially was approved in
2013 to work on creating Guiding Star affiliate organizations around the country. Currently GSP
has five affiliate centers and is growing.
Crow Wing County Public Health: WIC Internship, Brainerd, MN 2011-2013
• Assisted mothers with breastfeeding questions both in person and over the phone
• Established and taught breastfeeding classes to women enrolled in the WIC program
• Established and coordinated the breastfeeding tent at the Crow Wing County Fair in 2011 and
2012

3. • Worked with Public Health to review breastfeeding friendly policies and recommend changes
• Created and distributed a resource guide to the Brainerd Lakes Area Breastfeeding resources
• Worked with local hospitals to bring lactation education to the region and advertise for the event
(specifically the Lactation Education Consultants “Building Bridges” training held at CRMC in
August 2012)
• Assisted with the establishment of the North Central Breastfeeding Network (NCBN)
Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Private Practice IBCLC 2012-Present
• Passed the 2012 International Board of Lactation Consultant Exam
• Opened private practice, Naturally Nourished Baby in October 2012,
www.naturallynourishedbaby.com
• Worked on a casual basis at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby, MN from April 2013-
January 2016
• Have taught numerous classes to mothers about breastfeeding and childbirth, including a daylong
accredited course for healthcare providers on Lactation, November 2013, Lakewood Health
System, Staples, MN
• Current Member of International Lactation Consultant Association, ILCA and United States
Lactation Consultant Association, USLCA
Wife and Mother, August 2003-Present
I include this in my speaking resume because I truly feel that the experiences I have gained being married
to an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner and giving birth to his six children have been as educational as
every degree and accomplishment I have achieved outside our home. Having birthed six babies in six very
different ways and breastfeeding each new little individual in very different situations, I feel I have learned
so much about the experience of accepting and supporting my female body. I am able to empathize with
women in a wide variety of circumstances because of my personal experiences and am so grateful for my
educational achievements that have given me a voice outside my small community of women to affect
broader cultural change.
Speaking Experience:
Campus Ministry Events and Trainings, Duluth, MN, 2002-2006: I have spoken to large groups of
college students on several occasions on a variety of topics. Some of the more noteworthy presentations
being “Gay? God loves you”, “NFP: Going Organic with your Sex Life”, and “Theology of the Body for
Beginners”.
Guiding Star Project Banquets, 2010-2013: I have delivered the annual report at the past three Annual
Fundraisers and other events to groups of up to 400 people. Each event has brought in several thousands
of dollars.

4. West Metro Young Adults Theology on Tap, Minneapolis, MN, October 2013: I presented on the history
of the Feminist Movement and how JP II’s New Feminism differs. Very engaged and energetic crowd.
Diocese of Duluth TOBIT Retreat for Teens, Big Sandy Camp, McGregor, MN, January 2014 & 2016: I
gave the Women’s Talk about the dignity of the body to a group of approximately 100 teenage girls.
St. Mary’s Catholic Student Center, College Station, TX, April 2014: “John Paul II and the New
Feminism”, spoke to about 75 college aged women about New Feminism and the Catholic faith.
Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association Annual Meeting, Weyburn, Canada, April 2014: I delivered a
keynote address on The Guiding Star Project and New Feminism to the convention with about 200 in
attendance. This event was fraught with controversy over the presence of another speaker and made for a
very tricky presentation.
Diocese of Winona, MN “New Feminism” Conference, Austin, MN, November 2014: I gave a workshop
presentation on New Feminism in the Medical Field to a group of about 50 women with very good reviews. I
also gave a teen track presentation on accepting the beautiful functions of the female body to teenage
attendees.
Theology on Tap, Brainerd and St. Paul, MN, January 2016: I spoke to two separate groups in one week
at pubs filled with a mixed crowd of young adults. The Brainerd event had about 100 people and the St.
Paul event about 250 people.
University of Mary, Bismarck, ND, March 2016: I was invited to speak to a Catholic Student group about
John Paul II's “New Feminism”.
Guiding Star Tampa Banquet, Tampa, FL, April 2016: I delivered the keynote address to a crowd of 400
announcing the expansion of our Guiding Star Center in that community. Assisted with raising $180,000 in
that one evening through sharing the mission/vision and asking for donations.
Guiding Star Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, June 2016: I delivered the keynote address and announced the
location of our newest affiliate's center. Assisted with raising $75,000 in that one event.
First Annual National Pro-Life Women's Conference, Dallas, TX, June 2016: Alongside Serin Foster I
delivered the opening keynote statement to over 500 women from across the US at this first ever
conference. The presentation was focused on the natural abilities of women's bodies and cultural
expectation that go against our natural functions. I also did a packed break-out session that had nearly 100
women in the health care industry that were interested in learning about natural fertility, childbirth, and
breastfeeding.
House of Hope Gala, El Paso, TX, October 2016: I announced the affiliation of the House of Hope
Pregnancy Center with The Guiding Star Project and assisted with asking for donations at the event with
nearly 500 people in attendance.
Youth and Mothers Groups, 2012-Present: I have spoken to dozens of Catholic youth and mothers
groups in the last few years about topics regarding Theology of the Body, Motherhood, natural fertility, and
breastfeeding. It has been very rewarding and I enjoy speaking with these often more intimate groups.
Radio Interviews:
• The Speakeasy, Guy Green Radio Show, 2012
• Pat Gohn, “Among Women” Podcast, August 24th 2013
http://amongwomenpodcast.com/guest/leah-jacobson/

5. • Deacon Tom, “Catholic Vitamins” Podcast, January 14, 2014
• http://catholicvitamins.com/catholic-vitamin-m-mentor/
• Molly Smith, “From the Median”, www.FromTheMedian.org, March 11, 2015
• Gus Lloyd, “Seize the Day”, Sirius XM Catholic Radio, May 20, 2015
• Kim Ketola, “Cradle My Heart Radio”, August 8th, 2016 http://cradlemyheart.org/2016/08/25/taking-
the-pregnancy-help-movement-to-the-next-level/
Television Appearances:
• Brendan McConnell, “Life Matters TV”, June 2015
Writing:
• Blogger at the Ignitum Today Young Catholic website 2011-2013
• Blogger at The Guiding Star Project website 2011-present
• Published at NewFeminism.co 2016
Special Recognition:
• 2014 Brainerd Jaycees Outstanding Young Citizen of the Year
• 2014 Recipient of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans Award