Activist and CNN commentator Van Jones is advocating for 'conscious co-parenting' after welcoming a child with his friend.
Jones, who is also a three-time New York Times bestselling author, shares two children named Mattai and Cabral with his ex-wife Jana Carter, however he has revealed he decided to extend his family after the coronavirus outbreak forced the world to go into lockdown.
Having split from Carter in 2019 following more than a decade of marriage, the Van Jones Show host decided to opt for a less-conventional route to fatherhood after discussing his plans with a friend.
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In an interview with TMZ, Jones explained, 'After the COVID lockdown, I got clear that I wanted another kid. I discovered that my friend Noemi also wanted a baby.'
Jones described how he and Noemi decided to 'join forces and become conscious co-parents', adding, 'It’s a concept that I hope more people will explore and consider.'
Having settled on their parenting plan, Jones and Noemi together 'welcomed to Earth a baby girl' this month who they will raise as 'co-parenting partners'.
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He commented, 'This is a special time for our families. I feel grateful, joyful and blessed. As we create a safe and loving environment for this blessed young soul, I respectfully ask for privacy. Thank you for all the love and support.'
Sources cited by the publication have claimed the mother's full name is Noemi Zamacona, and that she and Jones met several years ago through a shared interest in criminal justice advocacy.
Their decision to have a child together is said to have been made while they enjoyed a friendly meal, with one source describing the situation between the two parents as a 'very modern arrangement'.
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Per TMZ, they added, 'They're not a couple, but they are a team that wants to raise a kid together.'
Though Jones is already a father to his two sons, the new baby is his first daughter, and believed to be Noemi's first child.
Carter asked for joint legal and physical custody of the children following her split from Jones, according to The Sun, and as of last year the pair were known to continually co-parent their kids.
In a statement to People at the time, Jones said, 'Though we have decided to end our marriage, we still love each other very much. We will continue raising our kids together, running our businesses together and supporting each other’s growth. There is no beef or drama — just evolution.'
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With Jones' new baby having only been born recently, hopefully their plans for 'conscious co-parenting' will work out.
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