Cessilye Smith is the founder and CEO of Abide Women’s Health Services, which exists to improve birth outcomes in communities with the lowest quality of care by offering healthcare and complimentary services that are easily accessible, holistic, evidence-based and free from judgment. Cessilye’s passion for Black women and for her community is what compelled her to found Abide in 2018 in the heart of South Dallas. She is an advocate for honoring the legacy and wisdom of Black midwives, creating more community access to the profession and in 2022 awarded 5 scholarships through Abide Women to student midwives of color. Abide is on the map as a breakthrough maternal justice organization, a recognized Perinatal Safe Spot, Accredited Easy Access Clinic through Commonsense Childbirth Inc., and future birth center.

Founder, CEO, anti-racist, maternal justice activist, speaker, and educator are just a few of her roles. But the most challenging and rewarding role is as mother to her four children and wife to her husband Ramon.