Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Cessilye R Smith Of Abide Women’s Health Services Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Maria Angelova
There is no such thing as balance. You will be stuck in a cycle of dissatisfaction if balance is the goal. Life is full of ups and downs, like waves of the sea. Embrace the imbalance and rather set boundaries that lead to protection and greater satisfaction.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Cessilye R. Smith.
Cessilye R.Smith is the founder and CEO of Abide Women’s Health Services, a groundbreaking maternal justice organization located in Dallas, TX. She’s a visionary, thought leader who is driven by her passion for the health and wellbeing of Black women and their children. With over twenty years in leadership and nearly a decade as a racial and maternal justice activist, Cessilye is committed to uprooting systems of injustice in order to plant seeds that bear life giving, legacy building fruit.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path and point in your life?
Absolutely! Thank you so much for the invitation. Ten years ago I would have never thought that I would be leading a maternal justice organization, building a birth center and assisting with the growth of clinics across the country. I was a stay at home mom, a very green doula and childbirth educator when I learned about the devastating disparities in Black maternal and infant health. I did not enter this work because of birth trauma. In fact all four of my birth experiences were amazing. I entered this work because of renowned midwife Jennie Joseph. In 2013 she made me aware of the disparities and planted seeds in my heart that I didn’t realize at the time would grow into an idea, passion and purpose. So much of my life experience doesn’t make sense until I put all of the pieces together and then it becomes abundantly clear how and why I am in the position that I am in right now. To help save lives.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Well, I would say that the organization that I lead is exiting its infancy and entering the toddler zone. This year we are celebrating five years, and two years of being an accredited Easy Access Clinic. Our clinic opened during a pandemic when many companies and organizations closed. We went from having two employees to now a team of fifteen. In 2020/2021, we were faced with an influx of giving and it made us question if this giving would continue. Due to all of the racial tension, racial trauma and guilt, we wondered if our organization would maintain this growth. Here we are in 2023 with a one million dollar budget. Each year our budget has nearly doubled and I anticipate that it will continue because people truly believe in our mission and vision. The impact of our work is great and it pleases me to no end that people are rallying behind that.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
The funniest mistake I made was being a “yes man”. I said yes to everything because I wanted to make everyone happy. However hindsight is 20/20 and I’ve learned that being a good leader means being able to make tough decisions and have hard conversations. It also means that the burden of someone’s happiness should not rest solely on my shoulders. Being a “yes man” can also come from deeply imbedded trauma of not wanting to disappoint and let others down. Whew! Through executive coaching, therapy and leaning on my mentors I have learned so much about what it means to be a good leader and a good leader not only has boundaries but also must find confidence within themselves to lead well. It wasn’t funny at the time but I find myself laughing about it now.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
Absolutely. We are changing lives from the inside out. The impact is not only seen through our statistics and the excellent care our clients receive. It’s also seen on the systemic level. We dream big at Abide. We don’t allow macro level policies to impact how things are done on the micro level. For example, we have abysmal parental leave policies in this country. At Abide we provide twelve weeks paid parental leave and twelve weeks unpaid parental leave. As we continue to refine our infrastructure and secure sustainable funding we plan to make our parental leave policy six months. We operate on a 32hr work week and we follow our local ISD for winter break. I strongly believe that if we plan to impact lives that walk in our clinic, we must do the same for those providing the care. It pleases me to witness the impact this is making in every life that is connected to Abide. This impact bleeds into our equity work and is evident in the birth outcomes we see.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
Yes, one of our clients received pre-conception guidance and support and once she became pregnant she sought us out for prenatal care. After her options were explained to her she determined that she desired an out of hospital birth. We referred her to a Licensed Midwife and she continued care with that provider. After birth we were able to continue assisting her as her village by supporting her with material goods, emotional support and providing a postpartum doula through our partnership with Delighted to Doula. This client is family. It’s been over a year now and she still reaches out to give us updates and send photos of her son. She will forever be part of the Abide family. You see, it’s stories like this that shine a light on our work. Even if a person does not continue care with us, more often than not it is because they were given true options that assisted with them making an informed decision about their care. This is what Abide is about. We are a triage. We are where people go to get culturally congruent care and to attain information that they likely would not receive elsewhere.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
As I have stepped into organizing on the grass roots level I have come to realize that community based work is really were change happens. It is where you come face to face with humanity and are witness to how systems impact lives on a day to day basis. One thing that society and politicians should do is listen to Black women. Black women are truly pillars of our communities and we have a deep insight as to what the root problems that we face are. But too often Black women go unheard even though we are the most educated and yet underpaid. We have an equity problem on our hands and it won’t be fixed until those in positions of power begin to release their stronghold. The root of maternal death in this country lies in our inability to see Black women as worthy to be fought for. When 90% of Black maternal deaths are preventable we have a deeply rooted racist problem on our hands. To sum this up…
Invest in grassroots organizations that value equity and justice. Create anti-racist policies that hold medical professionals accountable for racial biases that impact outcomes. And Lastly, trust Black women.
Until Whiteness is no longer the standard. Black women will continue to die.
Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think this might help people?
Currently I’m working on expanding Abide to Fort Worth this year and acquiring the land for our birth center that we plan to open in 2024. I recently joined the team at Commonsense Childbirth as an Easy Access Clinic Accreditation & Evaluation Consultant. I strongly believe that the JJ Way — A Patient Centered Model of Care is truly the way to address the disparities in this country. It pleases me to help in any way that I can to spread Jennie Joseph’s vision of improving birth outcomes and saving lives.
What you are doing is not easy. What inspires you to keep moving forward?
My lineage and legacy is what inspires me to keep moving forward. I learned several years ago that my mothers side comes from the KRU tribe; they would be located in modern day Liberia. The KRU people were known for their resistance to colonization. They were sought after because of their ability to navigate the seas but they gave colonizers and slave traders hell. My ancestors would rather end their own lives than be captured. When I learned of my ancestry everything made sense. It’s in my blood. Their legacy is in me and my legacy will be in my children’s children. I deeply desire for the most precious, sweet and at times most beautiful moment in a person’s life, birth, to be safe. If we can’t protect this moment in a person’s history, it truly speaks volumes to how we value humanity.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
First, there is no such thing as balance. You will be stuck in a cycle of dissatisfaction if balance is the goal. Life is full of ups and downs, like waves of the sea. Embrace the imbalance and rather set boundaries that lead to protection and greater satisfaction.
Secondly, as you embrace intersectionality, don’t forget to look at the intersections of your own life and how that may impact how you lead. I was so focused on unpacking systems and intersectionality that I didn’t realize how my very own responses may have been trauma responses from my childhood and early adulthood. My insecurities as a leader, my “yes man” season, my lack of confidence. Intersectionality can go way beyond systems change. If you take a more personal approach and peel back the layers of your life, like an onion, you can see how they all intersect in creating the person that you are today. That I am today. I am so glad that I get it now and therapy and executive coaching has helped me unpack this even more.
Thirdly, don’t sacrifice yourself on the altar of service. You matter too.
This one is a tough one. I worked so hard and sacrificed so much for the sake of the vision and mission. So much so that I put myself last in every way. Grind culture was thick and I’m paying the price for that now with my health. Thankfully, I am on the mend and I have a better mindset about wellness but if I had only known to set better boundaries and to love myself first. I would have had increased capacity to love others in a healthier way… who knows where I would be, definitely healthier. So with that said, know thyself. Step into your strengths and hire those whose strengths are your opportunities.
Fourth. Investing in an executive coach early on is an invaluable investment into your future. I did not hire an executive coach until I was four years in and on the verge of burnout. It wasn’t until having a come to Jesus conversation with my board and filling a prescription for anti-anxiety meds, that I knew that I needed more support. Hiring a coach early on would have helped me with my confidence, insecurities and goals. Hire a coach from the jump.
Lastly, you are enough. In fact, you are more than enough.
As someone who is neurodivergent, there is this propensity to always second guess myself. It would have been nice if I had support in knowing that my creative mind and empathetic heart is what makes me uniquely qualified for my position. I believe every leader must be intentional about creating spaces that embrace neurodiversity in order to truly hone in on individual strengths.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
First of all, thank you. I believe in this thing called a pro-liberation movement where we enter the gray and seek liberation for us all. We live in a world where hot topics are polarizing and the more we cling to tightly held beliefs, the more distant and dehumanizing we become. I believe that if we let go a little and enter the gray where things are often messy and not black and white, we will then see more of our humanity and become compelled to understand each other more clearly.
I’ll give you an example. Pro-life vs. Pro-choice. Have you ever heard of a more divided group of people? You either fit into one category or another. But I dare say that there is one common denominator within these groups. They each desire life. Now it depends on what their definition of life is. It’s complicated and messy and very layered. But the more I recognize the layers the more I realize that people are more interested in quick fixes rather than systemic change. It’s actually much easier to stick to deeply held belief systems. When you cling so tightly to them you think you’re doing something. Unfortunately when we refuse to budge we continue to have women dying from pregnancy related causes that are mostly preventable. I’m ready for a movement where people confront their own biases, racial, religious or otherwise, and get their hands dirty doing the work of enacting life-affirming change in a culture of death. I want us all to be liberated. Hence pro-liberation.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Keep a livin” — My Nana would say that all the time and my mother still reminds me of this. When times are tough and you don’t know what the next move is. Just keep a livin.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
India Arie. I know that this may seem odd and unconnected to my profession but India has unknowingly provided much soul care for me as a Black woman throughout the years. There is no denying that you will hear her music in our clinics, birth center and in my home. I’ve been asked this question many times and the answer always goes back to India. Her lyrics have given me confidence and have pulled me into deep reflection. I’m reminded of my beauty and the beauty of connection in this world. In fact, I’ve yet to run into a Black woman who does not have India Arie on their playlist. To sit and to connect with her woman to woman would be a dream come true.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
To follow and support the work of Abide Women’s Health Services, please visit www.abidewomen.org and follow us on Instagram at abide_women. To follow my personal journey see www.cessilyersmith.com or follow me on instagram @cessilyersmith
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Cessilye R Smith Of Abide Women’s Health Services Is Helping To Cha was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.