A Thank You Note from Our CEO:

Abide was a dream planted in my heart in 2013 upon learning of the disparities in Black Infant & Maternal Health outcomes. I had no idea what it would evolve into. In fact, I had no clue that I was capable of building what would be the framework of a healthcare system that centers the lives of Black, Indigenous, People of Color. Listening to Jennie Joseph while holding my baby girl all those years ago activated something in me.

A seed was planted.
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‍And much like with any seed, it takes time to grow. Seeds need fertile soil, water, sunlight, and sometimes a little fertilizer. Over the years, I have watched Abide grow into a beautiful plant. Not just a single flower but a blooming, young tree firmly rooted in healthy soil. As with any plant facing the elements, Abide has definitely seen storms, calm and turbulent winds, scorching heat, and chilly days. The weathering. . .

‍But the roots.

‍The roots keep it healthy, thriving, and capable of withstanding the elements. The roots run deep. They’ve been nurtured with love that is the fertilizer that keeps it strong. I’m reminded of Billie Holiday and her song of lament of the Strange Fruit hanging from the Poplar Trees. “Blood on the leaves and blood at the root.”

The ROOTS.

‍We can’t fully change systems whose roots are dipped in ancestral blood. What we can do—what we have done—is build a new system by planting seeds with untainted roots that produce life (fruit), the opposite of death (strange).

I sit in awe of all we have accomplished. Parents walk through our doors with a renewed sense of safety. Clients that feel valued and cared for. A team that sees Black people as worthy of tender care that honors their humanity.

The FRUIT of many SEEDS planted and NURTURED.

With gratitude,
Cessilye R. Smith
Founder & CEO
Abide Women’s Health Services, Inc.

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