Marlee-I Mystic is the Co-Executive Director at SisterWeb.
Redefining Women’s Health: An Inside Look at SisterWeb's Mission and Impact
Intro: Rooted in Justice, Guided by Care
At SisterWeb, we believe birth is both medicine and movement. Our vision is to ensure that every birthing person in San Francisco receives care that is safe, dignified, and culturally rooted. We work to dismantle racist healthcare systems, strengthen community resilience, and advance economic justice for birthing families and doulas in San Francisco. We stand at the intersection of public health and community love, bridging systems and souls. Our work is not only about improving outcomes; it’s about restoring trust, autonomy, and joy to the birthing experience. Through our doulas — trusted community members who reflect the families they serve — we create pathways for equity, leadership, and healing that ripple across generations.Our values—community-centered care, community-led power, respect, and autonomy — guide everything we do—from bedside advocacy to citywide policy change. We know that when women and birthing people are supported to bring life into the world with power and peace, the entire ecosystem of care begins to shift.
How does The SisterWeb integrate women’s health initiatives into its broader mission of gender equality and empowerment?
At SisterWeb, we understand that birth is sacred — not just a medical event, but a moment that shapes families, futures, and generations. Our mission is rooted in the knowing that when women and birthing people are cared for with dignity and cultural resonance, entire communities heal.
We weave women’s health into the fabric of our work through community-based doula care, workforce development, and advocacy. Our doulas reflect the families they serve, carrying wisdom from the community to the healthcare system and not just the other way around.
Every birth we attend is both personal and political. It’s an act of resistance and remembrance. It’s how we honor gender equity, reclaim body sovereignty, and affirm that wellness belongs to everyone — not only those who can afford it or access it easily. At SisterWeb, we ensure quality care, one birth at a time.
What are the most pressing gaps you see in access to healthcare for women in underserved communities, and how is your organization addressing them?
The most pressing gap is trust — or rather, the deep wound of its absence. Too many women of color have been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or ignored in moments when they most needed to be held. Access to healthcare means little if the care itself does not honor the whole person, mind, body, and spirit.
SisterWeb exists to bridge that divide. Our doulas meet families where they are — at home, in hospitals, in community spaces — offering consistent, culturally congruent care throughout pregnancy and beyond. We provide advocacy, emotional grounding, and practical tools that help families navigate complex medical systems with confidence and calm.
At the same time, through our Champion Dyad Initiative, we collaborate with hospitals and birthing locations to bridge the community clinic divide. Through our partnerships with public health providers and community-rooted organizations, we help to integrate doula care as a vital part of maternal health. We’re shifting the narrative from “marginalized communities in crisis” to “communities of wisdom and resilience.” Healing happens when care is rooted in relationships
What advice would you give aspiring doctors about building trust and cultural sensitivity when working with diverse women’s communities?
Begin with listening. Before you prescribe, diagnose, or explain — listen. Every woman carries a story layered with ancestry, resilience, and lived experience. When you enter that space, you are entering sacred ground. A rite of passage.
Cultural sensitivity is not a training; it’s a practice of humility. It means recognizing that knowledge lives in many forms — in family traditions, in spiritual practices, in the languages of touch and tone. Partner with doulas, midwives, and community birth workers who have earned that trust through shared experience.
And remember: healing is relational. When you lead with compassion, curiosity, and respect, you don’t just treat a body — you honor a soul. That’s how we build a healthcare system that truly serves. We are a birth team. And Together Everyone Achieves More. More healthy outcomes, more satisfied birthing experiences, more happy families, more thriving communities.
Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Marlee-I Mystic to help pre-med students understand the importance of culturally responsive care and inclusive support for diverse communities.
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