Tayo Mbande is a maternal health innovator. Mom to 5, Tayo entered into motherhood and quickly realized it was her favorite hood. Tayo is a proud graduate of Howard University and a true student of life. Tayo has been supporting families through pregnancy, birth and parenthood for almost 10 years and has worked in all fields across the maternal health spectrum. As a birth worker, Tayo is proud to be an SMC Full Circle Doula Birth Companion, Certified Blactivist Educator and Co-Owner of Chicago Birthworks Collective alongside her mother Toni. Tayo’s work spans across the city of Chicago as a member of numerous councils, taskforces and committees. Tayo is the co-chair of the March of Dimes Maternal Health Taskforce workgroup focused on creating healthy and engaged communities, a member of the Illinois Maternal Mortality Review Committee, member of the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative community alignment board, and a member of the Family Connects Chicago community alignment board and providers council. She works tirelessly to  not only reimagine but put to action better ways of caring for pregnant people and parents across our city state and country. Tayo is involved whenever and wherever in the work that embraces the humanity of birthing people and uplifts their reproductive rights and liberation. Tayo is deeply invested in her family life and centers her children, husband and immediate family as her source of grounding, inspiration and guidance. She is an educator and community builder at heart and carries a spirit of radiance that is truly invigorating.