Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Robyn Kebede, DrPH.
Hi Dr. Robyn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story really began during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a time filled with so much uncertainty, and I found that friends, colleagues, and women in my community who were pregnant or navigating postpartum life would often come to me with questions, looking for information, reassurance, or simply someone they trusted to help them navigate what they were experiencing.
Those conversations stayed with me. I began to recognize just how important it is for women to have access to trusted information, meaningful support, and someone who will truly listen to them during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. What started organically as supporting women in my personal circle quickly became something I felt deeply called to pursue.
I became a doula and maternal health educator, expanding my knowledge and turning that passion into intentional service. In 2020, The Mama Mission and The Mama Mission Project was born from that work and from a desire to create a space where mothers and families could feel educated, supported, empowered, and seen.
Since then, my journey has continued to grow alongside the mission. My work in maternal and child health ultimately helped deepen my commitment to public health, health education, health literacy, and health equity. I continued my education and professional development while expanding my work into program development, community engagement, facilitation, evaluation, and advocacy.
What began with women simply coming to me for support during one of the most uncertain times in our lives has evolved into a much larger purpose: helping individuals and communities have the knowledge, resources, confidence, and support they need to advocate for their health and well-being.
When I look at where I am today, I see The Mama Mission as more than an organization I founded. It represents the beginning of a journey that helped shape the public health professional, educator, advocate, and community leader I have become—and it continues to remind me why I started this work in the first place.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely has not always been a smooth road. The Mama Mission began with essentially one woman, a vision, and a genuine desire to support mothers and families. In the beginning, one of the greatest challenges was simply having the resources to match the vision. Funding was limited, capacity was limited, and I had to learn how to build an organization while also doing much of the work myself.
There were also challenges surrounding awareness and understanding of maternal health support, particularly doula care. When I started, there was still some reluctance and misunderstanding about what doulas actually do, who can benefit from their services, and the important role they can play alongside traditional healthcare. Part of the work became not only providing support, but also educating families and communities about why that support matters.
Over time, some things have gotten easier. The conversation around maternal health has grown, partnerships and opportunities have expanded, and more people recognize the importance of supporting women throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. But growth brings its own challenges. There are still funding limitations, capacity needs, changing community needs, and the ongoing responsibility of making sure the mission remains sustainable without losing the heart behind it.
Through every challenge, mothers and women—young and old—have remained at the forefront of the mission. When resources are limited or the road becomes difficult, I always come back to the women and families we serve. Remembering who we are doing this for has been what keeps me grounded, motivated, and committed to continuing the work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Mama Mission?
The Mama Mission represents our broader commitment to educating, empowering, and supporting women at every stage of their lives. It is rooted in the belief that women deserve access to trusted information, meaningful resources, supportive communities, and opportunities to advocate for themselves and their families.
The Mama Mission Project is the charitable arm of The Mama Mission. It is a non-profit dedicated to educating, empowering, and supporting women and families across different stages of life, with a strong foundation in reproductive health and community health. While our story began with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support, our mission has grown to recognize that a woman’s need for education, resources, advocacy, and community does not begin or end with motherhood.
Our work includes reproductive health, maternal health education, doula support, childbirth and postpartum education, health and wellness programming, mentoring, community outreach, and resource navigation. We also have a special commitment to reaching young women and helping them build the knowledge, confidence, and life skills they need to make informed decisions about their health and their futures.
What sets The Mama Mission apart is our ability to combine professional public health knowledge with genuine, relationship-centered community support. We are intentional about making health information understandable, culturally relevant, practical, and accessible. We do not simply provide information—we create spaces where women feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their experiences, learning, and advocating for themselves.
We are also committed to meeting women where they are. Sometimes that means providing education. Sometimes it means connecting a mother to resources, supporting a family during pregnancy or postpartum, mentoring a young woman, or simply making sure someone knows that support is available.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that The Mama Mission has remained true to its name. Being a “mama on a mission” represents purpose, perseverance, advocacy, and service. We started small, but our heart has always been big. As we continue to grow, I want people to know that our mission extends across generations—from young women who are still discovering who they are, to mothers navigating pregnancy and parenthood, to women continuing their health and wellness journeys throughout life.
At our core, women are the mission. We want every woman we encounter to leave with something meaningful—whether that is knowledge, a resource, greater confidence, a connection, or simply the reassurance that her health, her voice, and her story matter.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was always ambitious, social, and naturally drawn to people. I was born and raised in Houston and grew up as the middle child of three, which I think helped shape my ability to connect with different personalities, find my own voice, and build relationships with the people around me.
As a child, I actually dreamed of becoming a talk show host. Looking back, that makes so much sense because I have always loved conversation, storytelling, asking questions, and learning about people and their experiences. I also had an active side—I participated in activities like cheerleading and track—and a creative side, especially through my love of creative writing.
Even when I was young, I knew I wanted to do something meaningful with my life. I may not have known exactly what that would look like, but I had this desire to make a significant impact in the world and in the lives of others.
It is interesting to look back now and see how many of those childhood interests are still part of who I am today. I may not have become a traditional talk show host, but I spend so much of my life communicating, facilitating conversations, educating, writing, speaking, and connecting with communities. In many ways, the little girl I was growing up in Houston was already showing glimpses of the woman I would eventually become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themamamission.net
- Instagram: @the.mamamission
