Meet the Team
We can't wait to meet you and support you!
Our team is ready to help you have the best pregnancy you can! We are professionally trained, and experienced and value evidence-based information as well as individualizing our support for each family. And we are always updating our skill sets with new continuing education and staying up-to-date on the current research. We work as a team with all of us helping each other out when needed with the goal of giving you the best support possible. Let’s get to know each other and get started on your pregnancy journey.
Meet our Founder

Cicely Wilson
Founder and Executive Director
I am passionate about supporting, educating, and empowering families during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. I believe in holistic care allowing the mind, body, and spirit to be the guide in birth and overall health. I support families in their decisions whether they choose a homebirth with a midwife, hospital birth with a medical team, or deliver at a birthing center, the choice is yours and my job is to support your choices.
I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and am the oldest of five younger siblings. I started working with children at a very early age, serving my neighborhood and church as the go-to babysitter. I could always be found wherever the babies were, playing and caring for them as if they were my children. At the age of 15, I became the babysitter to 3 beautiful, full-spirited girls. Caring for those girls helped me to decide to continue working as a nanny throughout college. I am still very close to that family, with the girls currently in their 20s starting their careers and becoming mothers themselves!
While working closely with families with newborns and infants, I saw parents needing more support during the postpartum period and overnight support so parents could rest and recover. I chose to train and certify with CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) as a Postpartum Doula. I then received a Child Passenger Safety Technician certification to help parents choose and properly install their child’s car seat. I am a CACHE credentialed Newborn Care Specialist obtaining training from Newborn Care Solutions. I received my certification as a Lactation Counseling and am certified by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Procedure. I am also a trained Labor Doula with DONA International and currently pursuing accreditation with CAPPA and Lamaze International as a Childbirth Educator.
I immersed myself in the teachings of Nneka Hall at The Quilt Center to advocate for families with fertility challenges and families coping with the grief of pregnancy loss. I continue to study all things baby on subjects such as sleep, postpartum mental health, and prenatal/postnatal nutrition.
I believe every family deserves to be supported, educated, and empowered with experience and evidence-based support. I have worked with families within CicelyCARES for several years and look forward to doing more community-centered support to provide care to families of all social and economic backgrounds.
I offer an understanding, non-judgmental view on parenting, striving to make all families feel accepted and supported in their parenting decisions. I enjoy educating parents and watching parents adjust to their new roles.
I have experience with multiples, babies with reflux and colic, breastfeeding challenges, same-sex couples, and sleep conditioning. I am more than willing to lend support and education to all families, no matter the need.
When I’m not engaged in supporting families and advocating for maternal health, you can find me enjoying a great meditation session, indulging in sushi and acupuncture, or watching ridiculous amounts of home renovation shows. I dream of having a large family consisting of children I have adopted out of love, four cute little pomskies, and a pig named Snout (I can dream it, right?)
Labor Doula
Postpartum Doula
Lactation Counselor
Child Passenger Safety Technician
Childbirth Educator
New Parent Educator
Fertility Advocate
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Advocate
Safe Sleep Ambassador
Covid-Ready Caregiver
Caring for NICU Babies
I have a soft spot for caring for others and helping people reach their full potential. By connecting with and investing in her peers, she is able to lend leadership and mentorship to other caregivers that strive for excellence in the birth industry.
I am a board member for several industry-specific organizations that further fulfill my desires and efforts to help others become emerging leaders:
Newborn Care Specialist Association
Nashville Breastfeeding Coalition
The Doula Book Project
Alexis (she/her)Childbirth Educator
Alexis (she/her)

Childbirth Educator
Alexis a fertility, birth, postpartum and bereavement doula, She is also a placenta encapsulator and certified childbirth educator. Alexis has a deep passion for helping others and empowering women at any stage of life, especially as they are bringing new life into the world. She has been changing lives as a social worker for several years working with teenagers and now has moved on to manifesting greatness as a doula. She offers her clinical experience to assist in the strengthening of mental health and social functioning in pregnancy and postpartum as well her physical, emotional and spiritual support. She works facilitating trauma healings and occupying space so women and families can bring forth life in all their glory. Alexis is excited to use her creative energy and passion to help guide families into their journey to parenthood.
Amanda (she/her)Labor Doula, Social Media Manager
Amanda (she/her)

Labor Doula, Social Media Manager
Amanda is originally from Roswell, Georgia, but has lived in Nashville for the past 4 years. She is a birth doula and (soon to be!) childbirth educator. Amanda has worked with youth in some capacity for the past 9 years as a tutor, Junior High Math teacher, and volunteer with her church. She is passionate about both education and birth work. Everyone deserves the empowerment that comes from both education and adequate support! Amanda is married to her husband, Adam, and has a 4 year old son named David. When she is not doing work with Sunnyside Up Youth, you can find her hanging out with her family, enjoying a good book, or serving in the Young Women’s organization of her local congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ari (she/her)Labor & Postpartum Doula, Research Coordinator, Moderator
Ari (she/her)

Labor & Postpartum Doula, Research Coordinator, Moderator
Ari serves as a research and organization coordinator, as well as a childbirth / new parent educator at Sunnyside Up Youth Services. I am a postpartum doula, and the CEO of L.Elevyn Doula Services. She currently works as a healthcare administrator and has been in the medical field for over 5 years. Ari’s background consists of cardiology post acute care, cardiac rehabilitation, and kinesiology studies. She is passionate about positive and beneficial birthing and postpartum outcomes, as well as womens’ health as a whole.
Cat Durand (she/her)Volunteer Doula
Cat Durand (she/her)

Volunteer Doula
Catherine (Cat) Durland believes that pregnancy and birth are a sacred time to be cherished, and every mother deserves to feel cared for, empowered, and confident in their new role. During this time of transition, she offers compassionate, non-judgmental, and evidence-based support to help navigate options and resources. As a certified birth doula with a holistic approach, Cat provides continuous emotional and physical support. She helps prepare a birth plan, offers comfort measures, advocates for wishes, and inspires trust in a birthing woman’s ability to stand in their power. As a postpartum doula, she provides non-medical support in the first weeks after the baby is born, assisting with newborn care, household tasks, bonding, and self-care. Supporting women and families during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period is Cat’s passion and calling. It would be her honor to empower families to take control of their birth plan and have a positive and spiritually fulfilling experience as you welcome your new baby into the world.
Denise Miller (she/her)Volunteer Doula
Denise Miller (she/her)

Volunteer Doula
Denise is overjoyed to share her passion for birth work with new and expecting mothers. Her own prenatal and birthing experience inspired her to support other women in times of need and vulnerability during their pregnancy and childbirth. Since then, she has been blessed to serve and assist amazing women with prenatal and postpartum care. Her desire is and will always be to support women during and after their life-changing moments of bringing new life into this world.
Desiree (she/her)Moderator, Licensed Practical Nurse
Desiree (she/her)

Moderator, Licensed Practical Nurse
Desirée is a new postpartum doula, stay-at-home mom to a fun-loving, adventure-seeking two-year-old and wife to Kerr. Having my son during the pandemic 2 years ago we had very little village present and both my husband and I worked together to take care of my son and learned A LOT. I developed this new passion for motherhood, postpartum and lactation during that time. Some of the things I learned on this journey but not limited to are teaching myself to breastfeed, learning all about cloth diapering, baby wearing and even learning how to care for and nourish myself. I have learned it all and want to make sure I help as many mamas as I can. I became a nurse in 2009 and have worked in pediatrics for the majority of my career as a Licensed Practical Nurse. I love kids, but I’m ready to focus on the care of mothers. I’m originally from northern Virginia, but moved to Tennessee on a whim and now have established my own family and life here. I love trying new recipes and honestly, it may sound cliche but, I love being a mom and wife and spending time with my family. It brings me joy.
Dezaray (she/her)Labor Doula
Dezaray (she/her)

Labor Doula
Dezaray moved to Nashville two years ago from Washington, D.C. She is currently a birth doula, infant nanny and infant care specialist! She has 5 years experience in infant care, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Psychology. In addition, Dezaray has studied the psychology of pregnancy and birth at an advanced level. She is incredibly passionate about parental autonomy during birth, as well as ensuring everyone has the emotional support needed to bring new life into the world. She hopes to one day teach doctors, parents and birth professionals about maternal and infant mental health.
In her free time you will likely find her cooking a new dish or hanging out with friends! She also loves to care for her “jungle” of plants.
Ellie (she/her)Postpartum Wellness Specialist
Ellie (she/her)

Postpartum Wellness Specialist
Ellie is a wife and mother of two kids living in Nashville, TN. She is trained as a Nutritional Therapist and Birth/Postpartum Doula and works virtually as a Pregnancy and Postpartum Coach. Ellie enjoys being able to enter into this personal and tender stage of life with her clients. They have so many questions and uncertainties and her goal is to help them feel confident and at peace at each stage. Ellie loves hanging out with my family, taking care of our chickens, and trying different hobbies like painting, archery, and gardening.
Kerry (she/her)New Parent and Childbirth Education
Kerry (she/her)

New Parent and Childbirth Education
Kerry Cavanaugh is a former Peace Corps Volunteer with a passion for global and maternal and child health. After receiving her Master’s in Public Health from the University of London, she discovered the need to improve maternal health education in Ecuador, so she became a certified Childbirth Educator and trained Lactation Counselor. Kerry loves working with youth and has spent the past eleven years providing health education to teens in many different settings. Kerry lives in Ecuador and has two young boys. She uses both her personal experiences and professional studies to guide and educate mothers during pregnancy and early motherhood.
Regan Naumovski (she/her)Volunteer Doula
Regan Naumovski (she/her)

Volunteer Doula
Regan Naumovski has called Nashville home for the past 17 years and is thrilled with the opportunity to serve young women with a variety of birth support. She is 25 years old and just had her first baby in April 2023. Regan’s passion for birth education and services began when her two best friends had their own babies. It got her curious about how our bodies are made to give birth. She read books and listened to hours of podcasts for her enjoyment where learning how empowering a positive birth experience can be. After having her own unmedicated birth with an amazing birth team, she knew she wanted to help others have their own beautiful experience.
Sheila (she/her)New Parent Educator
Sheila (she/her)

New Parent Educator
For the past several years Sheila has built my career as a CAPPA Certified Postpartum Doula and Educator. She works closely with parents and families at the start of their lifelong commitment to parenthood. Additionally, She is a well-trained facilitator throughout the processes of birth, hypnobirthing, lotus birth, gentle sleep training, lactation support and baby massage. Sheila’s passion for my career first began when she became a mother and had two amazing sons with my husband of 40 years, Marcus Sr. and now five beautiful grandchildren. Aside from my work as a facilitator of the bond between newborns and their parents, I actively volunteer at Women’s Shelters, specifically for the City of Orange, and throughout my community. It has been and continues to be my greatest honor to serve my community and parents as they raise their families and look forward to the connections and bonds that will be made throughout the area of Dallas, Texas.
Tré (she/her)New Parent Educator
Tré (she/her)

New Parent Educator
Tre is driven by passion: a passion for the families she works with and for the care and nurturing of infants and newborns, passion for supporting diversity, and passion for continuing education and enrichment. She is working to renew the voice of Black authority. She brings her unapologetic passion as an equity champion to all families. Regardless of income, race, or community, Tré raises her voice so the impact of her care can be felt everywhere. As a life-long believer in the power of knowledge and enrichment, she is committed to professional development and maintains consistent enrollment in industry-specific classes, training, and certification programs. Tré’s greatest passion remains rooted with the families she works with and by providing well-rounded, respectful, intentional, and loving care to everyone she meets. For Tré, her greatest reward is seeing the impact she has on the life of a child by creating nurturing environments where families can grow and thrive.
Vanity (she/her)Grief & Loss Advocate, Postpartum Doula
Vanity (she/her)

Grief & Loss Advocate, Postpartum Doula
Vanity Bonner is a Nashville, TN native raising 4 beautiful children and an energetic cat named Salem. She is a Postpartum Doula,PAIL Advocate, Nicu Unit mom and postpartum depression survivor. Her passion is caring for moms and babies. She enjoys educating, supporting and giving knowledge to families for them to make informed decisions.Vanity’s goal is to have a supportive healing place for families suffering from any postpartum challenges. Vanity has a background in nonprofit philanthropy and fundraising.