Meet Our Founder

Cherisse Scott has been a passionate educator, advocate, and servant leader in the Reproductive and Sexual Justice movement for over 20 years. Her journey in the movement began as a patient seeking reproductive and sexual healthcare from what she later learned was a pregnancy counseling center posing as an abortion clinic. This experience was a pivotal moment in Cherisse’s life, revealing the true motives of those claiming Christianity as their belief system, though the systemic manipulation and misinformation they inflict on women, girls, and pregnant capable individuals, was far from the fundamental principles of compassion, inclusion, or love. As destiny would have it, Cherisse was embraced by a movement led by Black women committed to empowering, educating, and mobilizing sisters who like Cherisse, deserved unhindered access to comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education and care.  

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As the CEO & Founder of SisterReach, Inc., based in Memphis, TN, Ms. Scott’s leadership has revolutionized advocacy, and has contributed an analysis that has transformed service delivery, faith-based social justice, the lens, and approach of advocates across reproductive health, rights, freedom, and justice on the local, state and national levels. Boldly reimagining Reproductive & Sexual Justice in a post-Roe America, in 2022, Cherisse founded, SisterReach Illinois, currently the only Black woman led RSJ organization in the state.  

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Cherisse is a sought-after speaker on Reproductive Justice and other human rights issues. Notable accomplishments include SisterReach's groundbreaking research on sexuality education for Southern youth of color, their Pro-Woman Billboard campaign countering anti-abortion propaganda launched in Memphis, TN, and their messaging advocacy that helped defeat Tennessee’s harmful fetal assault law (2014-2016) and helped to inform the Anti-Sterilization Law of 2018. 

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In 2015, SisterReach launched their Faith & Advocacy training to equip religious leaders, laity, and advocates with best practice strategies and education in response to the advancement of Christian extremism and theological fascism. Cherisse and SisterReach’s faith-based comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education training, Vacation Body School, was featured in the Jan 2018 edition of O Magazine, and Cherisse was recognized by Essence Magazine in 2018 as one of their Woke 100. Cherisse is an ordained minister, independent artist, poet, and proud Black mother whose personal values are rooted in biblical scripture John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s mantra: "We are not free until all of us are free." 

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Cherisse is unwavering in her commitment to build a world where justice prevails, freedom is accessible for all people, and every individual can live a life of purpose, dignity, and abundance.