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The Reproductive Justice Initiative Newsletter

The Reproductive Justice Initiative is a project of

the Action Lab for Social Justice at Columbia School of Social Work.

Our members curate this newsletter highlighting information, resources,

and recent updates related to sexual and reproductive justice.

Questions or additions? Contact us at swreprojustice@columbia.edu

We believe in SisterSong’s definition of reproductive justice as the human right to:

1. Maintain personal bodily autonomy

2. Have children

3. Not have children

4. Parent children in safe and sustainable communities

Calls to Action

• Call Governor Kathy Hochul to advocate for the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Fund (RFEF)’s inclusion in the final NY state budget.

  • Phone: (518-474-8390) Script: My name is ____. I am calling from ____. I am calling about the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program (A361B/S348C). I was disappointed that you did not include funding for this program in your executive budget, and I urge you to include it in the final state budget. This funding will support New Yorkers, NY abortion providers, NY transportation and hotels, and more. I thank you for the one-time grants you have already provided to strengthen abortion access in NY, and urge you to prioritize this longer term sustainable solution.

  • See here for more info and additional action items.

• Add your name to this PrEP4All petition appealing to Congress to save funding for HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs.

• Add your name to this Human Rights Campaign petition demanding justice for Nex Benedict and calling for the removal of Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters.

• Add your name to this Planned Parenthood petition calling on the Supreme Court to protect access to mifepristone.

  • SCOTUS will hear oral arguments for Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al on March 26. The Supreme Court’s decision to hear this case means mifepristone will remain on the market and accessible in states where abortion is legal at least until the Court rules on this case.

    
    

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, March 19 from 6-7:30pm (virtual): Building Safer Communities – Evaluating Cure Violence Program’s Impact in NYC; register here

• Saturday, March 23 at 10am (Manhattan Foley Square): NYC Loves Abortion counter protest and march with NYC for Abortion Rights, Abortion Access Front, Shout Your Abortion, and more

• Tuesday, March 26 from 6:15pm-8pm (CSSW room C06): Immigration Justice Initiative x Reproductive Justice Initiative panel, “Immigration Justice for Women”; dinner provided, RSVP here

• Thursday, March 28 from 12:15-1:45pm (CSSW room 1109/Zoom): The Lavender Collective panel, “Trans Joy: In Practice, Play, and Pleasure”; lunch provided, register here

• Wednesday, April 3 through Friday, April 5 (Columbia): Trans Disruptions: The Future of Change Conference 2024; register here

• Thursday, April 4 at 7pm (virtual): Reproductive Justice Collective x Abortion Access Front, “Expose Fake Clinics: College Action Hour”; register here

• Tuesday, April 9 from 1-2pm (virtual): Reproductive Justice Initiative x Office of Career & Leadership Management panel, “Careers in Reproductive Justice”; register here

• Tuesday, April 9 from 9:30am-3:30pm (Albany): Planned Parenthood Youth Lobby Day; transportation provided, register here

• Thursday, April 18 from 6:30-8pm (Barnard): Care: The Highest Stage of Capitalism with Premilla Nadasen and Dorothy Roberts; register here

• [Weekly] Tuesdays from 1-2pm (CSSW room 702/Zoom): Reproductive Justice Initiative drop-in discussions

• [Weekly] Thursdays from 1-3pm: Volunteer with Immigration Justice Project at Afrikana to support African Migrants in NYC; sign up here

In the News

• Legal settlement clarifies reach of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law The New York Times

• Online orders begin for first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US CNN

• CVS and Walgreens will begin selling abortion pills this month The New York Times

• Reproductive rights organizations are failing Palestinians Prism

• Alabama court rules frozen embryos made by IVF are “children” The Intercept

• The climate emergency is a matter of reproductive justice The British Medical Journal

• What it takes to claw back abortion rights in court The Cut

• Freedom Oklahoma, a 501(c)(3) that advocates and organizes to build an Oklahoma where all 2SLGBTQ+ people have the safety to thrive, honors Nex Benedict.

  • Content warning: mention of anti-2SLGBTQ+ violence and death

    
    

Columbia Connections

• Barnard on-campus medication abortion plan pushed to late May

• Need Plan B? It’s $8 in the Brooks Hall vending machine

Community Spotlight

Community Spotlight on the Birthing Place! They are a diverse team of maternal health professionals in NYC, including midwives, doulas, and educators, united in their mission to advance birthing justice. They aim to improve maternal healthcare for all. They currently operate the Womb Bus, offering crucial services like perinatal support and reproductive counseling. Through education and wellness initiatives, they've impacted thousands of families, particularly in the Bronx. Recently they're transitioning to provide direct clinical care as they progress towards launching a medical practice, a vital step towards realizing their vision of a permanent birth center!

Featured Resource

What We’re Reading

Jobs & Internships

Looking for your next practicum site? CSSW has existing relationships with:

• Center for Reproductive Rights

• NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault

• Pregnancy Justice

• Advocates for Youth

  
  

We recommend https://jobs.reprojobs.org/ for those on the job hunt.

Send us an email if you have internship or job leads to include in our next newsletter! swreprojustice@columbia.edu