Thread by @ReproRights

The Center is excited to host our virtual State Leadership Summit today with over 150 advocates, legislators and organizers working to advance proactive state policies for reproductive health, rights & justice. #ReproVirtualSummit

Stay tuned for the highlights from the #ReproVirtualSummit!
And learn more about the Center’s U.S. state policy advocacy work here: reproductiverights.org/our-work/in-th…

“The last year and a half have fortified and underscored what we always knew: that our movement is resilient, creative and stronger together, even while apart.” —Lourdes Rivera, the Center’s Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs #ReproVirtualSummit

The first panel of the day is a conversation on how maternal health, infertility and access to care are related and how through state-based advocacy & legislative action we can support disproportionately impacted communities in receiving dignified and equitable care.

"The reality is that the alarming trends that we’re seeing affect moms and babies in this country. It’s deeply rooted in systemic racism and there is no way to get around that.” —Frankie Robertson (@frankieBRLA) founder and president of The Amandla Group, LLC. #ReproVirtualSummit

“When we talk about opportunities for policy change, what we can do is support families so they can care for themselves & their loved ones without jeopardizing their health or their paycheck.” —Kameron Dawson, @ABetterBalance Staff Attorney #ReproVirtualSummit

Next is a conversation on bold campaigns to improve abortion coverage and ensure abortion justice with @TEAFund + @lilithfund campaigns director Ana Rodriguez, @YWCAKalamazoo Public Policy Lead Daniel Hamilton & @AllAboveAll State Strategies Manager Winnie Ye. #ReproVirtualSummit

“As an undocumented person for most of my life I didn’t have access to health insurance or health care often and so it’s just so important to me that people have access to essential health care, and that includes abortion.” —Ana Rodriguez @TEAFund @lilithfund
#ReproVirtualSummit

“Legislators [should take] the back seat to people that are already in the fight. Listen to the people who these issues most impact and let that lead & guide how you write policy. Let that lead how you be an advocate and sponsor for that movement.”—Daniel Hamilton @YWCAKalamazoo

Our last session for the #ReproVirtualSummit is a conversation between the Center’s Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs, Lourdes Rivera, and New York State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas.

“Every issue is interconnected with each other, and that’s why we have to fight for the conditions in which all people have the opportunity to thrive in our city, state, and country. — New York State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas

“While we’re fighting for the big thing that's going to take time and energy and will need to continue to build support and momentum, we still need to get the things done that will actually serve our communities in the moment.”—New York State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas

“We can’t give up and we have to keep pushing and keep building. Because while we’re still facing really tough dynamics if we continue to shift consciousness and build power among community members we’ll get there.” — New York State Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas

And that concludes this year’s State Leadership Summit #ReproVirtualSummit! Thank you to all participants and attendees! You can learn more about the Center’s U.S. state policy advocacy work here:
reproductiverights.org/our-work/in-th…