We Came Together. We Took Action. We Are Rising.

Friends, the Reproductive Justice movement is fired up.

From September 19–23, In Our Own Voice hosted our largest and most energized Reproductive Justice Summit & Advocacy Day yet. For four days, Black women and gender-expansive leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., to strategize, organize, learn, and move in collective power under this year’s theme: Reproductive Justice in Action: Black Women Leading with Joy, Policy & Power.

Honoring Legacy. Elevating the Next Generation.

We opened with the trailblazers who built this movement— esteemed scholar Professor Dorothy Roberts, In Our Own Voice founder Marcela Howell, Reproductive Justice movement visionary Loretta Ross, and other leaders who grounded us in our powerful lineage.

Their wisdom met the brilliance of a new generation of creators like Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Amber Sherman, Elizabeth Booker Houston, and Jasmine Burton—voices reaching millions and shaping the narrative of Reproductive Justice in real time.

You could feel this energy in our live Outspoken x No Distractions podcast conversation on Black joy, truth-telling, and digital resistance.

Power, Democracy, and the Policies Shaping Our Lives

Across three days of panels and workshops, movement leaders dug into what it means to advance Reproductive Justice in one of the most volatile moments in recent memory. They explored:

• Reproductive Justice as a pillar of democracy
• How we lead and sustain ourselves amid backlash and burnout
• Intergenerational leadership and the strength of Black women at the helm
• The joy that fuels our work, across generations

Policy discussions centered what our communities face every day—from LGBTQIA+ rights and digital authenticity to Black maternal health, doula care, abortion access, Medicaid, and racial equity. Each conversation reaffirmed that Reproductive Justice is not one issue. It’s every issue impacting our autonomy, our families, and our futures.

With strategy in hand, we moved from learning to action. Congresswoman LaMonica McIver joined Symone Sanders for an inside look at the policy fights ahead—from Medicaid cuts to attacks on bodily autonomy.

Taking It to the Hill

Then Rep. Lateefah Simon rallied us with a powerful reminder of why we do this work.

Fueled by that energy, participants met with Members of Congress to urge passage of:

• The EACH Act, ending the cruel Hyde Amendment and abortion coverage bans
• REAHYA, expanding honest, inclusive sex education

You can still raise your voice and demand action.

A Movement Rising Together

These four days revealed what makes Reproductive Justice unstoppable: our community, our clarity, and our courage. We closed the Summit with renewed resolve and an unwavering belief that our future is within reach.

This country is ours. Our voices are clear. And as we continue to organize, advocate, and show up for one another, we are building the world we deserve.

Thank you to every partner, leader, advocate, and supporter who makes this movement possible.