SPARK Reproductive Justice Now
Formerly Georgians for Choice, Spark Reproductive Justice Now! is a reproductive justice organization based in Atlanta, GA, with a combined twenty-seven years of advocating for just policies to protect and expand access to abortion, family planning options, and sexual health education. Importantly, SPARK ensures the perspective and leadership of those most impacted by reproductive injustices, particularly women of color, young parents, and LGBTQQ youth of color, are incorporated as a part of the reproductive rights and justice movements.
SPARK’s innovative framework, grassroots tactics, and policy initiatives paired with our leadership development programs create an attractive comprehensive approach to our movement building efforts. As one of the few women of color-led reproductive justice organizations that prioritizes the issues of LGBTQQ youth of color, our colleagues across the country look to SPARK for our advanced racial and gender justice analysis as the movement begins to develop ways to include LGBTQQ rights within their organizing efforts. This early departure from the mainstream reproductive rights movement, positions SPARK as a pacesetter and sought after thought-leader in the field. Our innovative tactics and policy initiatives, commitment to leadership development, and mobilization efforts continue to showcase our ability to provide strategic leverage when building and connecting with other social justice organizations in the South.
SPARK’s impact includes 1) increasing emergency contraception availability at the largest grocery chain in Georgia, 2) leading the charge to bring down anti-choice billboards targeting African-American communities in Atlanta, GA, 3) mobilizing a growing base of women of color advocates to rally against anti-choice policies, 4) building strong cross movement coalitions to advance proactive reproductive justice policies, and 5) mobilizing over 1,000 Georgians for the National March for Women’s Lives and subsequent Walk for Women’s Lives in Atlanta, GA.
In 2012 SPARK introduced the “Birth with Dignity” bill to end the inhumane practice of shackling incarcerated women during labor and delivery in the state of Georgia. Our efforts quickly gained broad public support and forced Georgia corrections to make a public statement reforming the use of shackles and finally ending the practice.
To learn more about SPARK Reproductive Justice Now!, please go to our website.