In Our Own Voice - In Our Own Voice

Do You Have What it Takes to be a Reproductive Justice Leader?

February 20, 2020
In Our Own Voice
Next Generation Leadership Institute, Reproductive Justice

Do You Have What it Takes to be a Reproductive Justice Leader? In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is thrilled to announce that the 2020-2022 Next Generation Leadership Institute Fellowship Application is now open! The Next Generation Leadership Institute is a paid two-year fellowship conducted during the nine-month academic school year. The Institute serves as a formal pipeline for training students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to become Reproductive Justice leaders.

Let your U.S. senators know that you’re paying attention to the courts!

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda along with our Georgia state partners at SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW and SisterLove Inc, and our national partners at National Asian American Women’s Forum and National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, today submitted a letter to the U.S. Senate to voice opposition to the confirmation of Andrew Brasher to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Listen Up! Black Maternal Health and Abortion Access

Quote exceprt In Our Own Voice’s Vice President of Government Affairs Jessica Pinckney spoke her truth as a guest on Jennie Wetter’s podcast RePROS Fight Back. She spoke about how the lack of access to quality abortion and maternal health care impacts Black Women.

Fighting breast cancer and LGBTQ stigma

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. mobile mammogram unit offers free services to LGBTQ community at Creating Change conference

Seeking health care services can often be challenging for members of the LGBTQ community. Discrimination and ignorance can be barriers to care for this group, particularly, when it comes to seeking preventive care like screenings for breast cancer. Which is how a partnership was born between the National LBGTQ Task Force’s Creating Change Conference and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.’s mammogram mobile unit.

Community Creates Change

January 16, 2020
In Our Own Voice
Human Rights

It feels hopeful to be attending Creating Change 2020. Since attending my first Creating Change conference, several years ago, I have been fighting for Reproductive Justice in a political environment and climate that has been harmful in every way to my people and the communities that I am a part of.

Black women denounce court’s decision to gut the Affordable Care Act

Statement from In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

WASHINGTON — Yesterday evening, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down the mandatory coverage requirement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), leaving a lower court to decide if the rest of the landmark legislation can remain without the requirement. Marcela Howell, founder and president of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, issued the following statement in response:

Black women denounce high court’s decision to let Kentucky abortion restriction stand

Statement from In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a Kentucky law that forces doctors to describe ultrasound images and play fetal heartbeat sounds to patients seeking abortion. Marcela Howell, founder and president of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, issued the following statement in response:

How Young Activists are Shifting the Paradigm on Gun Violence

By Giovanteey Bishop, In Our Own Voice Program Manager

Generation Progress hosted the sixth annual #Fight4AFuture summit that is centered on eliminating mass incarceration and illuminating viable solutions to ending the gun violence epidemic. Generation Progress functions as an arm of The Center for American Progress and serves explicitly to uplift, empower, and engage young people. The #Fight4AFuture Summit provided space for bright young activists from around the nation to connect and exchange revolutionary ideas. I had the pleasure of being able to attend the Generation Progress convening last week. My perspective on many of the issues was broadened, spanning from justice reform, ending gun violence, and eradicating mass incarceration.

Black women applaud passage of the Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 4)

December 6, 2019
In Our Own Voice
Press Release

Statement from In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 (HR 4). Marcela Howell, founder and president of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, issued the following statement in response:
“We applaud the House of Representatives for passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019. The wholesale disenfranchisement of voters threatens our democracy. Conservative lawmakers across the country are pulling out all the stops to prevent people of color — especially Black people — from exercising our right to vote.

Black women call on Supreme Court to uphold Reproductive Justice

Amicus brief outlines devastating consequences for women of color, lesbian and transgender Louisianans

On December 2, 2019, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda joined partner organization Women With a Vision and other reproductive justice advocates from across the nation in filing an amicus brief in June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee, which challenges Louisiana’s law requiring abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges. If allowed to take effect, Louisiana’s Act 620 would leave only one doctor to provide abortion care in the entire state. In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda founder and President, Marcela Howell, issued the following statement: