Here’s Why and How We Can Exercise It
The choice is ours.
Yes, it is still ours. We can choose to realize, energize, mobilize.
Or we can choose to stay paralyzed.
We can choose to engage, really engage, with the folks just outside of our bubble. Or we can choose to give ourselves over to dismissiveness and distrust. We can choose to tell our stories, even the ones from way-back-when, even the hard ones about hard choices. Or we can choose to be silent, choose to allow people to think that those hard choices are made by “other” women.
We can choose to start, to re-start, to re-engage, to converse, to commit.
We can choose to be inspired by the GENERATIONS of women who came before us, women who sought out and found their own reproductive freedoms. And then demanded that those freedoms be enshrined into law.
The choice is ours; always has been; in every single state in this great nation of ours.
“Because when we show up today. We are already standing up for the tomorrow we made.”
– Amanda Gorman
Here’s Why and How We Can Exercise It
The choice is ours.
Yes, it is still ours. We can choose to realize, energize, mobilize.
Or we can choose to stay paralyzed.
We can choose to engage, really engage, with the folks just outside of our bubble. Or we can choose to give ourselves over to dismissiveness and distrust. We can choose to tell our stories, even the ones from way-back-when, even the hard ones about hard choices. Or we can choose to be silent, choose to allow people to think that those hard choices are made by “other” women.
We can choose to start, to re-start, to re-engage, to converse, to commit.
We can choose to be inspired by the GENERATIONS of women who came before us, women who sought out and found their own reproductive freedoms. And then demanded that those freedoms be enshrined into law.
The choice is ours; always has been; in every single state in this great nation of ours.
“Because when we show up today. We are already standing up for the tomorrow we made.”
– Amanda Gorman
Grassroots Organizations Getting It Done
It’s most often the on-the-ground organizations that are getting the hardest work done — not just at a local level, but on a person by person level — to ensure safe reproductive care and abortion access for women. Those are the difference-makers we’re getting behind. Check out our shortlist of vetted national and regional orgs directly connected at the local level.
National Network of Abortion Funds
A national network that can connect anyone to local organizations that have financial and logistical support to provide safe access to abortion. This is also the place to connect for donating in your community.
Keep Our Clinics
A fundraising campaign for independent and safe abortion clinics across the country.
The Brigid Alliance
A grassroots organzation with connections at a national level, helping abortion patients who are traveling long distances to reach their appointments.
The Midwest Access Coalition
MAC is a practical abortion fund that helps people traveling to, from, and within the Midwest access a safe abortion by assisting with travel coordination and costs, lodging, food, medicine, childcare, and emotional support.
Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project
Wrrap helps bridge the financial gap for disadvantage people who seek an abortion of emergency contraceptives.
Donations for Abortion
A steadfast, difficult woman by the name of Leah Helsinski put together a state-by-state guide to getting connected with grassroots organizations dedicated to safe abortion access. Head here to find funds and organizations at a local level, and to find a safe-access clinic near you.
National Network of Abortion Funds
A national network that can connect anyone to local organizations that have financial and logistical support to provide safe access to abortion. This is also the place to connect for donating in your community.
Keep Our Clinics
A fundraising campaign for independent and safe abortion clinics across the country.
The Brigid Alliance
A grassroots organzation with connections at a national level, helping abortion patients who are traveling long distances to reach their appointments.
The Midwest Access Coalition
MAC is a practical abortion fund that helps people traveling to, from, and within the Midwest access a safe abortion by assisting with travel coordination and costs, lodging, food, medicine, childcare, and emotional support.
Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project
Wrrap helps bridge the financial gap for disadvantage people who seek an abortion of emergency contraceptives.
Donations for Abortion
A steadfast, difficult woman by the name of Leah Helsinski put together a state-by-state guide to getting connected with grassroots organizations dedicated to safe abortion access. Head here to find funds and organizations at a local level, and to find a safe-access clinic near you.
Let’s Do Something About It
We’re exercising our choice in tons of ways. Voting is just one of ‘em.
9 ways to get in on the action. Find yours.
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Tell your story: the hard ones, the scary ones. Most of us will confront difficult reproductive choices in our lives. We are ALL "those women." Our stories matter and more importantly, they build understanding.
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Lobby locally. It can start with a bring-the-heat sort of phone call, and can really move the needle by showing up at events like city council and town hall meetings. Put some pressure on by having a presence. And bring a crew of like-minded friends for support!
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Fund the cause. If you’ve got the moolah, send it along to a grassroots organization that’s scraping by to do really important work.
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Give your time and expertise, pro bono. Every organization, candidate, and cause can benefit from skill and experience. From design services and project management to door knocking and language translation. Get on the phone, shoot them an email, or DM ‘em and tell them what time and expertise you’re ready to commit to when they need it.
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Volunteer in your community, so you know your community. It’s a powerful thing to know your neighbors, understand them, and build trust in your neighborhood.
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Have hard conversations. With your family members, with your neighbors, with your community. Talking with people and listening — really listening — is a great way to build change not only in others, but also in ourselves. Seeds of change are planted with each small conversation we have.
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Sign up for work at your polling site on voting day.
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Run for office. Couldn’t possibly leave that action off this list. Start small and start here.