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the
Advocate Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
winter 2021
PPAF Reduces Barriers to Abortion Care
Just days before the end of
last year’s legislative session,
Planned Parenthood League of
Massachusetts’ political arm, the
Planned Parenthood Advocacy
Fund of Massachusetts (PPAF),
successfully helped secure the
passage of key provisions of the
ROE Act into law, expanding
equitable access to abortion care
in our state. Over the past two
years, PPAF led a broad coalition
of social justice groups, health
Right: PPAF supporters at a press conference
advocacy organizations, and denouncing the nomination of Amy Coney
grassroots activists to pass the ROE Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court in September.
Act and dismantle discriminatory
and medically unnecessary barriers burdensome restrictions on young
to abortion care. The dynamic people’s access to care. In addition,
campaign paid off. people can now obtain abortion
When the coalition mobilized care later in pregnancy in cases of a
supporters in response to the fatal fetal diagnosis — without having
confirmation of Justice Amy Coney to travel across the country.
Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, The road to safe, legal abortion
the Massachusetts House of care for all has never been smooth,
Representatives and Senate were and this process was no different. reproductive health care, PPAF is
further motivated to take action Governor Baker attempted to prioritizing intersectional legislation
locally, incorporating key provisions weaken the legislation, and then that supports the wellbeing of
of the ROE Act into the state’s vetoed it altogether when the patients and addresses systemic
annual budget. Legislature rejected his proposed discrimination their communities
While the provisions do not anti-abortion changes. PPAF, ROE face, in service to our commitment
exactly match the ROE Act, they Act Coalition partners, lawmakers, to health equity. Says Tricia Wajda,
do reduce barriers to care for a and the public swiftly responded, PPAF’s vice president of external
significant number of people. and in a matter of days the House affairs, “It is more important than
Among their many reforms, the and Senate voted to override the ever that our legislative agenda
provisions allow young people Governor’s veto and enact the bill center all of the needs of our
aged 16 and 17 to make their own into law. patients – from their reproductive
decisions about abortion care As the Commonwealth began rights, to their ability to lead healthy
without having to go before a a new year with reformed abortion and secure lives. That is how we
judge, and allow remote hearings laws, PPAF turned quickly to its achieve true reproductive freedom
for those under 16. With this agenda for the 2021-2022 legislative for all.”
reform, Massachusetts has become session. In addition to improving
the first state to legislatively ease equitable access to sexual and
ceo’s corner
Dear Friends, advance health equity (page 3). And we will advocate
I welcomed this new year in coalition for reforms, like the ROE Act, that support
with renewed optimism and these goals of access and equity (page 1).
purpose and felt a great weight We know that equity work begins at home. PPLM
lifted in November, when the is striving every day to become a truly anti-racist
American people elected a organization. Toward this end, we’ve integrated goals for
new administration — one that internal diversity, equity, and inclusion into our strategic
trusts doctors and scientists plan (page 3), and have implemented initiatives through
Russ Mezikofsky
and values our reproductive our Equity Action Plan to make real and lasting change.
freedom. While we celebrate Because of your steadfast support, we’ve met
this victory, we also recognize the demands of the past year and intensified our
the challenges we still face: commitment to PPLM’s mission. Thank you for your
a U.S. Supreme Court considering the fate of the generosity during the difficult days of 2020, and thank
Affordable Care Act and poised to gut Roe v. Wade, you for standing with PPLM. Here’s to a new year
inequitable access to health care due to discriminatory of continued progress toward equitable access to
barriers, a global pandemic, ongoing anti-democratic sexual and reproductive health care for everyone in
white supremacist violence, and deep divisions within Massachusetts — no matter what.
our country.
Even here in Massachusetts, systemic racism causes
harm and has dire consequences for many. PPLM is
determined to expand access to essential care across
Jennifer Childs-Roshak, MD
the state (page 2), break down barriers and stigma, and
President and CEO
advocate spotlight: Patients Speak Out
for Abortion Access
The Planned Parenthood Advocacy to travel across the country to TAKE ACTION FOR
Fund’s (PPAF’s) Speakers Bureau access safe, legal abortion — a EQUITABLE
trains volunteer patient advocates journey marked by desperation ABORTION ACCESS
IN MASSACHUSETTS
to publicly share their experiences and grief. #ROEACT
with sexual and reproductive Called to activism after her
health care to break the silence experience, Kate joined PPAF’s
and stigma that can surround such Speakers Bureau. She began
care. Sharing stories combats telling the very personal story of
isolation and fear and encourages “being kicked out of Massachu-
understanding, which lays the setts in my crisis” to reporters,
groundwork for meaningful supporters, activists, and other
advocacy and change. audiences. Most recently, Kate has reform the law, and now patients
Kate C., a volunteer speaker, been advocating for the ROE Act can access abortion in Massachu-
believes whole-heartedly in the and allowing abortion after 24 setts when faced with a tragic
power of storytelling. “In 2012, weeks in cases of fatal fetal diagnosis (page 1). Kate feels
I was happily expecting the birth diagnosis. Testifying before a state empowered to do more; she
of my second daughter. But at legislative committee, she said: “It believes in storytelling as an agent
35 weeks, I received a disastrous doesn’t have to be this way in of change. Bolstered by a powerful
prenatal diagnosis.” Because of Massachusetts. Please vote to care sense of purpose, she affirms,
Massachusetts’ medically for our own here at home.” “Every step in the right direction is
unnecessary restrictions, Kate had Storytellers like Kate helped worth taking.”
www.pplm.org • WINTER 2021
2020
program spotlight
Disrupting Disparities, Advancing Equity:
PPLM Builds Equity From the Ground Up
On October 28, PPLM’s annual President’s Society Adriana Ojeda is the manager
Conference virtually brought together more than of PPLM’s Worcester-based Sexual
50 philanthropic leaders from across Massachusetts. Health Ambassadorship Program
In her opening remarks, Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, (SHAP). Latino/a/x and Hispanic youth
PPLM president and CEO, reaffirmed PPLM’s commit- in Worcester face extreme health
ment to advance equitable access to sexual and disparities. Adriana described PPLM’s
reproductive health care, free from structural barriers, creation and launch of SHAP, a staff-
stigma, and the ravages of systemic racism. supported collective of volunteer
Four PPLM staff members leading this work under Latino/a/x and Hispanic leaders, caregivers, parents,
the umbrella of PPLM’s strategic plan, Disrupting and organizers. These volunteers build community
Disparities, Advancing Equity, spoke about their work to and raise awareness about sexual and reproductive
improve equity across the organization and within local health issues and how to access care in a wide range of
communities. community settings. “The SHAP model has potential to
reduce health disparities not only in Worcester, but in
Brenda Hernandez, PPLM vice communities statewide.”
president of equity and engagement,
is a lawyer experienced in fostering Shanique Spalding, manager
institutional diversity and inclusion. of mobilization and BIPOC (Black,
Brenda described PPLM’s objective to Indigenous and Other People of
become a more just, equitable, and Color) organizing in Springfield,
inclusive organization that accurately works with community partners in
represents its patients and respects its western Massachusetts to improve
staff. To achieve this goal, PPLM is building an internal health equity and outcomes,
“culture of belonging” that includes all voices and especially among young people.
ensures that PPLM’s workforce and leadership reflect Shanique described the program’s local activities, which
the communities they serve. “Equity must underpin include online workshops about contraception, events
everything we do — it is the responsibility of everyone featuring Black-owned businesses, and presentations
in the organization.” to college students about state legislation to improve
health care access and advance reproductive justice.
Liz Higgins, CNP and director “I take a personal approach to this work. I ask myself:
of clinical services, described how ‘What would I have needed as a young person growing
telehealth has reduced health up in this region?’”
inequities and expanded access
to care for patients otherwise
“We’ve been able to embark on this
constrained by lack of transportation
and childcare, by disabilities, by important journey and approach our
stigma, and by being at high risk work differently and more holistically
for COVID-19. Patients share that they appreciate because of you. You have encouraged,
their expanded options: in-person appointments as
needed, confidential video conference appointments, trusted, and empowered us to meet
and telephone appointments for those who lack this moment. Thank you.”
video access. “At PPLM, we strive to provide safe and – Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, PPLM president and CEO
equitable care to our patients, whatever their location
or circumstances.”
www.pplm.org • WINTER 2021
familiar faces & virtual spaces
Celebration of Choices
We hope you will join us this spring for a virtual
Celebration of Choices, the annual gala in support
of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of
Massachusetts. Details to come!
Top: Members of the Young Friends of PPLM at a virtual mixer in November.
Middle: PPAF supporters at a virtual phone bank for the ROE Act this fall.
Left: U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and PPAF President Dr. Jennifer Childs-
Roshak at a press conference denouncing the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett
to the U.S. Supreme Court in September.
The FY20 PPLM Annual
Report is available online!
We invite you to learn
more about the work your
investment in PPLM
made possible by visiting
PPLM.org/FY20AR
Please support PPLM today by visiting www.pplm.org/donate
or emailing development@pplm.org.
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