Advancing Reproductive Freedom in Our New Fiscal Year
Our Justice is making the annual transition into a new fiscal year and are reminded of the organization evolution that has occurred over the last twelve months. This has been a year of organizational evolution, in which we have welcomed four talented new board members, sponsored and participated in impactful community events centered on Reproductive Justice, and re-invigorated the Our Justice Abortion Assistance Fund. With your support, over the past year, Our Justice has provided thousands of dollars more in direct funding for abortion care than we have over the last several years.
From October 2018-May 2019, the Our Justice Abortion Assistance Fund:
Received requests for funding from more than 140 people seeking care and provided direct financial help for 94 people accessing abortions.
Pledged more than $40,000 and paid more than $32,600 in direct funding.
Pledged an average of $350 per client seeking care. Our higher pledges were typically for people with more costly procedures and/or experiencing other difficult personal circumstances including homelessness, undocumented immigration status, or sexual assault and/or intimate partner violence
As our organization moves into the next fiscal year, we are grounded by the importance and urgency of our work. Like many of you, we were outraged this spring by the abortion bans passing through the Southern and Midwestern states. After years of pushing abortion care out of reach for people on the margins - especially for poor women, young folks, transgender people, and Black and Indigenous people of color - anti-abortion politicians are now inflicting a wave of outright bans.
Our Justice knows what it’s like to face impossible odds. We are resilient, and we’ve been fighting for ourselves and each other, for generations. We will not back down!
In May, Our Justice joined with local partners and advocates, lead by NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota, at the Minnesota State Capitol in solidarity to ensure our neighbors in the South have access to abortion care, as we continue to fight for Minnesotans who struggle to access care right here! New board member, Angelica Perez, spoke to a crowd of hundreds about the need for compassion and care in our communities. That following week, we joined a community coalition of providers, advocacy organizations, and faith groups, to announce a new educational campaign, UnRestrict Minnesota, that brings to light Minnesota’s unconstitutional anti-abortion laws.
Angelica Perez, Board Vice Chair, Speaking at the Minnesota State Capitol at the Stop the Bans Rally
Many Minnesotans would be surprised to know that for decades anti-abortion lawmakers in our state have been quietly passing laws that restrict abortion access, intimidate providers and patients, and increase costs. We see the impact of these laws every day when we hear from people who need help accessing care. No one should have to go through unnecessary, demeaning, and stigmatizing hoops in order to obtain an abortion.
It’s our mission to ensure that all people and communities have the power and resources to make sexual and reproductive health decisions with self-determination. Abortion restrictions, whether in Alabama or Minnesota, strip us of our dignity and autonomy and can push access to abortion out of reach for the most marginalized.
You can advance Reproductive Freedom in the next fiscal year with a financial gift to Our Justice. With your help, we can continue to provide help to everyone who needs it and advocate for Reproductive Justice in the community.
Our Justice, and the our Abortion Assistance Fund, relies upon modest donations from many, as well as substantial donations from those who can give more. Your donations support our direct service work and our ability to advocate for Reproductive Freedom in the community. We also welcome donations of stock, and interest in including us as a beneficiary in estate planning, for those with interest and means. If this is something of interest to you, please email contact@ourjustice.net.
We appreciate your solidarity and support as we continue working to advance Reproductive Freedom for all.
The Our Justice Board of Directors
Shayla Walker, Co-Chair • Corenia Smith, Co-Chair • Angelica Perez, Vice Chair • Stephanie Shea, Secretary • Katie Barrett Wiik, Treasurer