Guardians of Choice: Protecting Women's Rights in YOUR Community

Roe v Wade, a landmark case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973, granted a federal constitutional right to abortion. Nearly 50 years later on June 24, 2022, in a historic reversal, the court took away that right and overturned Roe. Now, access to all reproductive heath care will depend even more on state and local action. Municipal elections, community mobilization, and state legislatures now determine abortion access, with marginalized communities most severely impacted.

Jan Mercer Dahms joins us to discuss the criticality of the current landscape. She is the managing director of the State Abortion Access Network (SAAN), a new collaborative network of state level abortion advocacy organizations seeking to flip the historic dynamic of top-down approaches to state-based and local work. Jan will also discuss why state-based abortion advocacy is important in 2024 and how you can become a part of this movement to build local power.

Sarah Standiford joins us as the  National Director of Campaigns at Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Her perspective includes federal and local campaigns in addition to states. Her focus is the right to safe reproductive health access for all. 

Takeaways for this event include:

• Understand the current state of abortion access across the nation
• Learn how local elections and advocacy can impact reproductive rights across a state
• Discover concrete steps on what you can do to help - whether its casting an informed vote, raising awareness in your community or finding organizations that help disadvantaged women to volunteer with or support

What to expect:

• A safe and respectful environment for women to learn, network & leave empowered to make a difference
• Drinks & light bites will be served

Please note, Serendipty Labs have 3 floors - we will be in the Ideation Studio on the 21st floor. If you wind up on the 19th or 20th floor, someone will be there to assist!