Do you have a flexible daytime schedule? Are you furious at the flurry of misguided legislation in the past few years? Are you passionate about reproductive rights?

If so, join Feminist Women's Health Center's ACTION Team! As an ACTION Team member you will be a "first responder" to legislative calls to action. We will count on you to respond, organize, and raise our voices!

ACTION Team members will have the opportunity to participate in and lead rallies, attend legislative hearings and press conferences, and gain an in-depth understanding of Georgia's legislature.  This opportunity is perfect for students, part-time workers, and others with flexible schedules.

What we ask of you:

• Have a valid form of photo identification
• Be able to dress business casual in legislative settings
• Respond the same day to alerts and calls to action
• Follow the lead of our lobbyist or employee coordinating the event
• Be supportive of reproductive health rights, and justice.

The ACTION team will kick off at our FOCUS: Reproductive Justice Advocacy Workshop on January 15 and will continue through the year.  Planned activities include:

• Voice Beyond Choice Advocacy Days on February 26, March 26 and April 23
• Walk in my Shoes, Hear our Voice Day of Action - TBD pending legislative calendar
• Other rallies and advocacy days with coalition partners throughout the session

Email nextwave@feministcenter.org or call 404-248-5445 for more information and join today!

Email nextwave@feministcenter.org or call 404-248-5445 for more information and RSVP today!

The 2013 State Legislative session began a little over two weeks ago, on January 14th.  Some bills we've seen in the past may come around again- think fetal "personhood", requiring parental consent for minors' abortion, insurance coverage for reproductive health needs such as birth control and abortion. This is due to the fact that we are at the beginning of a 2-year session, which means that all bills introduced in the previous years must be re-evaluated. Over the coming weeks, we'll be re-hashing these bills and their current status in 2013 in this newsletter. Some other expected bills include Medicaid expansion and TRAP laws, the targeted regulation of abortion providers' laws.  

With the FWHC, you can get involved with legislative advocacy in a number of ways.  Do you receive FAN email alerts? Would you like to be part of the ACTION team?  An ACTION team member is a "first responder" of sorts, participating in rallies and legislative hearings. It's a great way to gain a thorough understanding of Georgia's legislature. If you're interested in joining our Voice Beyond Choice campaign, you can use this platform to write, call, and visit your legislator; invite one of our speakers to a community gathering; or hold a house meeting for friends and family. 

The FWHC prioritizes our advocacy agenda by focusing on public policies that relate to our mission and services. In order to make all of the above policies meaningful for all, our legislative agenda supports a role for a government that enables and supports the ability to have a healthy pregnancy and to give birth to healthy children; to prevent unintended pregnancy through contraception and sex education; to choose adoption; to have access to safe, legal abortions with compassion, dignity and respect; and to have healthy and safe relationships and families.  As you can know, reproductive justice is about more than abortion or birth control rights.

Here are some tools to help you get started on a journey to effective advocacy.  We're glad you're ready to get involved!  Not sure who represents you? This link will take you to find your elected officials. The most important part of being an advocate is staying informed and being an active, loud supporter. 

Please contact Betty at nextwave@feministcenter.org or go to our website to see links for all available advocacy opportunities and to get involved!