Reproductive Justice Activists

As a project of our Girls of Color Fund, the Reproductive Justice Activists (RJA) program seeks to center the voice and leadership of young women, non-binary youth, and allies in an effort to imagine and create a society free from all forms of reproductive oppression. In doing so, the youth activists will work closely with us to identify ways for the Foundation to build a strategy around Reproductive Justice advocacy.  

2017-18 Reproductive Justice Activists

Program Overview

Goals:  

• Build leadership and capacity of 10-12 activists of color to serve as informed advocates on reproductive justice and their own lived experience.
• Bring Reproductive Justice lens back to their affiliated organizations.
• Working with the RJA, plan and develop our Reproductive Justice advocacy efforts.

RJA will have opportunities to:

• Learn about the history of Reproductive Justice (RJ), current local and/or national reproductive justice issues, and current advocacy efforts 
• Connect and build relationships with the larger RJ community
• Develop their organizing and activism skills
• Examine historical and contemporary examples of how racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, ageism and stigma keep women, transgender women, gender non-conforming, non-binary people of color from being able to have access to the power and resources to make fully informed decisions about their health, bodies, families, and communities
• Inform and guide Brooklyn Community Foundation on how best to deploy and guide resources for RJ advocacy.

About our Reproductive Justice Activists:

• Are youth of color in Brooklyn between the ages of 16 and 24
• Have at least two years of activism or organizing experience
• Are passionate, self-motivated, collaborative, and committed to achieving reproductive justice
• Are interested in creating solutions that address the impact of reproductive oppression on young people of color
• Have a strong desire to develop leadership skills and be a part of a new generation of reproductive justice activists

Timeline

• August 2017
  • August 9, 2017: Online Application opens

• September 2017
  • September 8, 2017: Deadline for Applications
  • September 15, 2017: Reproductive Justice Activists announced 
  • September 2017:  RJA program begins, including introduction and community building activities

• October/November 2017:
  • October 18, 2017 – November 30, 2017: Four reproductive justice intensive learning sessions with community and national partners.

• December 2017: Synthesize learnings and identify advocacy priorities
   
• January-June 2018: Monthly meetings
   
• June 2018: RJAs share priority advocacy recommendations with Brooklyn Community Foundation and organize an action/celebration.
   

Compensation 

$1,500 for the 10 month program (averaging 8-10 hours of participation per month)
 

Email rja@bcfny.org with any questions about this program.