A member of the Social Justice Council at UU Westport
Martin Luther King Jr. observed: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.” (Chicago, March 1966)
Our mission: We educate and advocate for ourselves and others regarding reproductive health and justice, which includes bodily autonomy and abortion, which are related to racism, poverty, domestic violence, and gender identify.
Reproductive Justice (Repro J) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as: “People having the ability to reproduce, to regulate fertility and to practice and enjoy sexual relationships.” This includes safe pregnancies, safe childbirth, safe contraceptives, and safe sex. Reproductive justice is about identifying the inequalities and advocating for change. The changes may include monetary and supply donations for health care, access to contraception and abortion, and advocating for legislation.
Reproductive Justice is the larger framework that includes Reproductive Health.
Reproductive Health (Repro H) workers meet the individual family and community where they are. They seek the presence of well-being, not just the absence of disease. Repro H includes all matters regarding the reproductive system, functions, and processes, and extends throughout the life cycle of the parent, child, and the community. Repro Health exists at the intersection of race, economic security, physical safety, and gender identity. The core concept is the belief that all people have a right to have children, a right not to have children, and a right to nurture any children in a healthy and safe environment.
Our Reproductive Justice Committee formed at UU Westport in April, 2023. Some accomplishments over the past 9 months:
We established an organizing and planning committee, currently with seven members: Leslie Cenci (lead); Jan Braunle, Denise Carreau, Beth Cliff, Jamie Forbes, Sunny Khadjavi, Janet Luongo
We held an early planning meeting to kick off our initiative, identifying areas of interest and passion among our attendees, and setting up an email list and digital space for sharing articles, movies, books, and other resources.
To date, we’ve had speakers join us: Planned Parenthood Southern New England; REACH Fund of Connecticut, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance for abortion care in CT; and recently Rep. Anne Hughes, a passionate supporter of Repro J issues (CT District 135). We have been pleased with our turnouts.
In the fall ’23 we sponsored a bake/make sale to raise money for “abortion care bags” to be given to patients at various clinics. Over 30 TUUCW cooks and bakers were eager to support this cause, and we raised nearly $700 with this first effort. With the proceeds we were able to put together 60+ of these bags that have since been distributed to appreciative patients. We decorated, signed and mailed postcards to abortion health care staff thanking them for their work with patients.
We watched and discussed part of a movie on racial inequities with the BLM Committee.
We shared regularly with our mailing list articles, book and movie recommendations, speakers and upcoming actions, and other information of interest on the issues of Repro J.
We wrote postcards to support candidates who share our UU values of bodily autonomy with the UUtheVote and Gender Equity Committees.
Ideas for Future Events
We will continue to:
- Invite guest speakers, or tune into virtual events planned with activists, authors and leaders in Reproductive Justice and Health.
- Work with PPSNE (Planned Parenthood of Southern New England) and REACH.
- Evaluate our programs and efforts
- Raise money to support abortion funds. Promote more inclusivity in our projects-different age groups-especially teens, and diverse organizations from outside our community.
We are considering:
- Taking a tour of one of our local healthcare clinics
- Reaching out to other UU congregations in Connecticut and other religious organizations to expand this Repro Justice and Health project.
- Attending authors’ interviews on books relevant to our mission
- Engaging in legislative advocacy with David Vita, our legislative coordinator
- Increasing our volunteers
- Expanding our work and hearing new ideas.
Imagine what we will accomplish when we work together and “Side with LOVE.”
Consider: Your daughter, granddaughter, son, or grandson may have fewer rights than you had! What can you do to maintain and even increase our rights to Reproductive Justice and Health? Will you write a postcard, make a phone call, sign a petition, write an article, or assist with a program? We need your ideas and input and helping hands!
On Tuesday evening, September 24th, 2024, Lutonya Russell-Humes from Fairfield County Community Foundation described the Black Maternal Health Initiative of FCCF and how Black and minority women are being trained in a non-medical role or “doula” which supports and advocates for pregnant, birthing, postpartum and lactating people and their families. Lutonya informally interviewed doula Cynthia Hayes about her education, training and legislative work in developing this role which she has been in for over 20 years. We were told of the need for scholarships to train more doulas from neighborhoods in Connecticut cities where doulas are needed. Ryan Deal, Director of Community Philanthropy, described the Foundation’s mission and reported over $5000 was raised from this presentation. We will keep you posted as we learn more details.
Please contact Leslie Cenci at to join our cause.
Email ReproJusticeUUWestport+subscribe@groups.io to join our mailing list.
