The Reproductive Justice Project supports local women of color led initiatives that address the full spectrum of reproductive justice issues. Reproductive Justice will be achieved when all people have the social, political, and economic power necessary to make healthy decisions about their physical health, reproduction, and sexuality. This includes the rights to have access to quality health care and information, the rights to live and work in an environment that is safe and healthy, and the right to have and parent children.
Inspired by a matching grant from the Groundswell’s Catalyst Fund of Tides Foundation, the Reproductive Justice Project has been able to more than double its support of the Reproductive Justice Collective - led by Sarah Noble - and other organizations, including CORE/El Centro and the Hmong American Women’s Association.
Women of color face significant health disparities in our community. Milwaukee has one of the highest black infant mortality and teen pregnancy rates in the country. Women of color experience higher incidences of breast and cervical cancer and high rates of domestic violence, sexual abuse and sexual assault.
The Women’s Fund, now in its fourth year of the matching grant program, was one of just eight organizations selected nationwide to participate.
“We believe that women of color-led organizations broaden the reproductive rights movement. They provide authenticity and credibility by including those most impacted by reproductive injustices,” said Women’s Fund executive director Margaret Henningsen. “This initiative builds on the Women’s Fund’s social change platform. It provides a meaningful opportunity to support women.
Current Grant Partners
CORE/El Centro
$20,000 | Proyecto Salud: Engages women as community health leaders to increase access to culturally competent reproductive health care to low income Latinas.
Diverse & Resilient
$20,000 | Reproductive Justice Initiative: Increases engagement and leadership of lesbian and bisexual women to address reproductive justice, health care, and oppression issues.
Reproductive Justice Collective (Fiscal Sponsor: SisterSong)
$55,000 | Unrestricted Support: Increases engagement and leadership among women of color to transform systems and policies in ways that remove intersecting barriers to good health outcomes.