Perla Alvarez

From coast to coast, we all deserve the same opportunities. That was reason I had for coming to Washington, D.C. as a member of Momentum Alliance – a part of the BRAVE coalition for reproductive justice. I was eager to join the campaign to end the Hyde Amendment and overturn bans on abortion coverage in insurance plans, wanting every person to have the same resources I have back at home.

I came to D.C. from Portland, Oregon, where I was recently recruited to build a network of young professionals and youth, partnering them with coaches to help them build leadership skills and develop the tools they need to serve on local boards and committees. Organizations in Oregon are looking for young leaders who can add diversity to their boards, and through our work at Leveraging Momentum we can offer a resource for both organizations and young people to find each other.

Young Americans need skills and opportunities in order to succeed and thrive, both in the professional world and in their personal lives. However, those opportunities aren’t always available for younger women when they find themselves unexpectedly pregnant. They may still be finishing school, or just starting their careers, and not at a place where they can take the time to recover or parent after giving birth, or deal with the physical challenges that come along with an unwanted pregnancy.

During my time in non-profits, I’ve developed a passion for youth advocacy. Many people always ...