Posts Tagged Voices of…

Voices of the Latina Institute: Why We Move


By Veronica Bayeti Flores, Research Assistant, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
We often think of immigration in the context of people leaving a “poor� country and going to a “rich� one. In some regards this is true – many immigrants do arrive at their new homes with the promise of a land filled with opportunity. But to think of immigration in terms of the movements of individuals is to obscure a large piece of the picture: the social and political forces that precipitate these movements and make countries “poor� or “rich� in the first place. As an immigrant who comes from a family of immigrants, it is clear to me that these forces have ...


By Veronica Bayeti Flores, Research Assistant, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
We often think of immigration in the context of people leaving a “poor� country and going to a “rich� one. In some ...

Voices of the Latina Institute: Sharing the same herstory: Latinas in the US and abroad

Jersey Garcia, Member of Miami International Latinas Organizing for Leadership and Advocacy (MI-LOLA)

Being an Afro-Latina and first generation Dominican American, I grew up knowing that many of the same reproductive justice issues affecting Latinas outside of the USA continue to plague their peers in the states. Poverty, lack of resources, violence, and no access to services or information are some of the issues that women continue to face here and abroad.
As the granddaughter of a poor, illiterate black woman living in a rural village in Dominican Republic, I know first hand what it is to not have choices or the resources to exercise our intrinsic right to sexual and reproductive health. My grandmother had 22 pregnancies, ...

Jersey Garcia, Member of Miami International Latinas Organizing for Leadership and Advocacy (MI-LOLA)

Being an Afro-Latina and first generation Dominican American, I grew up knowing that many of the same reproductive justice issues affecting Latinas ...

Voices of the Latina Institute: ¡Pa’lante! Continuing the struggle for social justice


Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
I’ve heard it all: the misogynistic comments, the anti-immigrant rants, the accusations of being a ‘bleeding heart’ socialist with no pride in ‘America’. “If you hate this country so much, why don’t you go back?!� the detractors scream. “Baby-killer!�, “Spic!� “Liberal!� But still I march and still I fight.
This is a common experience for many activists. As a person committed to reproductive justice, an activist, a woman, a Latina, a daughter of an immigrant, a queer ally and a progressive individual, I find myself being constantly confronted by hate and fear. What’s most difficult is when the fear and ...


Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
I’ve heard it all: the misogynistic comments, the anti-immigrant rants, the accusations of being a ‘bleeding heart’ socialist with no pride in ...

Voices of the Latina Institute: My friend Rosalía and La Operación


By Ligia Rivera, Director of Community Mobilization Programs, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
“You are getting la operación? You’re going to be sterilized for the rest of your life?� I said to my friend Rosalía recently. “Yes, I will,� she replied. With those three simple words, my friend threw into question all the hours I’ve spent learning and training others on reproductive justice. What else could I have said to a single undocumented mother of two, working a low wage job? Rosalía, like many other immigrant women, came to this country to escape from extreme post-civil war violence, risking her life and the lives of her children by crossing the Rio Grande on an inner tube. ...


By Ligia Rivera, Director of Community Mobilization Programs, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
“You are getting la operación? You’re going to be sterilized for the rest of your life?� I said to my friend ...

Voices of the Latina Institute: Spreading the Word


Karla Ayala, Office Administrator, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
As a young Latina who has had to face the realities and consequences of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), I have been fortunate enough to be able to educate myself on the facts and to educate others through my work as a peer educator. While I have been lucky enough to possibly have changed someone’s life by providing them with this information, I always ask myself about the countless others left in the dark, especially those left behind due to a lack of communication as a result of a language barrier.
When my mom was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1999, she had no idea what it was ...


Karla Ayala, Office Administrator, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
As a young Latina who has had to face the realities and consequences of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), I have been fortunate enough to be ...

Voices of the Latina Institute: When you hear the word abortion

By Silvia Henriquez, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word abortion? For me it is relief. Deciding what was best for me at that time was a relief.
I know that not everyone shares my perspective or opinion. What I do know is that abortion and pregnancy stir up a variety of emotions, regardless of whether you consider yourself pro-choice or not. According to the Guttmacher Institute, ½ of pregnancies are unplanned—that means that many of us, at some point, have purchased a home pregnancy kit. For some women the little blue line is a blessing and for others it is a source ...

By Silvia Henriquez, Executive Director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
What is the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word abortion? For me it is relief. Deciding what was best for ...

Voices of…The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health


This week, the fantastic National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is hosting our Voices of series and the gals at Feministing couldn’t be more excited.
The Latina Institute’s mission is “to ensure the fundamental human right to reproductive health for Latinas, their families and their communities through public education, policy advocacy, and community mobilization.” You can find out more about their work here through their posts this week, or you can check out their website.
A big thanks to Miriam for putting this all together!


This week, the fantastic National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is hosting our Voices of series and the gals at Feministing couldn’t be more excited.
The Latina Institute’s mission is “to ensure the fundamental ...

Voices of the USSF: Crystal Plati & Kierra Johnson, Choice USA

Another World is Possible Where Young Leaders Call the Shots
When you think of the US Social Forum, what things come to mind? Anti-globalization marches? Protestors against big business? Groups looking to infuse workers’ and human rights into international trade agreements? Calls for an end to imperialism? Anti-war activists? Maybe all of the above. However, we doubt, for many of you, reproductive justice issues ever come into play.
For far too long, the vision of an inclusive social justice movement has failed to conjure many connections with the basic reproductive health and rights movements in this country. Civil rights organizations have worked with labor rights movements. People’s organizations have worked with grassroots campaign organizers. Many of these collaborations have ...

Another World is Possible Where Young Leaders Call the Shots
When you think of the US Social Forum, what things come to mind? Anti-globalization marches? Protestors against big business? Groups looking to infuse workers’ and human rights ...

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