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Events

Apr
11
2024

Self-Managed Abortion Teach-In with Laila Salaam from Reproaction

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Online

This teach-in will focus on how to best assist someone who is self-managing their abortion (SMA) using abortion pills, including guidance on digital security, access to abortion pills, varying medication protocols, and speaking with medical professionals about SMA. No prior knowledge of SMA is necessary. This training will be particularly useful to those who have abortion doula training, live in or travel to states with restrictions on SMA, and those who may need to self-manage their own abortion or assist someone else with the process.   Laila Salaam (she/her) is a young reproductive justice activist and recent graduate from the George Washington University. She currently serves as Reproaction’s Lead Organizer. Laila is a passionate advocate for self-managed abortion, D.C. statehood, and expanded sexual health education, considering all to be matters of reproductive justice.  Reproaction is a left-flank culture change organization leading bold direct action to increase abortion access and advance reproductive justice nationally, as a matter of human dignity. They specialize in strategic communications, opposition research, and community organizing.  

Apr
15
2024

Combatting Crisis Pregnancy Centers with Lisa Battisfore from Reproductive Transparency Now

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Evanston

During this session, we will dive into the hidden truths about anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), how they threaten public health and autonomy, and why it is critical that advocates for bodily autonomy and abortion access resist their continued proliferation across the U.S.  Lisa Battisfore (she/her) is the founder and president of Reproductive Transparency Now. Lisa is a two-time Northwestern graduate, and has experience working in corporate strategy, marketing, and brand management, as well as working with youth and volunteering as an abortion clinic escort. For Lisa, it is an honor and privilege to leverage her professional skill set to further her life's passion: to STOP FAKE CLINICS.   Reproductive Transparency Now (RTN) is a Chicago-based, volunteer-run organization whose mission is to advance reproductive justice by raising awareness about anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers, or “fake clinics,” through direct action, education, and advocacy. To learn more about RTN, visit ReproTransparency.org.  

Apr
18
2024

Sustainable Menstruation Education with Saalt and MEA (Menstrual Equity Advocates)

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Evanston

Join CARE, Northwestern’s Menstrual Equity Activists (MEA), and sustainable period product company Saalt for a night of education around the menstrual cycle, period poverty, the environmental impact of period products, and the use of sustainable period products. on a college campus. Attendees will receive their choice of a free menstrual cup, disc, or pair of underwear and will gain access to an exclusive Saalt discount code. As always, attendees of all genders are welcome!   Taylor Moore is Saalt’s Account Manager and has been with the company for 3.5 years, dedicating her work to making Saalt’s reusable period care options accessible and affordable globally by expanding partnerships. Before her time at Saalt, Taylor supported students at Boise State University in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and also held a graduate assistantship where she created peer programming around holistic wellness. She holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership from TCU. Taylor loves any opportunity to connect with college students and to break down stigmas and taboos around period care.   Female-founded by mother of six Cherie Hoeger, Saalt has a vision to make cleaner, more sustainable period care accessible to everyone. They support individuals’ choices for their menstrual health with stigma-breaking branding and an industry-leading product line offering modern, reusable products that are healthier both for consumers and the planet. As a certified B Corp, Saalt allocates 2% of its revenue to donate improved period care to areas with the most need and funds initiatives in menstrual health, girls' education, and environmental sustainability. Since Saalt’s launch in 2018, they have donated over 100,000 Saalt products and menstrual health education to women and girls in over 50 countries to help them confidently manage their periods, stay in school, and pursue their career goals.  

Apr
22
2024

SAAM Keynote Speaker: Intersex Activism 101 with Pidgeon Pagonis

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Evanston

For centuries, mythology, not actual intersex people’s stories, has shaped the public’s perception of intersexuality, leading to dire consequences. Some of the key events and players in intersex history, whose groundbreaking activism in the early 90s helped lay the groundwork for today’s dynamic movement for intersex bodily autonomy and justice, are introduced to help participants understand why intersex activists across the globe—who were forced to conform—are uniting to demand that society conforms instead. Audiences will get a chance to think critically about the ways in which seemingly binary concepts such as sex and gender are actually diverse and mysterious and how they can create inclusive communities and practices for intersex people. The keynote will be followed by a Q&A session in which the audience can directly ask questions of and engage with Pidgeon.   Pidgeon Pagonis (they/them) has worked for over a decade as an intersex advocate, speaker, consultant, photographer, and filmmaker to shed light on the human rights violations endured by intersex people. Their goal is to help end the non-consensual irreversible medical procedures meant to discipline unruly intersex bodies. Pidgeon’s accessible advocacy helps people complicate their preconceived binary notions about “biological differences.” Their work has been essential for those who want to show up for intersex people in their lives but aren’t sure where to start. Whether advancing the intersex cause as the co-founder of the Intersex Justice Project (IJP), co-producing viral informational videos, creating art that centers intersex voices, appearing on the cover of National Geographic “Gender Revolution” special issue or being honored as a LGBT Champion of Change in by the Obama White House, Pidgeon has staked out a place at the fore of debates on intersexuality. In 2020, IJP’s #EndIntersexSurgery campaign succeeded in getting Chicago’s Lurie Children’s to become the first hospital in the nation to apologize and halt surgeries. Their memoir Nobody Needs to Know was published in 2023 by Little A Press. 

Apr
23
2024

Our Bodies Ourselves: Healing Yoga & Zine-Making with Kamaria Excell

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Evanston

This empowering event will combine the healing powers of yoga and the creative expression of zine making to cultivate personal healing and wellness. During the yoga flow, participants will engage in gentle restorative poses and mindful breathing exercises to reconnect with their bodies and release tension. A limited number of yoga mats will be available to borrow; please bring your own if you are able. Following the yoga session, attendees will embark on a guided zine-making journey, where they will create to make a personalized wellness guide, filled with affirmations, coping strategies, and resources for self-care and healing. This inclusive and supportive space encourages participants to explore their inner strength, foster community connections, and reclaim agency in their healing journey.  Kamaria Excell (she/her) is a Black Queer Feminist, therapist, and yoga instructor based out of Chicago, IL. She is a passionate space holder dedicated to building a world where all folks are safe, free, and thriving with joy without the harm of systems of oppression. 

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