Thank you to everyone who came out to the 9th Annual LegislateTHIS! This day would not have been possible without your continued support of SPARK and dedication to realizing Reproductive Justice in Georgia and the South!
Category: LegislateTHIS
Across Generations Pt. 2 to follow the 9th Annual LegislateTHIS!
Join SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW on February 18th at 6:30PM at “Across Generations Pt. 2”, an inter-generational panel of local organizers, elders, and artivists honoring Black History Month. We will discuss Black Queer & Trans organizing in the South focusing on the theme “Liberating Our Bodies, Our Communities, Our Futures.”
This event will follow the 9th Annual LegislateTHIS! and continue the powerful conversation we hosted in October 2015 during LGBTQ History Month.
Event Details
Thursday, February 18th, 2016
6:30PM – 8:00PM
Phillip Rush Center Annex
1530 DeKalb Ave Ne, Atlanta, GA 30307
This event will replace our monthly Kick It with SPARK and is open to all, prioritizing space for LGBTQQ youth of color (16 – 25) to socialize, build community, and find resources.
Register NOW for the 9th Annual LegislateTHIS!
The 9th Annual LegislateTHIS! is one week away!
Join us on Thursday, February 18th for a day of powerful community mobilization and legislative advocacy as we work towards policy and culture shifts to liberate our bodies, our communities, and our futures!
The day will open with breakfast at 9AM, followed by a legislative advocacy training with visits to the GA Capitol, and a keynote by the dynamic Mary Hooks, Co-Director of Co-Director of Southerners On New Ground.
In order to build towards the world that SPARK envisions, we need your support. Don’t miss out, RSVP on Facebook and register TODAY!
Event Details
Thursday, February 18th, 2016
9:00AM – 1:00PM
Trinity United Methodist Church
265 Washington Street SW
Parking is available in the Government Center Parking Deck located south of the church. Parking validation available for event attendees.
#WERUNTHIS Takeover Day at the GA Capitol!
Join SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW in partnership with SisterSong, SisterLove, and the Feminist Women’s Health Center on Crossover Day as we host #WERUNTHIS Community Takeover Day at the GA Capitol!
March 13th – Crossover Day – is the last chance a bill has to move from one legislative chamber to the other to have a chance at becoming law. Starting at 10:00AM EST we will gather in the GA Capitol South Rotunda for a full day of popular education teach-ins and grassroots lobbying to support proactive reproductive justice legislation that reflects our communities in Georgia for the 2015 Legislative Session!
For more information, please contact Taliba Obuya at taliba@sparkrj.org.
Reflections on the 8th Annual Legislate THIS!
On February 19, 2015, SPARK Reproductive Justice Now gathered for our 8th Annual Legislate THIS! – A day of action and lobbying at the Georgia Capitol. Under the theme “From the Grassroots, to the Gold Dome,” community members, organizational leaders, activists, and allies joined together to raise our collective voices in solidarity and brought our fight for reproductive justice and proactive policy that centers the needs of our communities – Black Women, Queer & Trans Youth of Color, and Young Mothers – to the Capitol. Watch as SPARK leaders and lobby participants reflect on their experiences and speak on the importance and power of this event!
Legislate THIS tomorrow, Celebrate SPARK in Atlanta!
The 8th Annual LegislateTHIS! kicks off tomorrow at Trinity United Methodist Church. Doors open and breakfast is served at 8:30AM EST!
The day will feature a grassroots lobby training followed by a visit to the Capitol. This year’s keynote will be delivered by Valencia Robinson, an organizer, and advocate for HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ and Reproductive Justice issues and founder Mississippi in Action, Inc., which promotes holistic sexual and reproductive health.
For full event details and to RSVP, visit legislatethis.sparkrj.org
SPARK Atlanta Reception!
After LegislateTHIS!, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW invites you to a fundraising reception hosted by our Board of Directors and friends. We will be celebrating 8 years of advocating against the violence, discrimination and disenfranchisement that disproportionately impacts Black women and LGBTQQ people of color in the Deep South. Our work now is more important than ever. We need your help to continue working at the intersection of racial justice and LGBTQQ liberation. We are prepared to make significant progress in 2015. Every dollar contributed by February 19th will ensure a strong start and maximum impact this year.
When
Thursday, February 19th
6:00PM to 8:00PM
Where
Kat’s Cafe
970 Piedmont Ave Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 347-2263
Closing The Gap
On this National Youth Enrollment Day, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW remains committed to uplifting the voices and experiences of LGBTQ youth of color. During the 2014 FYRE Media Justice Camp, 10 youth of color came together from three Southern states to develop short films and blogs that touched on various issues important to them as Queer and Trans youth of color living in the South. One group chose to use their voices to address the coverage gap.
Georgia has the fifth largest population of uninsured people in this country. And according to Young Invincibles, “up to 44 percent of the approximately 481,000 Georgians who fall in the coverage gap are young adults aged 18 to 34.3 The proportion of young adults in Georgia’s coverage gap is greater than the proportion in other non-expansion states, such as Texas (38 percent), Virginia (38 percent), and Florida (36 percent).”
It is important that the voices of queer and trans youth of color are heard in this fight for healthcare access. Please listen, share the stories of these amazing young leaders, and join us on February 19th, 2015 for our annual statewide day of action and lobby event, Legislate This! We will hear from key leaders about pertinent public policy and social justice issues, rally with other Georgians, and educate our policymakers at the Capitol about reproductive justice.
Why is health care important to you?
February 15th is “National Youth Enrollment Day” for the Affordable Care Act.
Today, SPARK is amplifying the voices of LGBTQQ Youth of Color by highlighting the experiences of our young leaders!
Micky and Alexis have provided their responses to the question “Why is health care important to you?”, highlighting the ways in which LGBTQQ Youth of Color have been marginalized in the health care debate. For more info on National Youth Enrollment Day and to find enrollment events near you, visit getcoveredamerica.org.
REMINDER: Join us Thursday, February 20th at 9:00AM to demand health care for LGBTQQ Youth of Color at the 7th Annual LegislateTHIS – Taking Action for Medicaid Expansion: For Our Bodies, Our Futures, Our Communities. RSVP at http://legislatethis.sparkrj.org
Micky – Health Care & Queer Youth
Micky discusses why health care is important to him as a Black, gay man.
Alexis – Health Care & Queer Youth
Alexis discusses why health care is important to her.
Announcing our 7th Annual LegislateTHIS! Musical Performers
We’re honored to have Executive Director of SisterSong, activist, poet, and songstress Monica Raye Simpson and local popular, faith-based spoken word artist YaNi & The Peace People joining us for the 7th Annual LegislateTHIS! to move us with their powerful music!
The 7th Annual LegislateTHIS! takes place on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 9:00AM. RSVP today!
Georgia Heating Up for Legislate THIS! Day – Annual Day of Action Calls for Gov. Nathan Deal to Approve Medicaid Expansion under Affordable Care Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Margaret Kargbo
(770) 875-0427
iwonder.mediagroup@gmail.com
ATLANTA – February 11, 2014 – SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, in partnership with Strong Families and the Atlanta chapter of National Domestic Workers Alliance, invites Atlanta and surrounding communities to join the 7th Annual Legislate THIS! at the GA State Capitol on February 20, 2014 from 9:00am – 2:00pm. Legislate THIS! is a statewide day of action and lobby event where key public policy leaders, social justice groups and youth engage in transformative dialogue with leading Georgia decision makers regarding policies that protect reproductive rights and expand healthcare access to women of color, young parents and LGBTQQ youth of color living in Georgia.
Legislate THIS! Day provides an opportunity for Georgians to connect with legislative officials and advocate on behalf of the 650,000 residents currently living without insurance particularly marginalized groups such as young families, LGBTQQ and women of color represented by SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW. According to a recent Abt SRBI Inc., poll conducted for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, nearly “57 percent of Georgians said the state should expand Medicaid under the terms of the Affordable Care Act” – however, Governor Nathan Deal has yet to approve.
“It’s not okay that low-income uninsured Georgians are forced to choose between getting necessary x-rays, buying vital prescriptions or paying their rent. Governor Deal has an opportunity to change the health destiny of more than 600,000 citizens by saying yes to Medicaid Expansion.” Malika Redmond, Executive Director of SPARK Reproductive Justice
Highlights for Legislate THIS! Day includes a keynote address and remarks from SPARK’s Executive Director, Malika Redmond; Tamieka Atkins, Atlanta Chapter Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and; Eveline Shen from Forward Together/ Strong Families. Musical performances include activist, poet and songstress Monica Simpson, Executive Director of SisterSong and a local popular, faith-based spoken word artist Yani & The Peace People.
For over 25 years, SPARK has been on the forefront advocating for just policies that protect and expand access to the full range of family planning options, abortion and sexual health education. Our signature event, Legislate THIS! is designed for citizen engagement to highlight our right to make sustainable and liberatory decisions about our bodies, genders, sexualities, and families within the context of public policy making and best practices.
To learn more about Legislate THIS! Day, visit Legislate THIS! with SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW or call 404.343.6506
Join us for the 7th Annual LegislateTHIS!
Join us Thursday, February 20th as we host the 7th Annual LegislateTHIS! – our statewide day of action and lobby event. This year’s theme is Taking Action for Medicaid Expansion: For Our Bodies, Our Futures, Our Communities.
Expect to hear from key leaders about pertinent public policy and social justice issues, rally with other Georgians, and tell our policymakers at the Capitol about reproductive justice. This year, our legislative priority is to ensure that Governor Deal changes the health destiny of 650,000 uninsured Georgians by enacting the full promise of the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicaid eligibility in Georgia!
Mark Your Calendars!
Thursday, February 20th, 2014
Starting at 9:00AM
Trinity United Methodist Church
265 Washington Street SW
Visit legislatethis.sparkrj.org for more details and to RSVP!
The 7th Annual LegislateTHIS! is co-sponsored by Strong Families and the National Domestic Workers Alliance – Atlanta Chapter
