Episode 213: Black Maternal Health & Reproductive Justice

Has L. Joy discussed Black maternal health and reproductive justice before? Yes, multiple times. And as long as there is such deep confusion, much of it manufactured, around the issue, L. Joy will continue to talk about it because the full range of reproductive healthcare links together. For this lesson, she’s bringing a knowledgeable triumvirate to the front of the class to break down the fight on the State level.

Homework:

• Revisit #SundayCivics episodes on Reproductive Justice:

  • https://www.sundaycivics.org/episodes/episode28

  • https://www.sundaycivics.org/episodes/episode149 

  • https://www.sundaycivics.org/episodes/episode154 

  • https://www.sundaycivics.org/episodes/episode177

• Check out State Innovation Exchange (SIX) https://stateinnovation.org/ 

• Identify the lawmakers in your state that share your values on Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice and support the legislative efforts vocally and visibly

Our Guests:

Ruth Richardson is a third term member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing House District 52B, parts of Mendota Heights and Eagan and the City of Mendota. She made history in 2018 as the first Black woman elected to represent her district in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

In her first term, she authored 18 bills that were signed into law, including a number of bills focused on health equity and racial justice. She also served as chief author for House Resolution 1, which passed off the house floor with bipartisan support declaring racism a public health crisis becoming the first legislative chamber in the nation to make the declaration and also created the House Select Committee on Racial Justice.

Rep. Richardson served as co-chair of the committee and co-authored its comprehensive report providing background for 83 community driven recommendations including a majority focused on improving population health in Minnesota. She also chief authored the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Task Force establishing the first in the nation task force focused on the crisis and just passed the bill to establish the nation’s first Office on MMBWG.

Rep. Richardson is a 2019 alumna of the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD), a 2022 alumna of the Milbank Emerging Leadership Program, and a 2022 Toll Fellow. She also serves on the BILLD Steering Committee and as state director for The Women Legislators' Lobby (WiLL) and for Women in Government.

In addition to her legislative work, she also serves as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. She has a long history of working in the community to advance equity and human rights and earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Minnesota and her JD from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Jennifer Driver is an award-winning reproductive health, rights, and justice policy and advocacy leader with nearly 15 years in the field. Her work centers on addressing systems that add burdens or barriers to accessing full reproductive health information and services— paying particular attention to communities of color, immigrants, system involved youth, and LGBTQ communities.

Prior to joining SiX, Jennifer served as the Vice President of Policy and Strategic Partnerships with SIECUS (the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States), where she provided leadership to drive the organization’s federal and state policy and advocacy efforts. Prior to joining the team at SIECUS, Jennifer worked for Welcoming America where her work focused on the intersection of immigration, racism, education, health, and policy. Her previous experience also includes working for Power to Decide and the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential. She is the Founder of Take Root Strategies LLC, a consulting firm providing strategic guidance on reproductive health care policy. Jennifer serves on the board of the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy Leadership Council.

A dynamic trainer, presenter, and spokesperson on reproductive health, rights, and justice, Jennifer has been featured and quoted in national media, including The Washington Post, Vogue, The New York Times, Rewire, The Hill, CNN, The Harvard Political Review, MSNBC, and Politico. She was also recognized in 2019 as one of 50 impactful creators, artists, and activists by B*TCH Media.

Zakiya Summers is serving her first term as the Mississippi State Representative for House District 68, which covers portions of West and South Jackson and parts of Byram and Terry in Hinds County, as well as Pearl and Richland in Rankin County.  In the State House, she sits on the following committees: Public Education, Elections and Apportionment, Public Health and Human Services, County Affairs, and Workforce Development. Zakiya also serves as the Public Information Officer for the House Democratic Caucus and Vice-Chair of the Technology/Public Relations Committee of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus.