Professor Christina Yongue, Dr. Amanda Tanner, Dr. Erica Payton, Dr. Meredith Gringle, Tracy R. Nichols, Ph.D., and students Elondra Harr, MPH, Sulianie Mertus, MPH, and Nia Washington, CHE. (04/2022)
Voices For Reproductive Justice 2022
“Voices for Reproductive Justice (V4RJ),” a university-community partnership, highlighted the application of social justice and health equity approaches to reproductive health. Historically, reproductive health advocates have applied a narrower, rights-based framework that focuses on bodily autonomy and has privileged the voices of white, middle-class women. Reproductive justice, defined as the “right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities,” shifts that focus by applying an equity lens, broadening the health-related issues addressed, and centering diverse voices. The day-long conference included interactive panel discussions and keynote speakers around the defining issues within reproductive justice. National and regional leaders and scholars in the field discussed current and historical narratives of reproductive health from diverse perspectives. The symposium introduced emerging scholars’ research and the work of community leaders. ALL voices–joined together. The V4RJ planning committee was co-chaired by Dr. Amanda Tanner and Christina Yongue, MPH, and is hosted by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Department of Public Health Education in partnership with RJSquared (represented by Jasmine Getrouw-Moore), Village Doula Sis (represented by Cassey Mapp-Ahmad), and Speakin’ of Grace (represented by Kiera Herford). Several faculty members and students worked diligently in support of this event: Dr. Erica Payton-Foh, Dr. Meredith Gringle, Sulianie Mertus, Elondra Harr, and Nia Washington. **Watch the Voices of Reproductive Justice 2022 Virtual Conference **