Friday, July 27, 2007

Gender Equality Festival in Brooklyn Saturday!

Gender Equality Festival

Date: 7/28/2007
Time: 11am-6pm


Description: Girls for Gender Equity is proud to organize the Second Annual New York City Gender Equality Festival on July 28th 11am – 6pm at Von King Park in Brooklyn, NY Featuring performances by artists including singer/songwriter Pamela Means, hip hop artist Carlethal, Women’s Project theater group, and spoken word poets Urban Word NYC, the Gender Equality Festival is a free public event for education, networking, resource sharing, community interaction, arts and recreation that is open to New Yorkers of all ages and genders. Over 90 community organizations will participate, offering workshops on a wide variety of topics – responding to street harassment, zine making, HIV/AIDS, self defense, youth leadership, online activism, responding to police violence, reproductive justice, and more. For more information, contact Devon Claridge at 718-857-1393 or info@ggenyc.org

Location: Von King/Tompkins Park, Brooklyn, NY

Contact: Devon Claridge

Phone: (718) 857-1393 E-Mail: info@ggenyc.org

URL: http://www.ggenyc.org

Reproductive Justice In New York State: Assembly Member Richard Gotffried

Reproductive Justice In New York State: Assembly Member Richard Gotffried

Date: 8/14/2007 Time: 12 noon

Description: REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN NEW YORK STATE:
Assembly Member Richard Gottfried

Tuesday, August 14, 2007
12:00 Noon Social Half-Hour
12:30 PM Program
33 West 60th Street, 5th Floor Conference Room

SPEAKER:
Hon. Richard N. Gottfried,
Chair, NYS Assembly Committee on Health

While the federal government and other states are weakening a woman's right to choose, New York State is continuing its historic role of remaining in the forefront of reproductive justice for women. In 1970, three years before Roe v. Wade, New York State guaranteed women the right to legal abortions.

Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, Chair of the New York State Assembly Health Committee, will discuss New York State's current bill, Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, recently introduced by Governor Spitzer that would update New York’s reproductive rights law. The Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act would take the abortion legislation out of New York’s criminal statutes and put it in the Public Health Law.

Pre-Registration is Required
You will be asked to show a photo ID in the lobby of the building. No Charge WCC Members & Students with ID • $10 Nonmembers

Location: 33 West 60th Street, 5th Floor Conference Room, New York, NY

Contact: Victoria Passarella

Phone: 212-353-8070 x204 E-Mail: victoriap@wccny,org

URL: http://wccny.org

Friday, July 20, 2007

NYAAF needs Volunteers!

The New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF) needs volunteers! NYAAF is an amazing organization that provides funding assistance for low-income women in need of reproductive health care. Find out more information about the organization here.

If you'd like to volunteer, email nyaaf@nnaf.org.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

What’s So Bad About Abortion? event

The NY Salon and the New York Society for Ethical Culture presents:

What’s So Bad About Abortion?


Thursday, August 9, 7 to 9pm, New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street at Central Park West, New York, NY 10023

Free admission. Seating is first-come first served

Speakers:
Donna Crane, Director, Government Relations, NARAL Pro-Choice America
Ann Furedi, Chief Executive Officer, British Pregnancy Advisory Service (UK)
Kirsten Moore, President and CEO, Reproductive Health Technologies Project
Vicki Saporta, President and CEO, National Abortion Federation
Moderated by Jean Smith, Director, NY Salon

Abortion is one of the most contentious issues in American politics, but the most recent polls show that most voters fall between somewhere between the extremes. This has led some to suggest that Democrats need a more nuanced view of abortion to win back the electorate. As the 2008 presidential race to the White House gets into full swing this international panel will examine:

· Why is abortion such an important issue in electoral politics in the US compared to Europe?

· What’s so bad about abortion?

· Why do women need the right to abortion?

· Should we seek a middle ground?

· Which 2008 presidential candidates, if any, will defend the right to abortion?

In the week running up to the event papers from the speakers will be posted at www.nysalon.org

Sponsors:
Catholics for a Free Choice www.catholicsforchoice.org
British Pregnancy Advisory Service (UK) www.bpas.org
National Abortion Federation www.prochoice.org
NARAL Pro-Choice America www.prochoiceamerica.org
Reproductive Health Technologies Project www.rhtp.org

Dial 311! Advocate for NYC Sex Ed!

Dial 311!

Call the City of New York and tell them you want real sex ed in New York City schools.

A quick phone call can make a big difference.

It's easy and it will only take 2 minutes.

STEP 1: Dial 311 (It's a free call)

STEP 2: Ask to make a suggestion (or a complaint) to the Department of Education

STEP 3: Tell the operator you believe students should get sex education every year in the public schools. Them them sex ed should be required for all kids.

STEP 4: They will ask you for your contact information. You can leave your name and contact info or you can ask to be anonymous.

STEP 5: Pass this message on to 10 of your friends!

It won't take much time, but it can make a big difference. Your suggestion will go to the Department of Education and a report of calls will go to the City Council, the Public Advocate, Community Boards and the public. 311 is New York City's phone number for government information and non-emergency services. For more information go to: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doitt/html/about/about_311.shtml.


Background:

Research shows that sex education is effective at helping young people make healthy decisions about their bodies and their relationships. All the major medical organizations support sex education. Eight out of ten New Yorkers support sex education. Yet most public schools in NYC do not teach sex ed!

What are we waiting for?

Let's give our young people the information and skills they need to live healthy lives. Call 311 now. Then urge your friends and colleagues to do the same!

Monday, July 16, 2007

Job Opening: Director of Local Advocacy Initiatives

The National Institute for Reproductive Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to direct our state and local advocacy initiatives. The mission of the National Institute is develop and implement innovative and proactive approaches to protecting and expanding access to the full range of reproductive health care information and services for all women, with a specific focus on youth, low-income women, and women of color. The National Institute seeks to remove barriers to reproductive health services and assist reproductive health and community-based organizations to confront those barriers that are national in significance, yet are best addressed through locally managed initiatives. Through research, education, advocacy, policy and community organizing, the National Institute is working to ensure that all women have the ability and means to access and exercise their reproductive health and rights. The National Institute is affiliated with NARAL Pro-Choice New York, which works in New York State to elect pro-choice candidates and change public policy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director of Local Advocacy Initiatives would be responsible for working with our local partners to promote policy and advocacy initiatives at the local level. Working closely with the Vice President of National Programs, the Vice President of Communications, and program staff, the State Advocacy Director would coordinate local campaigns related to our program areas. In the near term, the Director will manage the Contraceptive Access Campaign, which includes providing technical and financial resources to local organizations aimed at increasing access to Emergency Contraception. The Director will also coordinate the local campaigns related to our Messaging Project, which seeks to engage local organizations in an innovative campaign to stop legislative efforts to ban abortion at the state level. The Director will also work with National Institute staff to support their work with local partners and help build the National Institute’s support for local organizations tackling barriers to reproductive health care.

This position offers an exciting opportunity for someone interested in working on innovative projects to join a growing organization that is working with partners across the nation.
The State Advocacy Director will be responsible for:

• Managing and developing advocacy projects at the local and national level;
• Supervising program interns and working with staff on program related projects;
• Providing technical support to local advocates on a range of reproductive health policies;
• Traveling several days in a month to meet with local advocates across the country;
• Leading and/or facilitating coalition meetings;
• Identifying and developing strong working relationships and collaborations with local partners and national reproductive health organizations; and
• Representing the organization in various settings, including conferences, meetings with local and national partners, and meetings with public officials.


Additional Qualifications:
Applicants must have 3-5 years work experience in a relevant field, strong writing and public speaking skills, and a commitment to women’s rights and social justice. An ideal candidate will have experience developing and implementing advocacy campaigns, organizing activists, and coordinating and managing coalitions at the national and/or local level. Although not required, a master’s degree in public policy, women’s rights, public health and/or law, and/or experience working in political campaigns or grassroots organizing will greatly strengthen a candidate’s application. This position requires a significant amount of travel to localities across the country.

How to Apply:
A cover letter and resume should be mailed or emailed to:

Andrew Stern, Director of Human Resources
National Institute for Reproductive Health
470 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor South
New York, NY 10016
humanresources@prochoiceny.org

FIGHT! WITHOUT FEAR!

The 2007 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival presents…

FIGHT! WITHOUT FEAR!

Monday July 23

8:15 pm @ Village East Cinemas, Screen 6

181 2nd Ave. NY, NY 10003

The women's movement in the Philippines is one the most vibrant in the world, serving as a role model for grassroots activism everywhere.


Spearheading this movement is GABRIELA Philippines, the largest umbrella coalition of women's groups in the country. "MAKIBAKA! HUWAG MATAKOT!" ("FIGHT! WITHOUT FEAR!") is a documentary made by Filipina American Darlene Lombos about women living in the frontlines --
fighting economic exploitation, gender violence and the effects of the global "war on terror."

GABRIELA Network New York/New Jersey

nynj@gabnet.org * 212-592-3507 * www.myspace.com/gabnetnynj

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The New York Healthy Birth Fair

WHO IS ORGANIZING THE FAIR?

Choices in Childbirth, The Grassroots Advocates Committee of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS), and Friends of the Birth Center

WHEN IS IT?

Saturday, July 21, 2007 from 11AM to 7PM

WHERE IS IT?

Union Square South, 14th Street between University Place and Broadway

WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE?

• The release of the 2nd edition of The New York Guide to a Healthy Birth
• The launching of the New York City pilot of The Birth Survey
• Announcement of the plans for Manhattan’s new freestanding Birth Center
• The distribution of information regarding women’s rights and options in
childbirth
• Raising awareness of issues and trends in maternity care
• A red tent where women can relax, share their birth stories, and
participate in prenatal yoga
• A community art project which will enable participants to contribute to
a birth-themed installation piece
• A craft tent for kids
• … and more!

Don't miss out on your chance to participate in this groundbreaking event!
You can also help us to make it a success by sharing the details with your mailing list. Information can be easily accessed by clicking on this
link: www.choicesinchildbirth.org/birthfair.

Monday, July 9, 2007

Happy Hour at Revival

Please join us tomorrow, July 10th at Revival bar near Union Square. There's a fantastic back garden, bring your friends and colleagues!

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Happy Hour this Tuesday!

The next Repro Health Happy Hour will be this Tuesday, July 10th! Location to be announced shortly.

Happy 4th of July!!