Jun
8
6:30 PM18:30

Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Reproductive Justice

  • Hyatt Regency at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

In 1994, a group of twelve Black women seized a political moment, initiating a movement that has since flourished into a powerful global catalyst for transformation. Reproductive Justice knows no bounds, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color advocating for equity in reproductive and sexual health.

Meet the Twelve Black Women Who Coined the Term Reproductive Justice in 1994

  • Toni M. Bond, PhD

  • Reverend Alma Crawford

  • Evelyn S. Field (Deceased)

  • Terri James

  • Bisola Marignay, PhD

  • Cassandra McConnell

  • Cynthia Newbille, PhD

  • Loretta Ross

  • Elizabeth Terry

  • ‘Able’ Mable Thomas

  • Winnette P. Willis

  • Kim Youngblood

  Food + Drinks + Awards + Music + Dancing =

Celebration!!

Join us for an electrifying evening celebrating the trailblazers of Reproductive Justice, affectionately referred to as the Founding Mothers. Prepare to be part of an unforgettable evening, honoring three decades of Reproductive Justice and the visionary women who coined the term! Indulge in a cocktail reception, followed by an exquisite plated dinner, an inspiring awards ceremony, and cap off the night with an exhilarating afterparty featuring Chicago's very own DJ BOXX!

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MSNBC's XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture, Trevor Noah
Apr
7
9:00 PM21:00

MSNBC's XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture, Trevor Noah

Sunday, April 7th, MSNBC Films presents “XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture,” the latest installment of “The Turning Point” documentary series from Executive Producer Trevor Noah. Watch the trailer!

The film examines the social phenomenon through incidents that made headlines and offers expert commentary about navigating this cultural moment.

Watch “XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture” Sunday, April 7th at 9pm ET on MSNBC. “XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture” is a production from MSNBC Films, TIME Studios, Day Zero Productions, Sugar23, and Mainstay.

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Abortion as a Human Right: A Dialogue
Mar
28
6:00 PM18:00

Abortion as a Human Right: A Dialogue

How does viewing abortion through a human rights lens shift our analysis, understanding, and approach to this highly contested issue? What is the relationship between human rights and reproductive justice, and how can these approaches help bridge the diversity of viewpoints about abortion? How might embedding abortion in the human rights framework contribute to the global fight against authoritarianism and in defense of democracy more broadly? 

These and other questions will be considered by a panel of national leaders in the reproductive justice, racial justice, and human rights movements at “Abortion as a Human Right: A Dialogue.” This event will take place on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Carroll Room, Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center, and will feature:

  • Byllye Y. Avery, Founder, Black Women’s Health Imperative

  • Amy Hagstrom Miller, Founder, Whole Woman’s Health abortion clinics 

  • Regina Davis Moss, Executive Director, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

  • Rosalind Petchesky ’64, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Hunter College, and Founder, International Reproductive Rights Research Action Group 

  • Loretta Ross, Associate Professor of the Study of Women & Gender, Smith College and Co-creator of Reproductive Justice Theory

Marlene Gerber Fried, Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Hampshire College and the Founder of Collective Power for Reproductive Justice, will moderate the panel.

This event is organized by fellows in the 2023–24 Kahn Institute long-term project, (Re)visioning Human Rights, Democracy and the Liberal Arts, which serves as an unbounded space for developing new research, teaching, and practice models at the intersection of liberal arts education, human rights, and the future of democracies. 

Sponsored by the Smith College Kahn Institute for Liberal Arts, Smith College Special Collections, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Free and open to the public. All viewpoints are welcome. Light refreshments will be available following the lecture. 

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National Women's Hall of Fame 2024 Induction Ceremony
Mar
5
5:30 PM17:30

National Women's Hall of Fame 2024 Induction Ceremony

  • Cipriani Wall Street, New York City (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The National Women’s Hall of Fame proudly announces the first-ever national broadcast of its Induction Ceremony. Taking place during Women’s History Month in March 2024, this is a historic opportunity to amplify women’s voices and share inspirational stories of their achievements from coast to coast — in homes,
classrooms, boardrooms, and beyond.

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Loretta J. Ross: National Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee
Sep
30
2:00 PM14:00

Loretta J. Ross: National Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee

The National Women’s Hall of Fame will host its 31st Induction Ceremony on Saturday, September 30 from 2-4pm at the Smith Opera House. The National Women’s Hall of Fame will induct eight extraordinary women in 2023: Patricia Bath, Elouise Cobell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Peggy McIntosh, Judith Plaskow, Loretta Ross, Allucquére Rosanne “Sandy” Stone, and Anna Wessels Williams. 

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Black Feminism Lives! Summit
Aug
12
to Aug 13

Black Feminism Lives! Summit

Get tickets! Powered by Black Women Radicals and The School for Black Feminist Politics, Black Feminism Lives! Summit is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Black Feminist Organization and the Power of Black Feminist Politics. A watershed moment in history of Black feminist politics, the NBFO gave rise to other formidable and pioneering Black left feminist organizations such as the Combahee River Collective and the National Alliance of Black Feminists.

An intergenerational Black feminist political convening, Black Feminism Lives! is an homage to the legacy of the NBFO and Black feminist movements and organizers worldwide, who have inspired and politicized a generation of Black feminists, then, now, and for years to come.

Keynote Speakers include Kimberly Springer and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor!

Featured speakers include: Diane Lacey, Deborah Singletary, and Eugenia Wiltshire, original members of the National Black Feminist Organization; Loretta J. Ross, Denise Oliver-Velez, Nicole R. Fleetwood, Asanni Armon, Bethânia Nascimento F. Gomes, and more!

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Calling In: Creating Change Without Cancel Culture
Aug
1
to Aug 24

Calling In: Creating Change Without Cancel Culture

STEP UP AND BECOME AN AGENT OF CHANGE WITH THIS REVOLUTIONARY FOUR-WEEK JOURNEY!

This is your chance to be part of a transformative journey and make a real difference in the world. Join us in co-creating a framework culture of love, compassion, and joy, as we work towards dismantling oppressive structures and building a more equitable and just world where each of us is more equipped to tackle the problems of our times head-on.

This course consists of 4 lectures and 4 Learning Labs. By signing up for the full course, you will have access to both.

Lectures & QA
FOUR Tuesdays | 7pm-9pm EST | August 1, 8, 15, and 22
Learning Labs
FOUR Thursdays | 7pm-8:30pm EST | August 3, 10, 17, and 24
Fees
$5 for the first session or $20.00 total for the full Course (includes Learning Labs)

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SpeakOut Summer Institute 2023
Jul
24
to Jul 27

SpeakOut Summer Institute 2023

REGISTER NOW! Can't make the live sessions? Register and you'll get the recordings to watch later!

This July, join SpeakOut to deepen our analysis and map out bold strategies to implement and defend a future that embodies equitable and democratic education. By building an expansive network, we can block the rise of authoritarian forces, challenge their draconian legislation and bans, and build power and solidarity. Our actions today will shape the future and we must push forward with perseverance and joy.

The current anti-democratic attacks are a backlash against social justice advances, seeking to distract us from a repressive agenda rooted in anti-Blackness. Under the banner of “anti-wokeness,” dozens of states have adopted laws or are considering measures based on the right-wing playbook, seeking to silence the voices of the majority, rewrite history, and dismantle the rights of people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and women.

As some of the country’s leading thinkers and changemakers, SpeakOut’s Summer Institute instructors will offer the framework, organizing strategies, leadership and and resources to meet the current challenges. We will also lay the groundwork for a mighty network of educators, staff, administrators, and community members to strengthen capacity and infrastructure for collective action.

At SpeakOut’s 4-day Summer Institute 2023, we will examine these key questions:

  • What is the historical context for the Far Right’s authoritarian agenda for education and how is their playbook shaped by anti-Blackness and racism?

  • Which organizing strategies and frameworks will deliver the best chances for our success?

  • How do we infuse the power of storytelling into our messaging to maximize impact, generate excitement, and galvanize diverse support for our vision and values?

  • What is needed to build state, regional, and national coalitions strong enough to block the anti-democratic forces seeking to reshape education to serve their larger agenda?

Join us to imagine, envision, and build collective action!

The Summer Institute runs July 24-27 and will take place live, virtually over Zoom. Sessions will take place daily from 9am - 12pm PT // 10am - 1pm MT // 11am - 2pm CT // 12pm - 3pm ET

Can't make the live sessions? Register and you'll get the recordings to watch later!

GROUP SALES: Contact programs@speakoutnow.org

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Calling In Conversations: Intent vs. Impact
Jul
20
7:00 PM19:00

Calling In Conversations: Intent vs. Impact

Join us for Calling In Conversations, a loosely-themed chat with Loretta J. Ross and team about your experiences, stories, and questions of Calling In. This month, we are Calling In Intent vs Impact. How can Calling In play an integral role in a situation where someone is harmed but there was no intent for harm? How does Calling In address both the harmed and the person who did the harming in a situation?

The format of Calling In Conversations allows us to create a community feel quickly because it’s live and in the moment. To preserve this, we don’t share any recordings of these sessions

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Freedom To Learn Summer: An opportunity to hear from nationally renowned speakers about racial understanding to develop cultural and racial competencies
Jul
13
to Jul 15

Freedom To Learn Summer: An opportunity to hear from nationally renowned speakers about racial understanding to develop cultural and racial competencies

VIRTUAL EVENT! Get tickets! Freedom To Learn Summer is an opportunity to hear from nationally renowned speakers/trainers about racial understanding that is foundational for the 21st Century in order to competently address the challenges of our time. Today, more than a dozen state legislatures passed laws that deny their public-school students the right to learn truthful history if it may cause one to feel guilt because of race; and many of the laws deny teachers and others access to training to improve cultural and racial competencies.

Freedom To Learn Summer is an education experience that seeks to support the development of cultural and racial competencies for students, parents, teachers, and community change makers. To be effective collaborators within the most diverse citizenry of any preceding generation, we require an understanding of the role of race in our lives, our histories, and our future.

Each day consists of two speakers, one hour each. Followed by affinity space that allows attendees to process topics, ideas, and racial and cultural competencies.

Group Rates are available. The first ticket is $64 with each additional ticket $25. Please email freedomtolearnsummer@gmail.com for details.

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Jul
6
to Jul 9

The 22nd Century Conference

Register today! We can’t win... unless we forge a people-powered democracy and out-compete the authoritarian right.

The 22nd Century Conference welcomes frontline activists and organizers, researchers, communicators, network weavers, narrative strategists, academics, elected officials, and donors who are confronting U.S. authoritarianism and white nationalism. The conference creates space for networking and organizing, as we build capacity, infrastructure, and resilience for our work ahead. 

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The Future of Reproductive Justice
Nov
4
4:00 PM16:00

The Future of Reproductive Justice

GET TICKETS HERE

The 2022 mid-term elections this November are, in fact, a national referendum on reproductive rights, voting rights, and democracy. There are seven states where the results of the midterms could decide whether abortion is protected or banned. And with the recent announcement of a national abortion ban if the House and Senate is won in November, the stakes in these elections couldn’t be higher.

Join us for a dynamic intergenerational virtual conversation with renowned author, educator, and 2022 MacArthur Fellow, Loretta Ross and Park Cannon, one of two openly queer lawmakers in the Georgia General Assembly and its youngest. They will discuss the tenets of reproductive justice, what’s at stake, and and what people who care about human rights and democracy can do to show up in this moment.

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The MAKERS Conference, October 24-26 in Dana Point, California
Oct
24
to Oct 26

The MAKERS Conference, October 24-26 in Dana Point, California

2022 MAKERS Conference will take place October 24th-26th, returning to the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort, in Dana Point, California.

The MAKERS stage is a unique place, uniting unsung heroes and influential leaders with personal storytelling that catalyzes change. Aptly themed “Making the Future,” this year’s conference will spotlight representation, racial justice, reproductive rights, workplace equity, what’s next for women in Hollywood, new models for equality in sports, and more, developing the blueprint for a diverse, inclusive and better tomorrow for all.

Other guests represent a multitude of industries, from politics, publishing and tech to education, advocacy and sports. That includes social change strategist and organizer Heather Booth; president of EMILY’s List Laphonza Butler; the 17-year-old founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks Marley Dias; author of national best-seller Essential Labor Angela Garbes; contemporary American life documentarian Immy Humes; award-winning educator Dr. Nadia Lopez; Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall; president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America Alexis McGill Johnson; Brown STEM Girls founder Alena Analeigh McQuarter, the youngest African American accepted to medical school; National Women’s Soccer League player Carson Pickett; U.S. Rep. Katie Porter; writer and founder of Protect the Sacred Allie Redhorse Young; co-founder of SisterSong, human rights activist and Smith College professor Loretta J. Ross; social media sex educator Sriha Srinivasan; and founder and general partner of Moxxie Ventures Katie Stanton.

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Oct
18
to Nov 10

Calling In: Creating Change Without Cancel Culture

Join Professor Loretta J. Ross and Loan Tran on this transformative four-week course where we will:

  • Contextualize call-out and cancel culture as a logical result of systems of domination and control, such as white supremacy and patriarchy

  • Develop new language and frameworks for creating positive social change

  • Go beyond a diagnosis of the problems to engage in new practices with each other

  • Incorporate somatic or body-based practices into our toolbox

  • Gain clarity on a sense of belonging and purpose in a broader human rights movement

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Women's Convention 2022
Aug
12
to Aug 14

Women's Convention 2022

REGISTER HERE!

The 2022 Women’s Convention is not just about building a community, it is about building a community with a purpose. Whether you are brand new to social change work or a veteran activist, this space is built for you.

You will gain tools, and glimpse the feminist future we want to live in.

We are uniting women and allies around shared values, experience, and culture so we can heal the wounds from the pandemic, the economic depression, and a history of racism to build a nation that works for all of us.

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Aug
4
to Aug 5

Leadership in Equity,Action, & Discourse

Register now! Sidwell Friends School and Howard University invite you to connect with fellow education professionals in a rich and meaningful dialogue about race, equity, and justice in school communities.

How do we grow ethical leaders who will be prepared to succeed in an increasingly globalized and diverse world?

This inaugural event will evaluate how race and equity intersect with education and workforce preparation. Participants will have opportunities to meet and engage with educators and leaders from backgrounds both similar to and different from their own.

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2022 National NOW Conference--Keynote Speaker: Loretta J. Ross
Jul
22
to Jul 24

2022 National NOW Conference--Keynote Speaker: Loretta J. Ross

REGISTER NOW!

We are excited to finally meet again in person for the 2022 National NOW Conference: Save Our Democracy – Vote for Womxn’s Lives! Join us in the windy city of Chicago at the ‘herstoric’ Palmer House Hilton hotel. Make your plans to join the united NOW member body to make new connections and reconnect with old friends and chapters from across the United States, as we come together to vote on resolutions and bylaws and reignite the excitement of ensuring our PAC is funded to endorse feminist candidates who will move our agenda forward.

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Jul
6
8:00 AM08:00

Reproductive Injustice: Population policies and denial of bodily autonomy

REGISTER for the Online side event during the 50 session of the UN Human Rights Council explores the history and resurgence of coercive population policies -from pro-natalist policies to forced sterilisation. It will feature presentations from feminists working in different national contexts to oppose coercive population policies by centring bodily autonomy and reproductive justice.

Panelists

  • Loretta Ross, activist, public intellectual, professor and co-founder of Sister Song

  • Melissa Upreti, Chair of the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against

  • Women and Girls

  • Sarojini N., Sama - Resource Group for Women and Health

  • Sussan Tahmasebi, FEMENA

Moderator

Pooja Badarinath, Sexual Rights Initiative

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Jul
5
8:00 AM08:00

Framing Reproductive Justice part of online discussion series (Re)framing Reproduction

REGISTER!
The last episode in our online discussion series on (Re)framing Reproduction is dedicated to reproductive justice – the concept and analytical framework that has informed our discussion series and that will hopefully continue to radically transform the way we think about and fight for reproductive self-determination.

Speakers:

  • Keynote address by Loretta Ross, professor and activist, USA

  • Kalpana Wilson, University of London, UK

  • Rola Yasmine, the AProject, Lebanon

Moderator: Sham Jaff, a journalist and political scientist in Berlin. She writes the weekly newsletter 'what happened last week' on underreported news from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Jaff is also the host of several podcasts such as '190220 – Ein Jahr nach Hanau', a Spotify Original podcast that was awarded the Grimme Online Award in 2021.

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SpeakOut Summer Institute: Building Power for Political & Personal Change
Jun
27
to Jun 30

SpeakOut Summer Institute: Building Power for Political & Personal Change

Join us for SpeakOut’s 3rd Annual Summer Institute: Building Power for Political and Personal Change on Campus, as we explore new frameworks, practices, and strategies that empower us to continue moving the needle forward, all while prioritizing the care of our minds, bodies, spirits, and communities amongst the chaos.

Leave with a renewed and transformative vision for the future of our institutions. And join a national movement of educators, staff, faculty, and campuses around the country who share your desires for more just and equitable campus environments.

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Jun
22
7:30 AM07:30

Centering the Margins: Intersectionality, Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Violence against Women and Girls

Register!
Moderator: Carrie Shelver, Manager of the Geneva office, Sexual Rights Initiative

Panelists:

Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standdard of mental and physical health

Loretta J. Ross, activist, public intellectual, professor, and co-founder of Sister Song

Julia Ehrt, Executive Director, ILGA World

Concluding Remarks: H.E. Pascalle Grotenuis, Dutch Ambassador for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

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Jun
18
to Jun 19

Black Bodies for Black Power: 2 Days of Action for Abortion Access

This Juneteenth, a vibrant group of Black feminist and reproductive- justice leaders, accompanied by a range of civil-rights and Black-led organizations, will lead a rally and march in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the biggest threat to Black lives at this moment: attacks on our bodily autonomy and freedom. This will be the largest Black women–led demonstration since the horrific leaked Supreme Court decision that suggests Roe v. Wade will be overturned this year. We are marching because we understand any limit on access to abortion disproportionately harms Black women, girls, and gender expansive people.. Even with existing laws that guarantee the right to abortion, Black women face legal and systemic barriers to abortion access. In particular, we know that our community will face increased surveillance and criminalization when accessing the abortion they deserve.

Black Bodies for Black Power 2 Days of Action for Abortion Access, will be the largest Black women–led demonstration since the horrific leaked Supreme Court decision that suggests Roe v. Wade will be overturned this year. We will center our stories, our experiences, and why abortion access is key to the liberation and freedom of all Black people. Join us!

Who: Black Feminist Future and SisterSong: Women of Color Collective  and cross-movement partners

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SURJ Webinar: Pro [White] Life: the lesser-known racist history of the so-called pro-life movement
Jun
8
8:00 PM20:00

SURJ Webinar: Pro [White] Life: the lesser-known racist history of the so-called pro-life movement

Join us! Conservative elites use abortion as a “wedge issue”- a divisive political topic used to alienate and divide people. And they have used opposition to abortion as a way to build power to block a much broader agenda of issues-- from funding for schools to universal healthcare. This is part of a deeper strategy to mobilize a bloc of white people who subscribe to the values of white Christian nationalism- the idea that America is a Christian nation and that the government should reflect conservative Christian values.

However, abortion wasn't always the pet issue of the Right. They began coalescing power around abortion largely in racist backlash to the victories of the Civil Rights movement.

We will hear from Loretta J. Ross- co-creator of the Reproductive Justice theory, Professor at Smith College, and expert on white supremacy, human rights, and calling in the calling out culture. Ross and SURJ leaders will share about the racist history of the “pro-life” movement, how the Reproductive Justice movement counters anti-abortion organizing with a social and racial justice analysis, and how we as white people can get involved in building power to fight back.

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Jun
7
to Jun 30

Calling In: Creating Change Without Cancel Culture

Join Professor Loretta J. Ross and Loan Tran on this transformative four-week course where we will:

  • Contextualize call-out culture as a logical result of systems of domination and control, such as white supremacy and patriarchy

  • Develop new language and frameworks for creating positive social change

  • Go beyond a diagnosis of the problems to engage in new practices with each other

  • Incorporate somatic or body-based practices into our toolbox

  • Gain clarity on a sense of belonging and purpose in a broader human rights movement

View Event →