SisterSong: Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective, is an Atlanta-based non-profit organization, which provides stronger and amplified, collective voices of indigenous women and women of color so that they may secure human rights, and thus achieve reproductive justice. SisterSong fights equally for the right to bear--or not to bear--a child, along with the subsequent and necessary enabling conditions to realize these rights.



 

SisterSong represents five ethnic populations/indigenous nations in the United States: Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Arab American/Middle Eastern/North African, Latina, and African American/Black/Caribbean/African.The Collective has over 80 women of color member organizations and individuals, as well as hundreds of white women and male allies who support their goal of improving the lives of women of color. "We do reproductive justice training, which is modeled after the national program where we go to various organizations and talk to them about training women to obtain their reproductive rights," said Heidi Williamson, advocacy and membership coordinator, SisterSong. "We also do a lot of mentoring locally for organizations that are in fledgling stages and need assistance, whether it's the use of our building or asking for help about developing programming."

In addition, SisterSong has an advocacy program called the Urban Initiative that brings together advocates, elected officials, and public health officers who routinely talk about reproductive healthcare disparities. Loretta Ross National Coordinator

"HIV and STD's are on the rise; cancer rates among black women are on the rise - the state and the federal governments are turning their backs on women," Williamson continued. "What responsibility does the local community which actually serves these men and women have? So, city mayors, county commissioners, and public health officials are coming together with advocates to address the need of the community." Reproductive justice is a term that was coined by African-American women after participating in the 1994 World Conference of Population Development in Cairo. "They got together to define the kind of work that women of color have been doing for centuries in this country," said Laura Jimenez, Deputy Coordinator of SisterSong.

"When women are looking at their issues of reproductive health, it's never just about reproductive health--we are looking at many issues like, are we living in poverty or are we living in a neighborhood that is contaminated, or is there a partner or a family to support this baby?. So, combining reproductive health and social justice, adding those two things together, the term they coined was reproductive justice." The SisterSong family believes that there are three core principles to define reproductive justice. First, they believe in a woman's right to have children when they want to and under the conditions and circumstances that they desire. Second, a woman has the right to give birth at home, or at a birthing center or choose to have their babies in a hospital, with or without medications. The third principle is that a woman has the choice not to have children when they don't want to. This can cover abortion rights and contraception.

SisterSong believes that any type of reproductive oppression requires advocacy. Depending on which community is being served, reproductive oppression looks differently. Currently there is a huge amount of discrimination happening with people who are HIV-positive, particularly around housing and comprehensive healthcare. Advocates are needed to make sure that drug stores, pharmacies and other health community organizations are enforcing the non-discriminatory codes. Later this year, a regional conference will be held to discuss how to deal with healthcare disparity issues on a local level. The goal of the conference is to develop a policy agenda that local advocates can take to the County Commission, the City of Atlanta, and the public health office in their efforts to help women and families in Atlanta.

The conference is tentatively scheduled for to be held October 1 - 2. For more information, contact SisterSong at 404-344-9629, or visit their website at www.SisterSong.net.