California Latinas For Reproductive Justice

CALIFORNIA LATINAS FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE (CLRJ) IS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO HONORING THE EXPERIENCES OF LATINAS TO UPHOLD OUR DIGNITY, OUR BODIES, SEXUALITY, AND FAMILIES. WE BUILD LATINAS' POWER AND CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION, POLICY ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY-INFORMED RESEARCH TO ACHIEVE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.

PROGRAM NAME: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CLRJ'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ORGANIZING TEAM BUILDS LATINAS' POLITICAL ANDCOMMUNITY POWER THROUGH EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, POLITICALMOBILIZATION AND ACTIVISM. IN 2021, THE COMMUNITY GROUP UNIN DE VECINAS (UDV) LAUNCHED THEIR FIRST LOCAL CAMPAIGN FOR RENT STABILIZATION IN BELL GARDENS. THE VECINAS WOULD MEET VIRTUALLY ON A WEEKLY OR BI WEEKLY BASIS TO STRATEGIZE, LEARN, AND PRACTICE HOW TO MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE. CLRJ'S FIRST PETITION IN BELL GARDENS WAS LAUNCHED IN MARCH OF 2021, AND HAS SINCE GARNERED OVER 1000 SIGNATURES OF PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF TENANT PROTECTIONS IN THE CITY. CLRJ AND UDV ORGANIZED A CARAVAN WITH OVER 30 FOLKS INVOLVED TO DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE CAMPAIGN. CLRJ AND UDV CANVASSED EVERY WEEKEND FROM JUNE TO AUGUST OF 2021 TO COLLECT SIGNATURES, ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED, AND CREATE VISIBILITY OF THE CAMPAIGN. 3 VECINAS WERE INVITED TO BE PART OF THE CITY'S AD HOC COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE AND DISCUSS THE RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE THAT CLRJ HAD PROPOSED. 2 VECINAS WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A VIDEO CREATION PROJECT CO-ORGANIZED WITH THE CENTER FOR CULTURAL POWER. CLRJ AND UDV REACHED OUT TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY OF A CITY WORKSHOP HELD IN DECEMBER OF 2021, WHERE OVER 50 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED. FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER OF 2021, THE GROUP NEARLY DOUBLED IN SIZE. THE UNION DE VECINAS MET WITH LOCAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MULTIPLE TIMES TO SHARE COMMUNITY TESTIMONIES AND ADVOCATE FOR TENANT PROTECTIONS AS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE. AT LEAST 6 UDV MEMBERS WERE TRAINED AND MADE PUBLIC COMMENTS AT MULTIPLE LOCAL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN ADVOCACY FOR RENT STABILIZATION IN BELL GARDENS TO HOUSE THEIR FAMILIES AND APPEASE THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRESSORS THAT CAME WITH COVID 19.

PROGRAM NAME: POLICY ADVOCACYPOLICY ADVOCACY IS ONE OF CLRJ'S CORE STRATEGIES AND PROGRAM AREAS. CLRJ EDUCATES POLICYMAKERS ON ISSUE AREAS THAT IMPACT THE 7.5 MILLION CALIFORNIA LATINAS, SERVES AS A THOUGHT LEADER AND COLLABORATOR WITH STATE AND NATIONAL ADVOCATES, TRAINS LEADERS ON THE POLICY PROCESS AND HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS CONDUCTS LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF LATINAS/XS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA. IN 2021, CLRJ CO-SPONSORED TWO BILLS, ONE BUDGET REQUEST, BEGAN A LOCAL HOUSING CAMPAIGN IN BELL GARDENS, AND ENGAGED IN STATE AND FEDERAL ADVOCACY TO URGE NECESSARY COVID-19 RELIEF, AND SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER LEGISLATIVE BILLS. CLRJ'S POLICY ADVOCACY TEAM SERVED ON VARIOUS COALITIONS AND ADVISORIES AND ENGAGED THIRTY-SEVEN (37) POLICYMAKERS ONE HUNDRED (100) TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MOST NOTABLY, CLRJ WAS SUCCESSFUL IN PASSING AB 367, THE MENSTRUAL EQUITY FOR ALL ACT, WHICH REQUIRES PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES TO PROVIDE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS FOR STUDENTS FREE OF CHARGE. CLRJ ALSO CO-SPONSORED AND LED EFFORTS TO SECURE $7.5 MILLION IN THE STATE'S BUDGET TO CREATE THE FORCED OF INVOLUNTARY STERILIZATION COMPENSATION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE REPARATIONS TO SURVIVORS OF FORCED STERILIZATION UNDER CALIFORNIA'S EUGENICS LAWS FROM 1909 TO 1979 AND SURVIVORS OF INVOLUNTARY STERILIZATIONS IN WOMEN'S STATE PRISONS AFTER 1979.

PROGRAM NAME: RESEARCHCLRJ'S RESEARCH PROGRAM SEEKS TO PROMOTE THE REPRODUCTIVE/SEXUAL HEALTH AND JUSTICE OF THE MOST UNDERSERVED LATINAS/X IN CALIFORNIA BY INFORMING, SHAPING AND INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF COMMUNITY INFORMED, POLICY-RELEVANT RESEARCH CONCERNING LATINAS'/X' REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO POLICYMAKERS, POLICY ADVOCATES AND LATINA/X COMMUNITY LEADERS.

IN 2021, CLRJ HAD ESTABLISHED OFFICIAL PARTNERSHIPS AND CONTRACTS FOR THREE CORE RESEARCH PROJECTS, THE CALIFORNIA HOME ABORTION BY TELEHEALTH (CHAT) STUDY, THE YOUTH ABORTION PROJECT AND THE EXPLORING THE CONTRACEPTIVE NEEDS, DESIRES, PREFERENCES, AND EXPERIENCES OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS, ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER, AND LATINA/LATINX PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES STUDY. THROUGHOUT 2021, CLRJ FINALIZED STUDY INSTRUMENTS, TRANSLATED STUDY MATERIALS AND PILOTED INSTRUMENTS FOR ALL THREE STUDIES. CLRJ BEGAN RECRUITMENT IN 2021 FOR RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS FOR THE YOUTH ABORTION PROJECT AND THE EXPLORING THE CONTRACEPTIVE NEEDS, DESIRES, PREFERENCES, AND EXPERIENCES OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS, ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER, AND LATINA/LATINX PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES STUDY. FOR THE CHAT STUDY, CLRJ MET ALL DELIVERABLES FOR 2021 INCLUDING LAUNCHING A CHAT WEBPAGE, PRESENTING PRELIMINARY FINDINGS TO FUNDERS, AND CONDUCTING REGULAR OUTREACH FOR THE STUDY. IN ADDITION TO THE RESEARCH PROJECTS, CLRJ RAN A SIX MONTH CAMPAIGN WITH ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, PLAN C, UPLIFTING AND INCREASING AWARENESS AROUND VIRTUAL CLINICS PROVIDING MEDICATION ABORTION. FINALLY, CLRJ SAT ON SEVERAL COMMUNITY COALITIONS, VARIOUS ADVISORY BOARDS, AND MADE FOUR PRESENTATIONS TO RESEARCH AND COALITION PARTNERS.