Population Connection Action Fund

Field & outreach: to assist Population Connection Action Fund activists nationwide in building and sustaining state and local educational, media and lobbying efforts on behalf of Population Connection Action Fund through organizing and providing training, technical assistance and funding. Represent Population Connection Action Fund in coalitions focused on grassroots Action and at public presentations and exhibitions as needed. To put pressure on elected officials and candidates for office to support international family planning, and to work to elect candidates who will advance pro international family planning and reproductive health policy once in office. 2023 higlights include: out annual, fourth virtual, capitol hill days advocacy event. Activists attended a variety of sessions including a welcome session and trivia game, a keynote talk from congresswoman susan wild (pa-d/07), an advocacy training, and a virtual lobby day. After receiving training from Population Connection Action Fund staff, our activists took to zoom to meet with the staffs of strong supporters of international family planning and reproductive rights such as senators michael bennet (d-co), kirsten gillibrand (d-ny), mark kelly (d-az) and peter welch (d-vt). Our activists were encouraged by their meetings and enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the offices of their elected officials. Hosted virtual events including an instagram live focused on trans rights and reproductive rights featuring a representative from the trans women of color collective and wyandot behavioral health network, and a representative from transgender justice initiative at the human rights campaign and advocates for better care atlanta. Hosted a virtual kickoff of our #fight4her campaign featuring colleagues from various organizations in east africa including tareto africa, naweza tena, awakening horn for inclusive development, tunaweza foundation, the alliance of women advocating for change, and hope for kenya slum adolescents initiative. These colleagues talked about their respective work in sexual and reproductive health and the importance of activists here in the u.s. Working toward reproductive health and rights for all. One of our field staff attended the netroots nation progressive conference, and as an organization we sponsored 10 activists from around the country to attend the event, as well. We also had activists take online Action by pledging to #fight4her, and contacting their legislators asking them to support the global her act. We also had activists sign a "people's pledge" to protect mifepristone (a medication abortion) and to prevent judicial overreach on reproductive health issues.

Government relations: we worked to promote the global health, empowerment and rights (her) act to prevent a future president from reimposing the global gag rule; we worked to increase us investment in family planning and reproductive health programs around the world; we worked to support aid to the united nations Population Fund (unfpa); we supported legislation to protect american women's access to reproductive health care, including safe abortion; we worked to increase funding for the title x domestic family planning program; we worked to educate candidates for federal office on the need for real investment in comprehensive reproductive health care across the united states and around the world; we worked to promote the abortion is healthcare everywhere act to repeal helms amendment.

Communications: our communications staff published a short informational magazine about the organization's six target congressional districts for its #fight4her campaign; wrote five blog posts and one press release; posted to facebook, twitter/x, and instagram accounts; and updated online fact sheets and petitions with new legislative and policy information.

Membership: success in the areas of advocacy and public education depends largely on the support and dedication of the organization's members. Presently, our members assist us by informing on Population issues, writing letters to congressional leaders, signing petitions, getting opinion letters published in local papers, and speaking about Population issues at local community events. We support our members by holding training and information sessions, responding to their correspondence, request for information and orders for our publications.