By Troy Carter II
for The New Orleans Tribune
A community-based non-profit that formed in the late 1980s in response to the AIDS epidemic’s impact on communities of color, Women with Vision has been advocating for African-American and other marginalized women around social conditions and injustices that impact their lives for more than 30 years.
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade and other attacks on women’s reproductive rights, the work of this organization has never been more vital.
On May 1, Women with a Vision will head to Baton Rouge to demand reproductive justice. Anyone interested in attending can register for We Have a Vision: Louisiana Reproductive Justice Day at the Capitol, by visiting Eventbrite and typing Louisiana Reproductive Justice Day in the search bar.
Tickets are free and transportation will be provided.
While the organization looks forward to making its voice heard on May 1, Women with a Vision undertakes important work throughout the New Orleans area every day.
From 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month, Women with a Vision provides free reproductive health resources at the Algiers Regional Library, 3104 Holiday Dr. They also provide these resources from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every second and fourth Wednesday at the Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center, 4300 S. Broad Ave.
Women with A Vision also offers Hep C, HIV, and Syphilis testing at their office, 2028 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on every other Thursday. To learn more and get involved visit www.wwav-no.org.
“Reproductive justice isn’t just plan B or condoms or birth control,” says Elyse Degree, Reproductive Justice Engagement Coordinator for the organization. “Reproductive justice is also climate justice and housing justice. It’s about being able to choose when to have children and being able to raise those children in safe and healthy environments.
For those looking to support Women With a Vision’s efforts, Degree says, “Hygiene products, condoms, Plan B, Narcan, and financial support are really, really helpful for us.”
