Welcome to the Advo.kit! Thanks so much for picking up the kit — we hope that you find it to be a helpful resource! Why the Advo.kit? The Advo.kit is geared toward student and/or young activists in the U.S. who seek to ad- vance abortion rights as part of a broad range of reproductive justice issues. It includes background information on unsafe abortion in the U.S. and around the globe, the im- pact of restrictive sexual and reproductive health policies on the lives of women and girls and tips and tools for activists. We feel these materials will give students and young activists the tools they need to: 1. Provide their peers with comprehensive information on sexual and reproductive health on campus and in the classroom 2. View abortion rights as part of a broad range of global issues, including HIV/AIDS, violence, race, gender, health care and economic and social justice 3. Mobilize and take action How do I use the kit? The Advo.kit is organized into three sections that will help you organize events and edu- cate others on the importance of reproductive justice and abortion rights: 1. Tips for organizing and activism 2. Activities 3. Background and resource documents The Advo.kit is designed so that activists can select the documents as they need and then use them in whichever order or combinations suit their individual needs and audiences. For example, you could use the Plan an Event Worksheet to get started, then use the Drawing the Connections activity in your event and copy the 10 Tips for Organizing document to hand out to your participants. There are dozens of combinations in which the documents could be used! Have fun! Why abortion and reproductive justice? Reproductive justice includes the right of all women to safe and voluntary contraception; to become pregnant, carry and bear children in a context free of violence and environ- mental toxins; and to affordable and nonjudgmental abortion services. Many women, however, do not have the option to protect themselves against an unwanted pregnancy, to continue an unintended but wanted pregnancy or to have a safe abortion. Despite Roe v. Wade’s significance, the “right” to abortion means little to those whose options are already restricted by race, gender, sexuality, age, ability or income. Traditionally, the issue of abortion has been isolated by the stigma attached to it. Nevertheless, abortion is a common part of the sexual and reproductive lives of most women, and its inclusion in the reproductive justice movement is essential in the pursuit of equality and justice. Source: Hessini, Leila, Lonna Hays, Emily Turner, and Sarah Packer. 2007. Abortion matters to reproductive justice. In Reproductive justice briefing book: A primer on reproductive justice and social change. New York, Pro-Choice Education Project. Available online at http://www.sistersong.net/documents/RJBriefingBook.pdf Ipas works globally to increase women’s ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights and to reduce abortion-related deaths and injuries. We seek to expand the avail- ability, quality and sustainability of abortion and related reproductive health services, as well as to improve the enabling environment. Ipas believes that no woman should have to risk her life or health because she lacks safe reproductive health choices. Ipas is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions to Ipas are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. P.O. Box 5027 • Chapel Hill, NC 27514 USA 1.919.967.7052 • [email protected] www.ipas.org ©2008 Ipas Printed on recycled paper. ADVOKIT-E08 Sample Event Agendas Agenda 1: Movie Night (1 hour 45 minutes) Event objective: Raise local awareness about same-sex mar- Supplies needed: DVD, decorations, projector, DVD player, riage; celebrate National Freedom to Marry Day screen, food and supplies for 75 people, three gift certificates Budget: $300 (food, posters, DVD — see Videos on Sexual and donated by local businesses for door prizes Reproductive Rights list) Follow-up plans: Pass around a sign-up sheet to collect par- Event Type: Movie screening and discussion ticipants’ contact information for future events and other news on this issue Event organizer/sponsor/partners: You, campus- and com- munity-LGBTQ organizations Moderator: Local LGBTQ activist Agenda: Audience and size: Approximately 75 local community Introduction of moderator (5 minutes) members Venue: Local church or coffee shop donates space and use of Introduction of movie (5 minuntes) audio visual equipment Movie (60 minutes) Attractions: Well-known and knowledgeable moderator, re- Moderator-led discussion (30 minutes) freshments, door prizes Publicity: Make and print posters at copy shop. Find local list- Closing (5 minutes) servs to send out the announcement Agenda 2: Monthly Reproductive Rights Happy Hour (2 hours) Event objective: Fun networking opportunities for people Supplies needed: None working in or interested in reproductive rights Follow-up plans: Repeat monthly Budget: None Event Type: Happy hour Event organizer/sponsor/partners: You, friends Agenda: and colleagues None, or prepare toasts to recent reproductive Moderator: None rights-related events Audience and size: People working in or interested in reproductive rights. Venue: Local bars and restaurants Attractions: Meeting like-minded people, networking opportu- nities, drinks specials Publicity: Listserv announcements, social networking sites, word of mouth Agenda 3: Workshop (5 hours) Event objective: Recruit and train new activists in reproductive Publicity: Participants recruited from five different women’s justice advocacy studies and human rights classes Budget: $250 (food and supplies) Supplies needed: Food; several relevant handouts, such as the Event type: Reproductive justice workshop 10 Tips for Activists sheet; supplies, flipchart and markers for Drawing the Connections activity; supplies for energizers and Event organizer/sponsors/partners: You and peer activists, Stand/Sit Icebreaker activity; computer and projector for Map- local reproductive rights organizations, professors ping Our Rights activity Moderator: You and peer activists Follow-up plans: Pass a sign-up sheet to collect participant Audience: 15 students from local colleges or other youth inter- contact information for future events and information. Give ested in learning more about reproductive rights your contact information to all participants. Venue: Large room on campus Attractions: Topic not addressed in class, two professors giving extra credit in their classes for attending workshop Agenda: Introductions and Stand/Sit Icebreaker activity Lunch and networking (1 hour) (30 minutes) Overview of effects of U.S. foreign policy on re- Overview of importance of reproductive justice productive rights globally (20 minutes) (30 minutes) Discussion and networking in groups (30 minutes) Drawing the Connections activity (45 minutes) Energizer exercise (5 minutes) Break and snack (10 minutes) Discuss lobbying opportunities to change U.S. pol- Overview of U.S. reproductive justice policies icies and possible venues for activism (20 minutes) (20 minutes) Closing (10 minutes) Energizer exercise (5 minutes) View and discuss your state’s policies on sexual and reproductive health and rights using Mapping Our Rights (mappingourrights.org) website (20 minutes) Plan an Event Worksheet Make a Plan 1. What is the objective of the event? What do you want 8. Who is your audience? How many people do you to accomplish? (For example, raise money, visibility, expect? Who do you want to reach and why? What and/or awareness?) Set measurable goals. kind of venue do you need to meet these goals? (For example, size, location, etc.) 2. What is the best day and time to have your event? (See Activist Days sheet for suggestions on opportuni- 9. What makes the event fun and interesting? (For ties to organize around.) example, will you provide food, games or a popular movie?) 3. Do you want to have partners or sponsors to share 10. How will you advertise the event? Who will do the leg costs and/or tasks? If so, make a list of potential part- work? Some ideas for advertising include: ners or sponsors and how to approach them. • Post flyers • Send advertisement to e-mail networks • Facebook, MySpace and other online social network- 4. What is your budget? ing sites • Campus news programs (for example, radio, news- paper or TV) • Chalk the sidewalk or boards in classrooms 5. What type of event do you want to have? • Take out an ad in the local independent paper (See Sample Event Agendas.) • Word of mouth • Ask professors to give extra credit to those who at- tend the event • Press releases 6. How will the roles and responsibilities be divided among your group? Who will take the lead? 7. Will you have a presenter? Who is moderating the event? (For example, is it someone you know? Will it take some time to get a commitment from a speaker? Will this person charge for their time?) Create an agenda Things to consider: 1. Use the outline you’ve created in the Plan section to 1. Motivation: It’s very important to have a hook that at- decide what will go on during the event. Here are tracts people to attend your event. Food or an engag- some common components to an event: ing, well-known speaker can really do the trick. a. Introductions 2. Inspiration: When recruiting, make sure everyone un- b. Ice breaker derstands how their attendance can make a difference. c. Main activity/presentation/film 3. Conflicts: Is there anything going on at the same d. Q & A and discussion time as your event that may affect participation? Is it e. Closing spring break? A holiday? Is there a sports game at the same time? 2. What supplies do you need: 4. Location: Is it easy to find? Did you give clear direc- a. for the room? (Do you want to decorate?) tions? Choosing a venue that is hard to get to can b.