November 2022 Newsletter

Meet RHAP’s New Team Members!

RHAP has a lot of new faces – please join us in welcoming our new team members!

Hannah Cavendish-Palmer (she/her), Interim Executive Director 

Where are you located?

• • • The Seattle area.

Why did you join RHAP?

• I am fired up about reproductive health and body autonomy. I love transition leadership and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to contribute to RHAP. 

What do you hope reproductive justice will look like in the future?

• My hope is that any debate about body autonomy fades away as younger people become voters and get politically active. Ideally this will happen quickly, so that this painful phase can be over as soon as possible!

What are your hobbies/outside-of-work interests?

• I spend the majority of my outside-of-work time with my kids, but when I can, I love karaoke, eating out, dancing, and traveling. 

What has been your latest go-to song playlist?  

• The Fresh Folk playlist on Spotify is my go-to for discovering new music! 

Share one thing you would like our readers to know about you. 

• Rubber boots are my default footwear- essential to my life as a Pacific Northwest parent!

Amelia Cecchetto (she/her), Social Media Associate 

Where are you located?

• New York City! 

Why did you join RHAP?

• Reproductive health access is one of the most important issues to me, and social media can be such an effective tool for education, mobilization, and change. I’ve seen social media fuel rapid response and advocacy movements, and there is so much potential to continue to use social media as a way of change. I’m excited to use RHAP’s platforms to keep our community educated and involved in the most pressing issues facing reproductive health care access. 

What do you hope reproductive justice will look like in the future?

• I hope reproductive justice looks like bodily autonomy and freedom from legislation that controls access to reproductive care. I want a future where nobody needs to navigate a complicated system just to receive basic care, and that they feel empowered and free from judgment when they make their own decisions. 

What are your hobbies/outside-of-work interests?

• I love finding new coffee shops, going on walks, and film photography. 

What has been your latest go-to song playlist?

• I just went to a Broadway show – so show tunes are on repeat lately. 

Share one thing you would like our readers to know about you. 

• I have to start my day with a coffee! Warm drinks every morning are critical to get through fall/winter. 

Vishu Chandrasekhar (she/her), Development Associate 

Where are you located? 

• Queens, NY.

Why did you join RHAP? 

• I joined RHAP because I deeply admired its work connecting clinicians with the resources they need to provide essential abortion and reproductive care, and I stayed because I’ve only become more committed to its mission (and the fantastic team!) ever since.

What do you hope reproductive justice will look like in the future?

• I envision a future where essential health care is provided to whoever needs it, whenever they need it.

What are your hobbies/outside-of-work interests?

• Doing crosswords and going on scenic walks.

What has been your latest go-to song playlist?

• I’ve had the Derry Girls soundtrack on repeat since Season 3 was released on Netflix a few weeks ago.

Share one thing you would like our readers to know about you. 

• I first came to RHAP as an intern with the Reproductive Rights Service Corps back in 2020.

Zoe Klett (she/her), Operations Coordinator 

Where are you located? 

• Brooklyn, NY. 

Why did you join RHAP?

• Joining RHAP is a dream come true. Having spent the majority of my professional career with organizations centered around public health initiatives, I became deeply aware of the encompassing barrier of accessibility. Then, following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, I became intent on joining an organization on the forefront of combatting restrictions to reproductive care. RHAP’s mission to revolutionize the way people can access reproductive care is integral to the fight for accessible sexual and reproductive health care for all. I am so grateful to be a part of such an essential organization.

What do you hope reproductive justice will look like in the future?

• In the future, my hope is that Reproductive Justice will be widely understood and accepted for what it means: the human right to maintain autonomy over one’s body and choices. This right should be protected by law, inclusive of all aspects of reproductive care, centered around marginalized communities, and, as a result of the incredible work conducted at organizations like RHAP, accessible to everyone.

What are your hobbies/outside-of-work interests?

• Outside of work, you can find me engaged in numerous activities. I’m a huge animal enthusiast and spend a lot of my extra time walking the neighborhood dogs through Wag. Additionally, I love making cross-stitches and embroidery.

What has been your latest go-to song playlist?

• Recently I’ve been playing the Spotify playlist “autumn in new york” on repeat.

Share one thing you would like our readers to know about you.

• One thing to know about me is I am constantly seeking the opportunity to learn and grow and value any experience that allows me to do so.

Ruth Leal (she/her/ella), Manager of Individual Giving 

Where are you located?

• Virginia. 

Why did you join RHAP?

• I joined RHAP because I wanted to actively support the reproductive justice movement instead of continuing to watch through the sidelines. We are living through a crucial moment where the fight for proper reproductive health access and bodily autonomy is more vital now than ever. So when the opportunity arose to join the RHAP team, I did not think twice! 

What do you hope reproductive justice will look like in the future? 

• In the future, I hope that conversations surrounding reproductive health access become free of stigma and judgment. I wish essential health care becomes a conversation between health care providers and people, not between political parties and legislators. With access for all, regardless of gender, identity, beliefs, race, or economic status. 

What are your hobbies/outside-of-work interests? 

• I love food! I enjoy cooking and baking (big Great British Bake Off fan over here!). To burn all the calories from baking, I run 10k races and do cycling, which also helps me manage stress. Lastly, but most importantly, I love naps. I look forward to the weekend when I get to nap and be a bit lazy. 

What has been your latest go-to song playlist?  

• I am training for a 10k, so I am fine-tuning a list I like to call “Leg Fuel.” It is very random: Lil Nas  X, songs from the movie Encanto, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Miki Matsubara, etc. 

Neha Vasudeva (they/them), Organizer 

Where are you located? 

• Sacramento, CA. 

Why did you join RHAP?

• I joined RHAP because of my passion for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and felt a sense of urgency to rejoin the repro sphere after the fall of Roe. I particularly appreciate RHAP’s niche approach of integrating repro health care into primary health care. 

What do you hope reproductive justice will look like in the future?

• In the future, I hope repro justice will continue to look queer and Black and brown, as it was when it first started out. I hope for a future where queer BIPOC folks can access their sexual and reproductive health care easily, safely, affordably, and without judgment or shame.

What are your hobbies/outside-of-work interests?

• I am a coffee connoisseur, also known as a coffee snob, so in my free time, I love exploring new and local cafes. I also love to go solo-hiking and binge-watching the newest shows on Netflix/Hulu/all the streaming platforms. 

What has been your latest go-to song playlist? 

• I actually don’t listen to playlists…I do however listen to the ‘radio’ option of a song on Spotify. Right now, my go-to Radio is Girls by Doechii.

Share one thing you would like our readers to know about you.

• I am a writer with a focus on poetry and creative fiction. I currently have an unfinished story of roughly 71,000 words that I’ll maybe, hopefully, finish in the next couple of years.

A day to give support and expand access to reproductive health care.

Advocacy in Action in the AAFP!

In late September, RHAP mobilized family physicians from across the country to advocate for progressive policy changes at the American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP) annual Family Medicine Experience (FMX) conference in Washington, D.C. The AAFP is the country’s largest professional medical organization for family physicians, and is considered the expert body for family medicine.

Our advocates’ week started with a testimony training in preparation for the AAFP’s Congress of Delegates (COD). Network members brought forth AAFP policy resolutions and testimony on issues from adopting gender-inclusive language in all Academy materials, to advocating for comprehensive postpartum care and access to Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARCs) among other things. 

There were huge wins in policy change, thanks to the efforts of our amazing advocates. The AAFP formally amended their support for family physicians providing abortions to extend beyond just the first trimester, as previous policy stated. They also adapted language in multiple policies to be inclusive of all pregnant and parenting folks’ genders by  incorporating the inclusion of chestfeeding, changing policy language from supporting “equality for same gender families” to “all families,” and more.

Later in the week, we headed to the exhibition hall to table at FMX on behalf of RHAP for the first time since 2019. This connected us with new clinicians to draw into the Network and allowed us to share the many resources and clinical tools we’ve developed and updated in the last few years. RHAP leaders also presented and helped organize sessions, including talks on IUDs, self-managed abortion, and more.

There is more work to be done, and we are already working to ensure that the AAFP follows through in speaking out for access to reproductive health care and training in family medicine and beyond. However, this is an important step forward for the AAFP, and for primary care.

Our time at COD and FMX reminded us of why we do what we do. We threw ourselves into the work of mobilizing and advocating for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, including abortion and gender-affirming care, in primary care practice.

Apply to Join RHAP’s Board of Directors! 

RHAP is currently recruiting people to serve on the organization’s Board of Directors. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to further support an organization working to increase access to abortion and reproductive health care in primary care!

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

• Legal experience supporting nonprofits, reproductive rights/health/justice, and/or other social justice causes (attorneys welcome);
• Expertise in communications/public relations to help us communicate our mission and work;
• Expertise in finance and/or accounting, and who can provide guidance on RHAP achieving its mission while also providing thriving wages and benefits to our staff, and/or;
• Experience as a fundraising professional in the nonprofit sector.

All candidates should have: 

• A demonstrated commitment to RHAP’s values and mission to train, support, and mobilize primary care clinicians to ensure equitable access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion. 
• An interest actively contributing to RHAP’s journey to become an anti-racist organization, including engaging in critical conversations around white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, racial justice, and disability rights among other topics, as well as developing and implementing anti-racist and equitable practices and structures.
• Interest in and/or experience serving on a nonprofit board, which provides organizational strategy, oversight, accountability, and ensures the organization has adequate resources to achieve its mission. 

Your expectations (including the time commitment) for board service includes:

• Commit to a 3-year term to start January 1, 2023 (start date can be flexible if necessary).
• Attend 2-hour board meetings via Zoom every 2 months (currently Thursday evenings Eastern Time, but moveable if necessary).
• Serve on or chair at least 1 board committee, which include: fundraising, finance, governance, equity, HR, and audit.
• Support RHAP’s fundraising efforts to ensure RHAP can achieve its mission while providing a thriving wage and great benefits to its amazing staff. RHAP does not require a “give or get,” but all board members are expected to donate whatever fits their budget and to engage in fundraising efforts (e.g., host fundraising events, share fundraising appeals with your network).
• Engage in RHAP activities (e.g., attend RHAP-sponsored events (virtually or in person), follow and uplift RHAP on social media, recruit and activate new supporters to RHAP).  
• Actively engage in RHAP’s journey to become an anti-racist organization, which may include participating in racial caucuses, outside reading, learning sessions, and critical conversations to further our individual and organizational growth.

Why should you join the board?

Not only will you be contributing your skills, expertise, and experience to a small but highly effective national organization that is working against the tide in this country to increase access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, but you will also have amazing networking opportunities.

Here is how to apply:

Submit a statement of interest (no more than 250 words, please) and your CV to info@reproductiveaccess.org by Sunday, November 27th. The Board Recruitment Committee will conduct phone conversations with applicants at the end of November/early December. Selected candidates will be presented to and voted on by the full Board of Directors. The new board members will begin their 3-year term in January.

BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people, others with marginalized identities, and those living outside of NYC and DC are encouraged to apply! 

Questions? Please ask! 

RHAP Seeks a New Executive Director

As you may know, our beloved founder and 17-year executive director, Lisa Maldonado, stepped down in October. While we move forward with a highly capable interim director and exceptional team, the search for a permanent executive director is ON! 

The chance to lead RHAP is an opportunity of a lifetime for the right person, and RHAP is reaching out to you, our friends, and supporters, asking you to please spread the word to your networks. This is a fully remote position.

This search is being led by Cara Pearsall and Danielle Higa of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s candidate portal. 

The Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any individual based on any non-merit factor and is committed to an equitable workplace where everyone is treated as a respected and valued member of the team.