When a woman does not have control over her own body, she no longer has control over her own life. Abusers know this, which is why they want power over reproductive choice. As a human rights activist based in Austin, Texas, I’ve spent over a decade advocating for survivors of…
Read More
He didn’t care about my consent. He didn’t care about my feelings. To him, I wasn’t a person worthy of respect. My name is Hannah Downing. I live in San Antonio, Texas. I just completed my senior year of high school. I was a drum major for my high school’s…
Read More
When Kate Valente packed for college, she did not pack pepper spray. Although the lists she consulted online for female college students always included pepper spray or mace for walking around campus alone, she said to herself, “That was not something I was worried about… I feel safe here.” To…
Read More
Under the pressure of protest and chaos, I calmly provided healthcare to a white police officer just shot by an African American suspect. I remained an astute professional when called a Jamaican b**ch while nursing an angry patient back to good health. And, I grew a friendship with the person…
Read More
On September 1, the new Texas abortion ban went into effect. The law makes abortion illegal after six weeks. It allows for women, health care providers, and anyone "aiding and abetting" them in obtaining an abortion to be sued by any private citizen. The overwhelming sense of dread and indignation…
Read More
Tomiko (She/Her) is a hip hop dancer, creative, leader, and activist. Since the age of six, she has been dancing with the nonprofit organization Culture Shock LA and founded Girls Can Create at Eagle Rock High School, which inspires young women on campus through art, activism, and entrepreneurship. To read more visit: Breakthrough…
Read More
Diana Castro (she/they) is a queer, immigrant, woman of color from Los Angeles. Their ethics were shaped by their mother’s dedication to being a childcare worker. Despite working hard, the family faced challenging livable conditions and discrimination due to a language barrier. Diana often assisted their parents in times of…
Read More
Cheyenne is a Latina, former Junior Paralympian, actress/model, student, and accessibility advocate from the West Coast. Drawing from her mother’s unyielding support, she began to combat systemic injustices during her youth. When faced with a school district’s discriminatory policy that prevented her from participating in track and field, with the…
Read More