The Abortion Conversation Projects (ACP) has chosen nine new projects that are experimenting with strategies to address the stigma surrounding abortion. ”At the same time abortion access is under attack in the US and in other countries we are amazed that there are so many people finding creative ways to challenge the stigma that fuels anti-abortion policies,” says Peg Johnston, Chair of ACP. The organization has now funded 82 Projects and offers support and expertise to both Grant Partners and applicants.
Three of the new grantees are working in countries where abortion is illegal or severely restricted and greatly stigmatized. Manodiversa works with LGBT and non-binary people in Bolivia and has found a great deal of intersectionality with abortion access. They will produce a booklet of first person stories that will increase awareness not only in Bolivia but will be distributed thoughout Latin America. Beyond Stigma will bring values clarification tools to a group of social workers and health care workers in Kenya and help them understand the reality of people seeking abortion. Also in Kenya, Colors of My Dignity will use trained “influencers” on What’s App to educate followers about the facts of abortion and to counteract the prevalent stigma about abortion.
Dopo Doula Training has already completed a successful international 6 week course to train doulas who help women through reproductive experiences including abortion. Zachi Brewster and Carly Manes expect to train another cohort in the Fall and offer discounts to those who need them. Abortion: My Body, My Sacred Decision is a project of Soul2Soul which supports Black Womxn through the full spectrum of reproductive experiences in the Denver Metro area. They have a variety of weekly support groups that empower women and give them a safe space to discuss their experiences.
Found (abortion) Monument has an installation at Unison Art Center, New Paltz, NY, as part of the land-based exhibition “Owning Earth.” Their installation is a meadow with naturally growing abortifacient plants and they are educating the public about the ancient history of women trying to control their fertility. So I Had an Abortion is an ongoing project in Canada that engages people through workshops and storytelling in English and Spanish in mutually beneficial ways.
Two existing Grant Partners received further funding. The North Dakota WIN Fund Book Club will continue reading books about abortion and discussing abortion stigma. They have been tracking results of how book discussions shift stigma and hope to collect further data. Lena Hann, who previously produced a Fetal Tissue Viewing Guide for clinics, will now produce accurate photos of fetal development for both patients and staff.
The Abortion Conversation Projects is committed to eliminating the stigma of abortion by supporting individuals and small groups engaged in innovative community-based projects that create new ways and opportunities to talk about abortion honestly and publicly. It has awarded 82 Grant Partnerships since the program started in 2012. ACP fundraises approximately $12,000 each year to pay for seed grants and expenses. The ACP Board also offers consultations with people working on abortion stigma. For more information and to join the mailing list, consult ACP’s website at www.AbortionConversationProjects.org or the Facebook page