Celebrating Leadership & Reproductive Freedom

On October 9, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota honored recipients of the Mary Lee Dayton Catalyst for Change awards and celebrated a legacy of leadership and the promise of reproductive freedom. A panel of leaders across sectors underscored the importance of centering communities in making decisions, supporting organizations leading on the frontlines, and working for policy change and funding at the Capitol. Our gratitude to Best Buy for being a Community Changemaker sponsor of this event.

In honor of their leadership and dedication to transforming conditions for women and girls, Ruth Richardson and Carol Bissell Truesdell received the Mary Lee Dayton Catalyst for Change awards. The honorees exemplify the courage, vision, and tireless dedication of Mary Lee Dayton, making an impact on our communities over decades and paving the way for future generations.

In accepting her award, Ruth shared, “It was the women in my life who put me on this walk with purpose.” She challenged the room of nearly 200, “Pay attention to the women in this room, and we will build the future that we want to see.”

Carol Bissell Truesdell said, “I feel the women’s movement is sort of a mosaic. Women acting together adding their small stones to a great mosaic. They have increased women’s rights against all odds. We have a lot to be proud of and this heroic legacy and a great deal to celebrate. I would also add have much more to do.”

Board chair Chanda Smith Baker signaled that this event celebrates not only the milestones we’ve achieved, but also the work that lies ahead. This year’s event focused on the health topic of reproductive justice – what it takes for every one of us to be safe and free to live the lives we choose, and to raise our children – if we have them – in safe and sustainable communities.

At the event, we announced a first-of-its-kind reproductive health endowment in Minnesota. The Reproductive Freedom Fund will protect and resource organizations doing this work across Minnesota, now and in perpetuity. As we have seen, we must make sure women have bodily autonomy under the law and in practice. Through a generous $400,000 seed-funding gift from our longtime donor advised fund Midwest Legacy Fund, we have an opportunity to keep reproductive healthcare safe and legal and be a role model for the nation.

This fund will support reproductive health efforts and clinics across the state that are struggling to keep up with the increased demands for services as Minnesota has become a sanctuary state for people not only in this region, but across the country. It comes at a time when Minnesota’s decline in rural obstetric services now outstrips the national average—with 42% of Minnesota counties lacking birth services. We continue to see unconscionable outcomes for pregnancy-associated deaths for Black and Indigenous Minnesotans. As we fight to increase access, we must also eliminate the disparities in healthcare for all people who give birth.

A panel of community leaders, moderated by Roxane Battle, addressed the issues central to why we created the Reproductive Freedom Fund to support organizations across the entire state doing this work. Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (House District 64A), Takayla Lightfield (Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective), and Shayla Walker (Our Justice) noted the importance of sharing our stories, investing in access to comprehensive health care, and supporting the providers who care for our communities. Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, co-chair of our Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota, shared a special message that signals the importance of our Reproductive Freedom Fund.

What else can you do? The panel discussion shared the comprehensive vision of reproductive justice as a human right. To change our systems, they called us to action:

• Donate to our Reproductive Freedom Fund or Immediate Impact with a gift to support community-based providers on the frontlines, as well as the research and policy change that we lead every year to highlight inequities, change laws, and the narrative.
• Get Involved. Panelists shared the importance of voting, calling your representatives, and giving your time, energy, and goods to organizations, as well as your resources. The Reproductive Health Equity Grant fund will help ensure affordability of and access to care for anyone who seeks it and support providers in meeting demand. Medicaid reimbursements have not increased, which can create additional barriers to providing care. Rep. Her is lead author for the Equal Rights Amendment, and advocated for its importance: “We know the law is only as good as law until somebody overturns it because a different party is in power. There’s so much more work for us to do to ensure those rights.”
• Share our stories. Destigmatize the word “abortion.” Let your friends and family know that you are a safe person to talk to. As Rep. Kaohly Vang Her said, “Abortion is not just a women’s issue – it’s an all of us issue.”
• Support community-based clinics. Shayla Walker, executive director of Our Justice said, “There needs to be more money going into the clinics.” Of the five clinics that provide abortions in Minnesota, one is currently operating a GoFundMe campaign. To make health care accessible, she said, clinics have to be well supported and able to meet the needs of everyone who needs care.