Nearly 40 attendees gathered at the home of Michele Hirsch on Wednesday, December 4, for a critical discussion on reproductive rights and advocacy in the aftermath of the Roe v. Wade decision. The event was part of a three-series program titled “A Post-Roe World: Education and Advocacy,” created by the Jewish Fertility Foundation (JFF) with funding from the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta (JWFA).
In collaboration with JWFA and the National Council for Jewish Women (NCJW), JFF organized this second event to launch a public relations and advocacy campaign focused on the evolving legal landscape surrounding fertility rights. The goal was to educate participants about current legal challenges and provide actionable steps for supporting women’s reproductive rights.
The evening featured a diverse panel of experts, each offering unique insights into the challenges faced by women seeking fertility treatments and reproductive care. The panel included Lila Bradley, a partner at Claiborne | Fox | Bradley | Goldman LLC; Dr. Mimi Zieman, NCJW Atlanta’s Reproductive Rights Chair and author; Nannette Herlands, a clinical nurse with experience in abortion care; and Julie Cohen, JFF’s Senior Manager, who shared her personal journey with infertility and her work in Alabama during this challenging period for reproductive rights.
Bradley kicked off the program with an overview of the Alabama Supreme Court’s February ruling on fertility rights and introduced the newly formed Georgia Fertility Network. This advocacy group aims to protect access to fertility treatments in Georgia amid a shifting legal environment. Dr. Zieman discussed the advocacy efforts led by NCJW, focusing on protecting fertility and reproductive rights. Herlands shared an inside perspective on working in an abortion clinic, shedding light on the growing challenges in the medical community. Cohen brought a personal perspective to the discussion, recounting her own infertility journey and experiences working on the ground in Alabama.
Elisheva Engler, JFF’s National Program Manager, expressed her appreciation for the diverse perspectives brought to the panel. “It was so wonderful to bring four different voices to this conversation, each adding an essential layer of understanding in this ever-evolving issue,” Engler said.
Dr. Daniel Shapiro, a reproductive endocrinologist and member of JFF’s medical advisory council, emphasized the significance of these gatherings in driving change. “Events like this are key to creating awareness and advancing advocacy strategies,” he noted.
Founded in 2015 in Atlanta, JFF is a national nonprofit that provides financial assistance, emotional support, and educational resources for individuals experiencing infertility. With nine local chapters, the foundation expanded in 2023 with JFF-National to support individuals outside its traditional locations. JFF-National offers a wide range of peer-to-peer support groups, educational webinars, and community-building initiatives, furthering the organization’s mission to raise awareness and advocate for fertility rights.
This event marked another step in JFF’s commitment to fostering change and empowering communities to take action in the fight for reproductive justice.
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