Moving Forward in a Post-Roe v. Wade World

Just three months have passed since the Supreme Court’s attack on women’s reproductive rights. Still, many have already witnessed the decision’s devastating impact as states nationwide have begun aggressively rolling back legislation and access to abortion and contraceptive care.However, the fight is far from over. Kansas’ recent voter referendum served as a resounding win for U.S. abortion rights movements, and as the first post-Roe v. Wade, this is a hopeful sign for strong voter turnouts in the midterms to come. At YWCA South Florida, our commitment to our community's health, rights and safety remains steady with our team hands-on in the fight.YWCA in a post-Roe v. Wade World.We understand the negative impact of reproductive health care restrictions disproportionately impacts people and families of color. For the past 100 years, YWCA South Florida has acted as a champion for these groups, safeguarding the rights of women, girls and people of color in our community. As we venture into a post-Roe v. Wade world, we hold true to that commitment.As new funding challenges arise, YWCAs across the U.S. have felt the impact of this ruling on their clients and also on their organizations…but still, we persist.Together, we are learning daily to navigate this landscape in a way that allows us to continue providing our clients with access to the important services many have come to rely on.We know that our efforts cannot be solitary. We understand that change stems from collaboration, which is achieved by beginning dialogues with decision-makers, and we are engaging in these difficult conversations with our boards, legislators and beyond. Abortion rights issues will also be integrated into this year’s Week Without Violence to ensure the public is properly educated on this important issue.However, while YWCA is taking action to ensure the protection and preservation of women’s bodily autonomy rights, ground-level support from everyday citizens like you is absolutely essential in seeing this change to light.Your vote. Your voice. Your power.Impactful change begins from the ground up.  Your voice is your power, and your vote is your megaphone. At YWCA South Florida, we are working hard to spread voter education and registration ahead of the upcoming Nov. 8 general election through our Get Out The Vote initiative, an important piece of our Racial Equity and Social Justice program.Voter participation in 2022 (with a special focus on local and state activity) is critical in enacting lasting and sustainable change, with more than 7,000 elected positions up for grabs. Open seats in this year’s election include:

• All 435 U.S. House of Representatives seats
• 35 Senate seats
• 46 state legislature seats
• 36 governor seats

Empowering young women and people of color to participate in the voting process will also prove crucial in shaping the country into one genuinely representative of our nation’s rich diversity.The 2022 voter registration deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 11 and General Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. To learn more about YWCA South Florida’s Get Out The Vote initiative and how you can register to vote in the Nov. 8 election, visit www.ywcasouthflorida.org/what-we-do/programs/racial-equity-and-social-justice/get-out-the-vote.Change in our world begins in our community!You hold the power to help shape the world! At YWCA South Florida, our team is always here with the tools to help you along the way. Visit our website or contact us to learn more about our programs and how you can help eliminate racism and empower women in our community.