By: Denisse Descamps Tofani
When a first applied to be an intern at the Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health Program it seemed like a daunting task, particularly with some of the recent news circulating about passing anti-abortion legislature around the United States. Getting accepted to intern with the New Orleans Abortion Fund (NOAF) has been incredibly inspiring, particularly because I get to work closely with people who are deeply involved with social activism, not only on the fight to expand reproductive rights, but reproductive justice as a whole.
My work with NOAF focuses on digital communication and organizing as it pertains to community outreach about access to abortion care in Louisiana. NOAF works to provide compassionate and empowering assistance for people seeking abortions; as a communications intern, it has been interesting to research pertaining subjects linked with reproductive rights, particularly focusing on how reproductive justice is deeply rooted on racial justice. NOAF is giving me the space to understand more and expand my knowledge about reproductive justice in Louisiana, and I am eager to see where the rest of the summer will lead!
As a Public Health student, learning about how systemically oppressing systems affects people’s access to essential care has given me the passion to pursue social activism. The opportunity to be an intern through the RRRH program will allow me to speak up and use my voice and my knowledge to help bridge the divide between accessibility to abortion access and reproductive justice.
