Annual Report

Annual Report 2019

Dear ACT Supporters,

Thank you for continuing to build community with ACT in 2019! This year, reproductive justice faced repeated attacks as nine states passed abortion bans and national legislation targeted communities of color, immigrant communities, womxn, LGBTQ, and gender expansive communities on seemingly daily basis. The support of our neighbors, allies, family, and friends has been critical in continuing to grow a reproductive justice movement at home in the South Valley. It was more important than ever, In 2019, to continue investing in the leadership of young people in our often forgotten part of the State. We have shared tears, laughter, memes, and great food during talking circles and strategy sessions. We are excited to share how this year’s programs strengthened concrete leadership pathways and prepared young leaders to take action.

In 2019, young folks at ACT took charge of their narrative and have shared their truth with their neighbors and decision makers across the state. ACT engagement has steadily grown this year as we have reached a base of leaders totaling 454 young people in Tulare County. Our Integrated Voter Engagement team was able to identify 4,348 supporters of reproductive justice in 2019, signifying a brewing shift in the local landscape . We experienced amazing growth this year by launching new pro-grams, bringing on new staff and board members, and celebrated multiple legislative victories at the state level!

One of our biggest changes this year was the transition of our Executive Director, Erin Garner-Ford, who invested 15 years of blood, sweat, and tears into building the foundation of ACT and creating meaningful and powerful relationships both locally and statewide. Erin began doing reproductive justice work in the conservative South Valley when doing the work came with great physical risk. Erin fought on, fueled by her passion to build a social justice revolution in Tulare County. She has served as a mentor to hundreds of ACT Alumni, ACT staff, and numerous organizational leaders in the Valley. Although she will be missed, we know how important her transition is to focus on her family and to continue her next journey in life. We look forward to watching the entire ACT team and young leaders grow their leadership and write the next chapter of the South Valley radical reproductive justice movement.

In Solidarity,

Gina Rodriguez
Development Director
Interim Co-Executive Director

Sarah Hutchinson
Policy Director
Interim Co-Executive Director

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