October 3, 2011                                                                

CONTACT: Joy Messinger, jmessinger@napawf.org, Reproductive Justice Project Coordinator

NAPAWF-Chicago Announces Community-wide Reproductive Justice Project

Chicago, IL – The Chicago Chapter of National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is pleased to announce the launch of a community-wide project to increase understanding and resources focused on the sexual and reproductive health and wellness of Asian Pacific Islander (API) women in the Chicago area and to foster linkages between organizations that serve and/or advocate for API women and girls.

Through the Reproductive Justice Project, NAPAWF-Chicago will collect information on how API women and girls view the issue of reproductive justice and its importance within their communities through an internet-based survey and community-based facilitated conversations with API women and girls, and their allies. The Reproductive Justice Project will also engage community leaders and organizations that serve, work with, and/or advocate for issues that impact API women and girls to produce a dynamic resource directory reflective of the needs and priorities of Chicago’s API communities.

“We are very excited about this project,” comments Karin Lee, the current NAPAWF-Chicago Chapter Chair. “From our events and discussions with community leaders over the last year, we have recognized a strong need for greater awareness and understanding of reproductive justice. Through this project, we hope to highlight the needs and priorities of API women and girls in Chicago, and increase the accessibility of existing resources to our community.”

NAPAWF is the only national, multi-issue Asian Pacific American women’s organization in the country. NAPAWF’s mission is to build a movement to advance social justice and human rights for API women and girls. NAPAWF unites our diverse communities through organizing, education, and advocacy. The NAPAWF-Chicago Chapter was founded in 2005 to provide leadership development and a safe space for API women and girls in the Chicago area. The Reproductive Justice Project was made possible with support from the Chicago Foundation for Women Asian American Leadership Council’s Silk Fund.

The Reproductive Justice Project will continue through June 2012. No prior experience with or knowledge of “reproductive justice” is necessary to be a part of the Reproductive Justice Project. To get involved, attend or co-sponsor a community conversation, or for more information, please contact the Reproductive Justice Project Coordinator, Joy Messinger, at jmessinger@napawf.org.

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