Hi Friend,

I am writing to share some personal news: I will be bringing a tiny, brand-new human Earthside any day! I am grateful to be making my family-building dreams come true and will be welcoming the little one with parental leave through the end of August.

In my absence, URGE will be helmed by:

• Kai Gurley, they/he, Deputy Director of Resource Development
• Dann Hurd-Wilson, they/them, Interim Deputy Director of Field and Programs
• Patricia Munoz-Chernitsky, she/her, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration

Venturing into this new stage in life, I have grappled each aspect of Reproductive Justice: the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.

In particular, while I am fortunate enough to take four months of parental leave, this is not something that is standard even in “progressive” spaces, much less across the US. We need to fight for more for parents, especially young parents. Pregnant and parenting youth, just as anyone else, deserve to be supported in their reproductive decisions and circumstances. Policies that provide resources, support, and respect to young parents can set them up to succeed as individuals and as families.  

That’s why the work we do here at URGE is so important. We play a unique and critical role as a Reproductive Justice organization that engages young people and catalyzes their power to fight for the ability of all people to build and support the families they want, access the healthcare they need, and to live and love in a way that’s true to who they are. 

With gratitude, and a reminder to breathe, drink water, and love on yourself today. 💖

En solidaridad,

Kimberly

she/her/ella