Happy Friday friend!

I hope you've been enjoying this lovely weather and staying safe and healthy. I know there has been so much devastation with the ongoing pandemic, destruction from wildfires in the west and from hurricane Ida, and international events across the globe. With an abortion ban in effect in Texas, I know many of us have been feeling bleak. Good news that broke yesterday is that the Department of Justice is suing Texas, but knowing that people who need abortions can't get them anywhere in their state right now is scary.

I know many of us have been galvanized though, and with abortion access under attack across the country, it's a critical time to take action locally to destigmatize abortion, build power, and grow our movement. Join us or help spread the word about the Developing Leaders Program right here in the DMV.

The Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington DC (PPMW) Developing Leaders Program (DLP) is a 9-month long volunteer-led program for young adults who are passionate about reproductive health, rights, and justice and want to learn about being effective leaders in this space. Launched in 2013, DLP has already trained over 300 rising leaders with the goal of building the pipeline of local advocates, allies, and supporters of PPMW and the reproductive rights movement.

Laura Velasco Mayock