Hello Friend,

I am Jessica Pickney, and I serve on URGE’s Board. I’m so glad I get to introduce myself during Black History Month!

To me, Black History Month is a collective pause to respect, acknowledge, and continue a collective history. For those of us paying attention, every day of the year is Black History Month, but the recognition paid in February feels like an extra celebration and acknowledgment, of which we are certainly worthy.

URGE is using this month to find ways to honor and celebrate Black joy. Black History Month is not just about struggle — it is a love letter dedicated to the beautiful, profound, and unique experiences of Blackness. Check out these resources curated by URGE staff to help you incorporate joy and learning into your Black History Month.

Black women and femmes started the Reproductive Justice movement in 1994 and continue to serve as the backbone of this movement. To them I would like to say, thank you; you gave me a political home when I most needed one. I have never felt as held or seen as I do in the RJ movement, and I'll spend a lifetime carrying this powerful work forward.

Part of what I do to carry this work forward is serving on the Board of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity. I do this because URGE is the young people’s fight for Reproductive Justice. URGE is fighting against legislation that would benefit white supremacy and organizing across the South and Midwest and is even organizing and fighting for proactive Reproductive Justice legislation in California.

As part of the Board, one of my duties is fundraising so this organization can keep doing bold, #AbortionPositive work across 5 different states and at our nation's capital.

In Solidarity,

Jessica Pinckney, she/her

URGE Board Member, Access Reproductive Justice Executive Director