This past summer I attended Sex & Politics in the Captial City Intern Advocacy Series on Sexual Health, Reproductive Justice, and HIV/AIDS. It was there that I learned about the Gloria Steinem Membership Conference that would be going on in the coming September. I knew I would be attending Urban Retreat in early September and thought why would I need to attend another conference addressing the same issues at the end of the month : / It wasn't until I saw Gloria: In Her Own Words that I became GEEKED to attend the Conference. 

With all the help from ChoiceUSA and Adocates for Youth I had the AMAZING opportunity to attend the conference with other amazing activist and advocates from each corner of the continent, who were all gathered in one space in the fight for REPRODUCTIVE VICTORY! Shoutout to South Mid-Atlantic ;D

I wasn't sure what to expect, I was just really excited to be in attendence ;D I kept hearing ChocieUSA staff members talk about a RUHCUS and how wonderful Sonya Renee is and I was just totally clueless! Sonya Renee is a poet,  healer, and developer of the RUHCUS-- Radically Unapologetic Healing Challenge 4 US! Ms. Sonya Renee took the opportunity to share with us a RUHCUS she had completed. Now as we laughed, oohh'd, and ahhh'd at Sonya's sharing no one expected her to ask us to go through a journey of healing over shame, trauma, fear and pain... I know I sure didn't! Especially with a group of people I ain't know from Adam! This journey was supposed to get us to become comfortable with our story but I just kept feeling discomfort, as I'm sure everyone at my table felt by the expressions on their face and the sudden change in body language. By the time it was my turn to share I ended up spilling the beans on some things I was going through. I'm not sure if this helped heal me but I did begin to feel some type of connection with the other attendees at the table. It was then that I realized your story can be key to organizing, and you may need to create a RUHCUS to do so! 



During the Federal Legislative Briefing we discussed everything from appropriations, how a bill becomes a law (courtesy of School House Rocks), Title X programs, attacks on birth control, Rights for Respect of Conscience, etc. But even with all of the technicalities, personalizing the issue and telling your story is what is key because it puts REAL people and faces behind the decision being made. Anyone can go up on The Hill and spit numbers, stats, and facts, but personal stories are what hit home and melts the ice off some of the cold hearted legislators.  

With all of the controversial issues, attacks on women's and youths health, esp. the misconception around abortion it is imperative that we understand the power ("ability to get what you want from someone who otherwise would not give it to you") of our voices and step out of our comfort zone and share our story! 

By day three of the conference I was beginning to feel overwhelmed with all of the wealth of knowledge, experience, and information being presented from such an amazaing diverse group of people all working towards the same goal! With all of the energy from the ChoiceUSA staff and excitement from the other attendees I was able to push myself to be attentive and ended up leaving feeling motivated and EMPOWERED!