Minot Women's Network

We have said it once and we will say it again — there is NOTHING “pro-family” about abortion bans or the extremists who work so cruelly to enact them. There’s also nothing “pro-family” about attacking IVF or threatening people with restrictions on contraception. We do not deserve to live in fear for the future of our families, we deserve the right to build the family we want on our own terms and on our own timelines. That’s why we need the guaranteed right to abortion; that’s why we need broad protection for IVF and contraception; that’s why we need to solve the raging maternal health care crisis. Join us on our #ForwardFight for a better future today: https://bit.ly/3w7wJMO

Many of us are already tired of talking about the election. It’s one of the most divisive topics in the country, now more than ever, but that’s why it’s imperative that we keep talking about it. Without a doubt, this election is shaping up to be one of the most crucial elections in modern history. The right to vote is one of the most basic rights given in our democracy, and we believe that promoting our right to vote is a crucial step in protecting our reproductive rights. We work in conjunction with organizations such as the League of Women Voters of North Dakota and their local chapter, the League of Women Voters of Plum Valley to advocate for protection of voting rights, education through informed voting initiatives, and efforts to improve voter turnout in order to achieve the outcomes that we demand from our elected representative. North Dakota is currently the only state in the country that does not require voter registration – a key factor in ensuring that people can easily vote. In the upcoming months, you will see a lot of information from us on topics such as candidate stances, ballot measures, finding your polling place, how to cast an absentee mail-in ballot, early voting, and more. Our elected officials work for us, and its imperative that we hold them accountable for their actions in office. Turning out to vote for the representatives that we believe will protect the things most important to us is one of the key foundational actions that we can take to enact long-term, powerful change in North Dakota. It’s not just about voting for President – it’s about our local and state elections, too. From city council all the way up to our state legislators, our futures are impacted by who we vote for – and just as importantly, by who we don’t vote for.

Navigating Media Literacy in Politics Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, and evaluate various forms of communication. It encompasses understanding how media messages are constructed, the motives behind these messages, and the ways in which media can influence and shape public opinion and behavior. Media literacy is essential in today’s digital world, where information is abundant and can easily spread. By understanding media literacy, you can empower yourself to understand the impact of the media you consume and make informed decisions based on what you read, hear, or see. For more articles, including exclusive content, subscribe to our Substack!

In conjunction with today’s two year anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood’s Action Fund released a new analysis on the impact of abortion bans and has joined the Abortion Access Now Campaign, collaborating with other health, rights, and justice organizations. This landmark ruling led many states to change their laws; 43% of women of reproductive age, plus trans and nonbinary people, now live in states that ban or limit abortion — that means 28 million women of reproductive age live in states with an abortion ban. Three action items: 1) Check out the facts in the link below and think about the role you can play– as an employee or employer– in this landscape where 70% of women ages 18-44 would be discouraged from taking a job in a state that restricts access to abortion, as would 59% of men in the same age cohort. 2) Join the virtual #DontBanEquality Spring Briefing this Thursday at 1:00pm EST. Register below. 3) Take the Reproductive & Maternal Health Compass (RMH Compass) survey to see how your company stacks up! Impact analysis report: https://lnkd.in/gCdeZHA8 DBE spring briefing: https://lnkd.in/e_UbwbJd Reproductive and Maternal Health Compass: https://rmhcompass.org/ Abortion Access Now Campaign: https://lnkd.in/e8z9XZ88 Abortion Access Now Campaign members: ACLU Center for Reproductive Rights In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice National Women's Law Center Reproductive Freedom for All URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) #DBE #SRHR #socialimpact #CSR #Roe

Have you heard of the Freedom to Travel for Healthcare Act? Well, the U.S. Senate held a subcommittee hearing on it TODAY, where they discussed interstate travel for individuals seeking abortion care outside of states with abortion bans. Like right here in North Dakota. Lauren Miller, a plaintiff out of Texas, had a powerful testimony on her experience needing to obtain an abortion in order to save the life of one of the twins she was carrying. Texas’s extreme abortion ban resulted in doctors denying Lauren the fetal reduction she needed. "If I hadn't been able to access abortion care. My son may not have made it," she said. It cost Lauren thousands of dollars to be able to access the life-saving health care she needed. She chose to share her story to draw attention to the desperate need for accessible reproductive care.

The Minot Women's Network is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that aims to promote and expand access to affordable, quality reproductive care - including a women’s right to make our own reproductive choices without government interference or restriction. We are currently working on organizing the 2024 Minot Women’s March, and are excited to bring many more opportunities for women in Minot and surrounding areas (and all of North Dakota one day, hopefully) to participate in advocating for women’s reproductive freedom. For more information, visit www. minotwomensnetwork.org or e-mail us at [email protected] Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, too!