CURRENT
>>> Abortion Fund and Education: The Militia, working closely with the Women’s Health Center and as part of the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF), is dedicated to improving access to abortion and reproductive health services across the Northland. The Miltia provides direct assistance to women seeking abortions and also conducts national and state-based advocacy to ensure that those most in need – low-income women, women of color, queer women, young women, queer young people – have access to abortion and full reproductive health care. On a local, state and national level, the Militia demonstrates to other communities (using a grassroots, working model) that it is possible to build their own local funds. Read more here on how to support reproductive health and justice in your community.
HOTDISH Bakeoff annual fundraiser (2003-present)
State to Nation-wide Creative Education and Organizing Efforts, including but not limited to:
(2009) Visit by Shelby Knox and presentation of the film “The Education of Shelby Knox” on March 27.
(2006 & 2007) Pro-Choice Lobby Day where HDM sponsored buses to shuttle students and community advocates to MN capitol for community lobbying and activist trainings.
(2004) Organized bus trip that allowed 100 women to travel from Northeastern, MN to Washington, DC to participate in the March for Women’s Lives.
(2003) Perpetual Graveyard showcased on Capital Lawn in St. Paul, MN to protest statewide social service cuts of Gov. Pawlenty.
>>> The Rise Initiative will bring together qualitative research, leadership development, and movement-building strategies to increase the visibility and engagement of young people around reproductive justice issues. The RISE Initiative begins this Fall by bringing young people together to talk about what matters to them through a series of Young People’s Leadership Alliances (Alliances) in cities throughout the country. The members of the Alliances will work with PEP and our allies to organize a Young People’s Assembly on Reproductive Justice at the United States Social Forum (USSF) in 2010. The Assembly will be a space for young people from diverse movements and communities to come together to build their leadership and raise their voices around sexual and reproductive health and rights.
>>> Spoke’ N Heart Bike Collective an experiential coming together of self-identified females who will look at the dynamic process of defining ourselves and what it means to be committed to bike touring and social justice. One key priority of the Collective is that the majority of participants be women of color. Our goal is for participants to bike away with ideas and skills on how to organize their own bike tours with a focus on social justice issues. Whether it is a regional tour for youth education, a national tour for reproductive health and justice, or a state-wide tour for queer civil rights, each participant will gain invaluable tools to share with their organization, group, or community.
>>> Exploratory Research and Intervention Development to Reduce Unplanned Pregnancy in LBTQ Youth Project: The HOTDISH Militia is committed to working with the Rainbow Health Initiative (RHI) and its partners on the Exploratory Research and Intervention Development to Reduce Unplanned Pregnancy in LBTQ Youth Project. RHI is the recipient of a Women’s Foundation of MN planning grant to conduct focus groups with LGBT young people to explore why they have a higher pregnancy rate then heterosexual youth. Utilizing the data from these focus groups, we will partner with MOAPPP, Pro-Choice Resources, and Midwest Health Center for Women to develop outreach materials and programming for pregnancy prevention for LGBT young people.