Summer in Review

Juliana Swaren

During the past several weeks, my fellow Philadelphia interns and I have been busy advocating for the PA Agenda for Women's Health in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties. While doing voter registration and community education tabling at Philadelphia events such as Clark Park Music & Arts Festival and the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival, we have focused primarily on door-to-door canvassing and weekly phone-banking in the suburban areas. In tandem with our Agenda work, we have also been volunteering at the John Kane for State Senate Campaign out of Delaware County. John, a business manager for the Plumber's Union in Philadelphia, is a strong Planned Parenthood supporter & women's health advocate, and has been open to the support and direction of Planned Parenthood. As we move into the August, our focus continues to shift more and more to voter registration and pro-women's health campaign work, in addition to continuing to educate individuals about the Agenda for Women's Health.

Over the past 7 weeks, I have come to appreciate the perseverance required in grassroots organizing, as well as the uphill battle for women's health that we still face today. In addition to correcting the myths surrounding Planned Parenthood's funding and work, our fight is continually impounded by outcomes such as the "Hobby Lobby Case" ruling, and election of anti-choice & anti-women's health officials. Nonetheless, I have had the honor of working alongside persistent and dedicated women and men this summer, because of whom I believe we can win this fight.