The Planned Parenthood Activist Council is a group that was launched at the beginning of 2005 for people who want to get more involved in Planned Parenthood’s advocacy work. It’s made up of tireless, amazing men and women who do everything from run advocacy campaigns to hold fundraisers and everything in between. Every Tuesday we run “Meet the Activists” a weekly snapshot into who these fabulous volunteers are. You can learn more about the Activist Council, and find out how to join, by going to our web site.
Name: Rhea Beddoe
Age: 28
Profession: Currently unemployed =(
Where do you hail from? Originally Trinidad & Tobago
Why did you get involved with the Activist Council? I had previously been a volunteer with PPNYC following the [Spring 2004] March for Women’s Lives in DC. After the election of 2004 I truly felt the need to up my efforts, and the Activist Council fit the bill.
What’s the most exciting/terrifying/invigorating thing you’ve done while a member? Last year we put on a joint event with PPNYC’s teen advocates and NYCLU’s teen advocates. It was great – PPNYC’s teens performed skits about sex ed and NYCLU’s teen advocates spoke about their rights.
For a long time, the Sex Ed group had hoped to hold a workshop that would reach NYC teens directly, so it was very exciting to see a teen specific event come to fruition. Seeing a room of over 50 HS students engaged and asking questions about birth control and their rights was icing on the cake 1) Because we had 50 kids come after school for a workshop, and 2) because their excitement and interest of the topic let me know that we were doing the right thing.
Why is it important to be involved? It’s very important to stay involved with the work that PPNYC does because reproductive health effects all of us for all of our lives. And if we’re not looking out for women (and men), who will?
Sound good to you? If you want to get involved, check out our Activist Council!
