Welcome back, Just For This listeners! Each week, host Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch (she/her) interviews women in leadership about women and leadership. Inspired by the story of Esther, we feature powerful stories of women who stand out in their fields, who have stepped up just for this moment. 

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, it has been up to individual states to make decisions about abortion care, ultimately deciding who has access to bodily autonomy and who does not. WRJ could not be silent as the clock was turned back 50 years and have continued to support state-based campaigns to enshrine abortion access in state constitutions.

This November, Virginia will face a similar ballot initiative. Voting yes to Question 1 on the ballot would add a fundamental right to reproductive freedom to the Virginia Constitution: the freedom to make personal decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care, without government interference or criminal punishment.

Our guest this week is Han Jones, Political Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia and Campaign Director of Virginians for Reproductive Freedom, the coalition leading the Yes on 1 campaign. We discuss the long journey of getting this initiative on the ballot, the intersectionality of voting and reproductive rights, the stories of the women who inspire her work in reproductive justice, and the strength it took to transform grief into action after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Learn more about the Virginians for Reproductive Freedom coalition and what it means to Vote Yes on Question One: https://va4reprofreedom.org/

Don't live in Virginia, but interested in getting involved? Join WRJ and Virginians for Reproductive Freedom virtually on Tuesday, October 20 to call Virginia voters and ask them to vote "yes" on Question 1. Never phone banked before? A short training will be provided at the beginning of each event!

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