Over One Hundred Reproductive Freedom For All Members Gather in Washington D.C. for Annual Activist Summit

ICYMI: Over One Hundred Reproductive Freedom For All Members Gather in Washington D.C. for Annual Activist Summit

Last week, Reproductive Freedom for All brought more than 100 activists from 20 states to Washington, D.C. for its annual Activist Summit and Lobby Day. Volunteers, storytellers, and organizers came together to strengthen their leadership skills, build relationships, and prepare to mobilize their communities ahead of the November midterm elections.

Beth C. from West Hollywood, California

“I have always been politically active, but after the Dobbs decision leaked, something changed, and I knew I had to step up and take on a larger role in the fight for reproductive freedom. It is a big decision to have children; it is costly and changes your whole life. Talking to lawmakers at the lobby day, learning from others at the Reproductive Freedom for All activist summit, and being the Chair of the LA Action Council for 3 years have all helped me learn how best to fight for our rights and freedoms. I want my daughters to have the same access to care that I did, and I won’t stop fighting until they do.”

Over the course of the Summit, members participated in trainings on recruiting and retaining volunteers, identifying new leaders, digital organizing, storytelling, voter outreach, and building strong local Action Councils. They also discussed the growing threats to reproductive freedom and the critical role organizers, providers, and advocates play in holding politicians accountable and electing leaders who will protect their rights.

Jenna A. from Reno, Nevada

“In the last few months, I have gotten involved with the Reproductive Freedom for All chapter at the University of Nevada, Reno campus. The majority of students on my campus want to join the fight for our rights and freedoms. At the activist summit, I learned so much about how to organize my community, and I can’t wait to get back home and get started. I want to mobilize students and help elect leaders who represent the majority of Nevadans and who will fight for our reproductive freedom.”

Members then brought their stories and demands directly to Capitol Hill, where they held more than 80 meetings with lawmakers as part of Reproductive Freedom for All’s annual Lobby Day. They called on Members of Congress to protect and restore reproductive freedom, and shared personal stories about how abortion bans and barriers to care have affected their communities.

Ella C. from Marietta, Georgia: 

“After the Dobbs decision, I felt like the world stopped. Georgia has some of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country, and seeing how these laws affected people around me made me want to get involved. Long driving distances, clinics closed on weekends, and costly treatment prevent people from getting the care they need. At Reproductive Freedom for All’s activist summit, I met organizers from all over the country and learned how they’re fighting back in their own states. I’ve learned many new lessons, and I can’t wait to implement them in my own community.”

Members advocated for the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, which would ensure that people who receive health care or insurance through the federal government have coverage for abortion care and prevent federal interference with abortion coverage in the private insurance market. And they also advocated for the Health Equity and Access under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Families Act, which eliminates discriminatory barriers that prohibit health care coverage based solely on a person’s immigration status or length of stay. Following meetings with Reproductive Freedom for All members, several lawmakers agreed to co-sponsor one or both bills. 

Ashley O. from Mesa, Arizona: 

“In 2023, I went into pre-term labor and was facing life-or-death complications. I was left stuck in a legal limbo because my options were impacted by Arizona’s abortion ban. Doctors were hesitant to give me the care I needed because of the anti-abortion extremist restrictions in place in our state. As a health care provider, I am still seeing the consequences of these restrictions firsthand. I came to the activist summit because I don’t want anyone else to go through what I went through. We have the power to change things, and I’m proud to be with an organization like Reproductive Freedom for All that is teaching us how to mobilize communities, hold politicians accountable, and elect reproductive champions.”

The Activist Summit also featured the first live audience taping of Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju’s podcast, My Body. My Pod., at the historic Howard Theatre. Timmaraju was joined by journalist Katie Phang, Congressman Jamie Raskin, and National Abortion Federation President and CEO Brittany Fonteno for a conversation about the state of reproductive freedom and the work ahead.

Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju:

“Thanks, everybody, for being at the historic Howard Theater for our first live audience of “My Body. My Pod.” recording. We are recording in front of a live audience at the Howard Theater in Washington, DC, at the Reproductive Freedom for All 2026 Activist Summit. This room is filled with people who are actually doing the work, and we’re so proud to have you as our members, partners, and leaders. Quite simply, none of this work can be done without you.”

Throughout the week, members made clear that the consequences of abortion bans are not abstract. They are affecting patients, families, and providers in communities across the country—and motivating people to organize for change.

Lisa S. from Detroit, Michigan: 

“Over thirty years ago, I had very limited access to affordable reproductive healthcare. Since then, I have seen how the same restrictions I faced continue to be a reality for many—barriers like fewer providers in rural areas, and the systemic inequities people of color face in this country’s healthcare system. That’s why I learned to organize and activate communities around me to advocate for our own and others’ reproductive freedom. I want to teach people what I learned at this year’s Reproductive Freedom for All activist summit so they can use their voices, fight back, and prevent others from experiencing the same roadblocks to care, as I did.”

In the coming months, as the midterm elections approach, Reproductive Freedom For All will continue working with members on the ground to provide them with the support they need to implement everything they learned at the Summit and deliver critical wins for reproductive freedom this November.

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For over 55 years, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for everybody. Reproductive Freedom for All is powered by its more than 4.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.