HerStory: Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice
Mission:
Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice (IVRJ) is an organization of interfaith and progressive voices working to create transformative theological narratives that center the moral authority of Black women and girls.
Vision:
A world where all Black women and girls’ moral authority is affirmed.
About:
As an education, advocacy, and research organization, IVRJ works with religious scholars, pastors, and ethicists to strengthen their grounding in reproductive justice and promote an analysis around religion and reproductive justice that builds a bridge between the secular advocacy community and the religious academy.
The other component of our work is to design and implement collaborative strategies that Black women can use to influence and shift policy. IVRJ is grounded in, committed to, and embodies reproductive justice theory and strategy; it the thread that runs through our organization.
HerStory:
In 2018, five Black women – Dr. Toni M. Bond, Dr. Dionne Bensonsmith, Charity Woods Barnes, Dr. Cynthia Greenlee, and Heidi Williamson- founded Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice (IVRJ) as a vehicle to gather the progressive interfaith movement at the intersection of religion and Reproductive Justice.
Founded to influence the progressive interfaith movement, we are the only national Black organization doing religious work through a reproductive justice lens, especially as it relates to the Black religious community. Our work with ethicists, scholars, and leaders isn’t just about abortion, but all of the challenges that prevent Black women and girls from having good reproductive and sexual health.
IVRJ follows a long legacy and history of resistance by Black women and girls.