Let’s Prepare for Action!

Although it seems far away, I’m already getting excited for Pennsylvania Planned Parenthood Advocates’ Day of Action on April 29^th, at the State Capital! I believe that we should always be fighting for women’s health rights, and this is one way to do that.

In Pennsylvania there are constantly attacks on women’s reproductive health care. There are currently two bills sitting in committees at the state legislature. One is an effort to defund Planned Parenthood. Another one was inspired by a recent legislation passed in Texas that requires abortion providers to have restrictive staffing arrangements at specific hospitals. It’s hard for me to comprehend that bills such as these are even given the time of day, let alone sitting in committees!

On the bright side, there is a package of bills that would actually do what bills should do: PROTECT and PROMOTE women’s health! Thankfully, the Pennsylvania Agenda for Women’s Heath has been introduced to change the conversation around women’s health in the PA legislature.

Obviously now is the time to join fellow supporters from all over PA in the fight against these bills passing! At the Day of Action we will urge the our legislators to oppose these direct violations of women’s rights and encourage them to turn their attention to legislations that will actually help Pennsylvanian women and their families!

Hope to see you there!

- Sena

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-planned-parenthood-day-of-action-tickets-10486333907

Condoms and Chocolate: An Ideal Combination

As a Resident Advisor, I know firsthand the variety of sexual activities that happen on college campuses. This month is especially full of those types of activities- it being Valentines Day and all. One event that my co-RA and I have planned is a safe sex/National condom week event around the 14th. We live in a first year residence hall and because many of our residents are younger, and on their own for the first time in their lives, we thought it was especially pertinent to remind them the importance of safe sex and consent.

Because of my involvement with Planned Parenthood, I am much more in touch with these types of events. Prior to interning at PPPA I wasn't ever aware that a National Condom Week existed. It appropriately falls around Valentines Day so obviously creating an event that coordinates both of these topics was a must-do for an RA. It surprises me how many of my residents are interested in talking about and learning more about safe sex. When I ran this event idea by a few of the residents in my hall they were excited about it. I suppose I was surprised because my general mindset is that people are at times uncomfortable talking about sex and sexuality. However, my residents have happily proven me wrong!

Besides, who isn't interested in coming to an event that talks about sex and simultaneously hands out chocolate?!

- Sena Agawu 

National Condom Week is February 14^th -21^st.