Madeline, Southeast PA

As one of the larger affiliates, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern PA has a lot of areas to reach and incredible numbers of supporters to gain. The thought of not only having to contact so many people, but also having to convince them of the importance of these two bills, was daunting at the beginning of this internship. Fortunately, we have all been able to meet people who need and appreciate our services, which have definitely made the large task at hand seem more manageable.

The sheer scale of our turf guarantees that we come into contact with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Witnessing the differences in attitudes and knowledge-levels about reproductive health has really highlighted the desperate need for comprehensive sex education in Pennsylvania, especially in Philadelphia. Last weekend we tabled at a local community fair in northern Philadelphia, and I can’t even count how many times I was asked, by adults, what is was that we were handing out (they were condoms). One man of about fifty looked at our “swag” and asked if we were handing out teabags. I was shocked; how could adults not recognize a male condom?

It isn’t just in inner-city neighborhoods where our services are needed, either. When Anna and I were canvassing in a pretty wealthy town we met a mother who was caring for her drug-addicted daughter’s four children. Before she allowed her grandchildren to see their mother again, this woman wanted her daughter to have a complete bill of health, and was extremely interested in the services Planned Parenthood could provide her. This goes to show that our services and advocacy efforts are not only needed in the poorer neighborhoods of large cities like Philadelphia, as I’m sure many assume, but in more affluent and seemingly “better off” areas as well.

Susquehanna Health Fair: Lisa, Southeast PA

So far in this internship, the most interesting people I have met were from tabling at the Susquehanna Health Fair on the campus of Temple University. In my experiences canvassing and phone banking, many women were incredibly pressed for time. While they politely answered questions and produced emails, these women always seemed to be in a rush to get back to their lives. At the health fair, however, life seemed to move along at a slower pace. Although most of the people who stopped by the table were uneducated about comprehensive sex ed and contraception, many were curious and took the time to stop and ask thorough questions. One woman grilled me about both of the bills, and another wanted to know why comprehensive sex ed is such a pressing issue. Most of the people at the health fair seemed to be impartial about sex ed, never before realizing its importance in their lives or in their communities. Despite this neutrality, few were apathetic. Upon hearing about the statistics of comprehensive versus abstinence only sex ed, many of them began to recall shortcomings of their own sex education and eagerly signed the petition. While there were few who came to the table already passionate about sex ed, it was incredibly interesting to witness people’s realizations about the importance of it.

Investing In Our Youth: Rachel, Western PA

Garfield is one of those neighborhoods that straddles the vague line between “safe” and “unsafe” parts of the city of Pittsburgh. On one street, pedestrians stride smartly along leafy sidewalks, and students crowd into bohemian coffee shops, and a few blocks away, 60-year-old row houses crumble into decrepitude.

Canvassing here is an adventure. On the late-June afternoon when we walked these streets, several times I raised my hand to knock at a house, matching the number to my list, only to find the door plastered with eviction notices, gas shut-offs, maybe even a formidable “CONDEMNED” sign that made me drop my hand and scrawl “moved” onto my paper.

Our grassroots organizing activities this summer are touched deeply by the current recession. We have encountered an unusual number of defunct addresses and phone numbers; leading us to disconnected phones, boarded-up houses, or confused new occupants bewildered by the names we ask for.

These constant reminders motivate me to work harder; in times of economic turmoil, the attention of the public and the politicians often drifts far from health and education. These fields are often painted as soft and insubstantial, at least compared with the meatier business of trade and finance. The Pennsylvania state budget has bowed to these perceptions, slashing dozens of valuable education and health programs.

Our work is even more vital in times like these. How can we ensure the continual viability of our country and its people? The answer is a little cliché, but no less critical for this: invest in our youth. Young people today need a full and honest – in a word, comprehensive – education to prepare them to be contributing members of society. Pennsylvania’s schools are denying students this preparation for life, robbing them of the education that will help them lead a healthy, safe sexual life. If our young people are not healthy, how can they revitalize our ailing economy?

A lot of people will tell me that this is a stretch; that connecting the Healthy Youth Act to our country’s economic well-being is a political wordgame. But our day canvassing in Garfield convinces me otherwise. From the 62-year old lady who described in a low voice the young people – the children, really – who were getting pregnant or contracting STDs in the neighborhood; to the 25-year old women with the 8-year old son who, this early in her career, is already playing catch-up, the people I talked to provided compelling evidence that comprehensive sex education is essential for our country’s well-being. And that’s worth knocking on a hundred empty houses.

Gemma, Northeast PA

Sarah and I just finished the third week of our internship and so far it’s been complicated but very rewarding. We’ve realized flexibility is one of the most important parts of grassroots organizing. For example, we planned to go door-to-door three times during our second week, but it rained almost every day and we were only able to canvass once. Instead, we made phone calls and switched around the day of our data entry. One of my favorite parts of the internship (and one of the most frustrating) is that you have to think on your feet and be ready for anything. We’re also discovering that the more challenging something is, the more rewarding it is. On our first day out, almost no one was home and we had a high number of refusals. However, when we got our first petition signed, it felt amazing.

So many people have been supportive. It is so wonderful going to someone’s door and hearing her personal reasons behind supporting Planned Parenthood and comprehensive sex education. This past week, I spoke to a school nurse who works in the Hazleton school district and she told me nearly 70 students in the high school were pregnant last year alone. She’s been struggling with the school for most of her career to put comprehensive sex education into the curriculum and was very supportive of Planned Parenthood’s work. Its women like her who makes me proud to intern for Planned Parenthood and to play a role in making a positive and lasting change for students in Pennsylvania.

Week 2: Juliana, Southeast PA

“This has been a disastrous first couple of weeks.” That’s what Madeline just said after the other Chester County interns and I spent the day cutting six turfs, not realizing that our list of doors somehow included EVERYONE who lived in the area as opposed to just our target (women aged 25-60). So we recycled hundreds of sheets of paper and are now starting over.

I’m learning that grassroots organizing is just that – messy, complicated, but also so important. It’s been frustrating learning how to use the computer programs, forgetting to enter data, getting lost canvassing – and yet we’ve received so much positive feedback for our efforts. We tabled at the gay pride parade in Philadelphia and got 250 petition signatures while also meeting some really enthusiastic people. Certain individuals have stuck with me: the 60 year old grandmother I phone banked who had never heard of Planned Parenthood, but after I explained the services we offer, replied, “Well…you’re just trying to help people, right? …Then of course I support you.” The young mother in the health center who looked us in the eyes and thanked us for our work. The woman who assured us that she had her legislator’s phone number on speed dial and would call him immediately to urge him to vote for our sex ed bills.

For every frustration, there has also been gratification, and that’s what makes this work so worth it.

The first two weeks...: Anna, Western PA

Anna D from Pittsburgh here, two weeks into my Grassroots Organizing Internship with PPWP. I am very excited with how much on-the-ground work Rachel and I have already done: three canvasses, a phone bank, and tabling at Pittsburgh’s Pride festival! Canvassing has been quite rewarding so far-- the vast majority of people I’ve spoken with have been very receptive and supportive. Pride fest was loads of fun (and everyone loved the free chapstick and colorful condoms), it was like tabling at a giant party! I’ve had a few surreal conversations (on the phone: “No, comprehensive sex education actually does not include handing out condoms at elementary schools…”), been seriously scared by some aggressive Rottweilers, and got several compliments on my YNT t-shirt. Based on the successes of these first few weeks, I am looking forward to a busy and productive summer!

Healthy Youth Summer 2009

Throughout this summer, thirteen PPPA interns spread throughout Pennsylvania will be blogging to tell the story of their grassroots organizing internship experiences.

Twelve interns have been placed around PA to gather active support for comprehensive sex education:

Anna D & Rachel in Western PA
Sarah W & Gemma in the Northeast
Michelle & Elissa in Central PA
Lisa, Juliana, Sarah P, Madeline, Anna M, & Clarissa in the Southeast.

One public affairs intern, Rhiannon, works in the state public affairs office in Harrisburg, the state capitol.