CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Sakinah Ahad Shannon & Marie Leaner
Community Unity Network 4 Transformation & Solidarity
Sakinah Ahad Shannon
In 1971, Sakinah Ahad Shannon discovered the Jane Collective, an underground abortion network in Chicago, while helping a friend find a safe abortion. She attended a counseling session and witnessed the critical support Jane provided. Sakinah immediately recognized how vital this work was for Black Women facing greater risks with unsafe procedures and joined the Jane Collective.
Community Unity Network 4 Transformation & Solidarity
Sakinah Ahad Shannon
Shannon began at Jane with intake counseling, speaking directly with women about their needs and concerns. She later trained to assist with and perform abortions. Aware of the legal risks, she continued because she believed in the necessity of the work. She transformed her South Side apartment into a space where women received medical care, counseling, and education about their reproductive health in a supportive and safe environment.
Community Unity Network 4 Transformation & Solidarity
Sakinah Ahad Shannon
After Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, Shannon expanded her efforts in reproductive healthcare. In time, Sakinah created SABS Medical Group, named with the initials of Sakinah and her three children, and ran several abortion clinics on the South Side of Chicago. The group’s staff was diverse and dedicated. SABS Medical Group thrived for 10 years, but eventually the stresses of the crack epidemic that shook Black Communities across the country, changed things for her. she realized she could no longer offer the abortion services in the way she wanted to. She closed the clinics and switched fields to care for people experiencing addiction. Still, decades later, Sakinah’s contributions to abortion liberation endure.
Marie Leaner played a key role in Chicago’s grassroots movements. She was active with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Chicago Women's Liberation Union, connecting women to safe abortion services through Jane and using her home as a meeting space when needed. Leaner also worked with the Chicago Department of Children and Family Services advocating for policies that strengthened Black families. Community Unity Network 4 Transformation & Solidarity
Marie Leaner
Marie Leaner
Leaner focused on expanding access to quality care and addressing inequities in public institutions. Her advocacy linked reproductive justice to economic stability, housing security, and educational equity, all of which are essential for individuals to exercise true autonomy over their lives. Without these foundational supports, the ability to make autonomous decisions is severely limited. Leaner’s advocacy emphasized building intersectional networks. She understood that reproductive freedom relies on strong, resilient communities that support individuals in making decisions about their bodies and futures.
Radical Care
Shannon’s and Leaner’s work and community organizing embodied radical care. Their stories are a testament on how racism, sexism, and economic inequality intersect to limit Black Women and Black Gender Non Conforming People’s freedom. Their activism revealed that reproductive justice cannot be disentangled from broader struggles against systemic oppression as barriers to healthcare are often compounded by financial and racial discrimination. Shannon and Leaner actively integrated reproductive rights into their broader community struggles. In the aftermath of the 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, Shannon and Leaner offer critical lessons to guide us through continuing the fight for RJ.
Community Unity Network 4 Transformation & Solidarity
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ARC-Southeast
Did you know we have our own reproductive justice organization led by Black Women and GenderExpansive People in our own backyard? ARCSoutheast is based in the South & provides vital support for individuals seeking reproductive healthcare, including abortion. ARC-Southeast helps people navigate barriers by offering financial assistance, practical support like transportation and lodging, and connecting individuals to compassionate healthcare providers. Community Unity Network 4 Transformation & Solidarity
ARC-Southeast
ARC-Southeast also provides free Plan B at Plan B outposts across the city, ensuring emergency contraception is accessible to those who need it most. In addition, they distribute abortion aftercare packs, offering essential supplies and information to
