— Hills & Valleys: A refection on the ongoing battles for bodily autonomy
Capitol V
— Art and the Power Dynamic of Women’s Bodies and State Governments
Abortion Access Update
PPWI in Community:
— Mingle
— Back to School Bash
— G.E.T. Fresh!
Hills & Valleys
A large-scale sculpture by Artist/Activist Niki Johnson
Dear amazing friends,
You, Me, Together, Us.
We are a magnificent multi-generational collective — a family of sorts — with an unflagging dedication to the Planned Parenthood mission. You are integral to a 90-year history underpinned by signature resolve. It is your resolve in this very moment that cradles and uplifts friends, communities, and this collective through the easy and through the hard. You absolutely, positively, and magnificently stand as the mission’s radiant pillars of strength for whom I am deeply grateful.
As we look ahead to a new year, it’s empowering to recognize that 2025 officially marks the beginning of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s
90th anniversary. Nine decades of unrelenting challenges, hurdles, hills and valleys, that have strengthened resolve and stalwart dedication. Through it all, the PPWI mission has remained vibrant because of you. You’ve made certain that every Wisconsinite — no matter their zip code, immigration status, sexual orientation, or income level — has access to the sexual and reproductive health care and education they deserve. Thank you.
While the challenges we’ve faced during 90 years of service are too numerous to count, we have reached this milestone together focusing on the many, many triumphs. In a world that often feels heavy with uncertainty, it’s natural to experience a wide range of emotions, including fear. Yep, there it is, I said it: FEAR.
Strength Over Fear
I believe it’s essential to acknowledge fear so we can move forward with purpose and clarity. When we confront our fears, we re-center ourselves in the extraordinary resilience of this movement, one that has thrived for 90 years.
Together, we have led from a place of love and have consistently chosen to center Strength Over Fear — a choice that has propelled this mission forward in the face of daunting obstacles.
Moments Matter
During PPWI’s 80th-anniversary luncheon, Gloria Steinem shared words that continue to resonate: “Make the moment matter as you never know what moment will matter.”
At that same celebration, internationally acclaimed Artist Niki Johnson was honored with the prestigious PPWI Voices Award for her unwavering advocacy and powerful voice. In her acceptance, Johnson unveiled her latest work at the time, Hills & Valleys, a poignant reflection on the stakes for women’s rights as the nation approached the fall of 2016.
Hills & Valleys (featured on the cover) is a large-scale sculpture constructed from the aluminum signage of the five Planned Parenthood health centers in Wisconsin that were defunded and closed under former Governor Scott Walker’s administration. Nearly every square inch of those signs was repurposed, creating a sculptural image of a woman’s hips, groin, and thighs. Atop the pubic mound is a mirrored vajazzle of the U.S. Capitol — a powerful nod to the ongoing political battles over bodily autonomy.
Strength Over Fear was the force that allowed Planned Parenthood to begin providing abortion care in the 1980s, answering the urgent need for compassionate, expert care.
It was Strength over Fear that fortified us in 1992, when anti-abortion activists attempted to shut down our health center during the “Summer of Mercy.” We honor the women and men who literally linked arms, risking their safety to protect patients and their right to access care.
It is Strength over Fear that inspired you to fund the vibrant, visible Water Street Health Center in Milwaukee — a beacon of care, not hidden behind walls, rather standing proud.
When PPWI lost all Title X funds, it was Strength over Fear and your generosity that kept the mission going, ensuring essential health care services and education continued despite the loss. It was this same strength that inspired Artist Niki Johnson to repurpose the signs from the defunded PPWI health centers, creating her empowering “Hills & Valleys” sculpture. Her work (featured on the cover) stands as a powerful symbol of resilience — of how we rise in the face of setbacks.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Strength over Fear is what compelled PPWI staff to show
up, providing essential care even before we fully understood the disease, long before vaccines were available.
And when abortion services were suspended after the fall of Roe, it was Strength over Fear that maintained the PPWI infrastructure and fueled the courageous decisions to provide access to care across state lines. Our staff worked tirelessly, traveling to Illinois in all conditions to meet the needs of patients.
Today, with abortion care restored in Wisconsin, it is Strength over Fear that continues to guide us, not waiting for yet another legal battle rather doing what is right for patients, here and now.
As we kick off this 90th year, let’s take a moment to pause and acknowledge any fear we may feel — it’s real. Yet when we look back on our history, we see that Strength and Love are always greater than fear. You, Me, Together, Us.
We define Strength and Love. We are Strength. We are Love
Tanya
Johnson sourced these mirrors from Hobby Lobby, a company that won a 2014 Supreme Court case allowing corporations to deny employees birth control coverage on religious grounds. Behind the figure, a quilt star pattern known as “Sarah’s Choice” serves as a backdrop, integrating traditional women’s craft and evoking the legacy of our foremothers who laid the groundwork for reproductive rights.
Since the unveiling of Hills & Valleys, Johnson has continued to recognize and respond to pivotal moments in our movement. She transformed the sculpture’s powerful visual into posters and stickers bearing the call to action, “Tear Us Down, We Rise.” These images quickly became iconic, seen at women’s marches across the country, rallying thousands with their bold message of resilience.
As Tanya writes in her letter, Strength over Fear has been a guiding force for Planned Parenthood throughout its 90-year history. Niki Johnson’s Hills & Valleys embodies this ethos — standing as a reminder that in the face of every hill, every valley, and every attempt to silence us, we continue to rise. No matter what.
Thank you, Niki, for capturing the urgency of the moment and for creating work that has galvanized women across the country, strengthening this movement with each step forward.
Follow Tanya Atkinson on Facebook and LinkedIn
Atkinson, President & CEO
Texas State Capitol: Texas is one of the most abortionrestrictive states. Prior to the fall of Roe, Texas enacted SB 8 which virtually bans all abortions after five or six weeks. The law also empowers private citizens to file civil suit against anyone “aiding and abetting” an abortion. One study showed that maternal mortality rates increased in Texas by 56 percent from 2019 to 2022, compared to 11percent nationwide.1
Mississippi State Capitol: Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health was the case heard by the US Supreme Court, deciding the fate and fall of Roe — and ended the constitutional right to abortion across the country. Mississippi continues to be one of the most restrictive states. A 2024 study ranked Mississippi last for women’s health and reproductive care outcomes.2
Vermont State Capitol: In 2022, the people of Vermont overwhelming voted to pass Proposal 5 which enshrined abortion rights into the state constitution. A total of 13 states have passed voter-led referendums to either expand or protect access — including 7 of 10 states during the 2024 fall election.3
Capitol V
— The Power Dynamic of Women’s Bodies and State Governments
Internationally recognized Artist Niki Johnson has long approached her art as activism, creating such works as Justice in Repose (RBG), a statement on the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg; and Eggs Benedict, a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI constructed of 17,000 colored condoms, now part of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s permanent collection.
Her stunning sculpture Hills & Valleys graces the cover of this issue and makes a powerful statement about the politicization of reproductive rights. (You can read more about this work on page 2.)
Johnson’s most recent series Capitol V was developed over nine years as federal protections of reproductive rights were being eroded and state level abortion restrictions increased across the US.
Johnson says Capitol V was created “to draw focus to the negotiation of power between women’s bodies and state governments across our nation. It exists as a reminder that it is we who hold the power.”
The series includes all 56 State and US Territory capitol buildings patterned in Swarovski Crystal. Each features an embedded clitoris at the base of the capitol steps, feminizing these often-domed capitol buildings — situating equity and pleasure in the halls of power.
“I believe humor and joy are important activities in maintaining resilience. Vajazzle, as a form of sexual fetishism and a visual language, is inherently playful and irreverent. There is power in privacy and self-exploration, and healthy sexual expression should empower whomever is involved.”
Each crystal capitol appears to float over an image of a “virgin” landscape. These landscapes capture the natural beauty of each state and territory, juxtaposing the manicured and the untamed, the governed and the wild.
“Our nation is born through our bodies, so how and when this nation is built is ours to decide. Decisions about access to abortion, birth control, hormone therapy, and IVF have no place in the state house. Our physical autonomy, identity, and personal freedoms are fundamental human rights,” says Johnson.
Read more about Niki Johnson and her work artwork at NikiJohnson.com.
Left Inset: Three pieces from the Capitol V Series, representing states that played a significant role in shaping the national abortion landscape. Abortion laws vary widely across the nation in a post-Roe world — creating confusion, hardship, and undue burden on patients in need of care. In 2023, an estimated 171,000 people had to cross state lines to access abortion care.3
In June of 2022, the US Supreme Court issued the Dobbs decision, which overruled the nearly 50-year federal constitutional right to abortion that was established in Roe v. Wade. Without a federal constitutional right to abortion, the right to access abortion was effectively turned over to the states. In Wisconsin, the legal uncertainty surrounding our 1849 law forced abortion providers to suspend care within the state until a Wisconsin court ruled on the applicability of the law.
Almost immediately after the Dobbs decision, Wisconsin Attorney General (AG) Josh Kaul and Governor Tony Evers challenged the enforceability of the 1849 law in court. In July of 2023, a Dane County court issued a preliminary ruling that the law does not apply to consensual medical abortion. The Court issued a final ruling in December of 2023. These decisions allowed PPWI to resume abortion services in Milwaukee, Madison, and Sheboygan. Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski appealed that ruling directly to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Court granted that petition and heard oral arguments in the AG’s lawsuit on November 11, 2024.
PPWI’s Original Action:
PPWI filed a lawsuit in February 2024 asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to find that the Wisconsin Constitution guarantees the right to bodily autonomy, including the right to access and provide abortion care. The Wisconsin Supreme Court accepted PPWI’s case and granted the petition in July of 2024. The next step in PPWI’s case is for the Court to schedule oral arguments.
FAQ:
Why didn’t Wisconsin have an abortion rights referendum on the fall ballot?
During the November presidential election, abortion rights initiatives appeared on the ballot in ten states. PPWI is often asked what prevents Wisconsin from doing the same. The simple fact is that — since the founding of Wisconsin in 1848 — the state constitution does not permit Wisconsin citizens to bypass the role of the Legislature in amending the constitution or enacting laws. State constitutions in other states, such as Florida and Nebraska, allow for citizen-initiated constitutional amendment referenda.
After the fall of Roe, Governor Evers called a special session of the Legislature to consider an amendment to the state constitution allowing voters to petition for statewide referendums. During the special session, the Legislature convened for approximately 11 seconds — with no consideration of the proposal.
Wisconsin law only permits a referendum if it passes during two consecutive legislative sessions in Wisconsin. This process would take approximately three to four years with a favorable legislature.
Supporters Gather in Community
Planned Parenthood supporters gathered at 2024 Mingle events in Appleton, Madison, and Milwaukee. The events featured local and nationally recognized reproductive health care and advocacy speakers to inform guests about the state of reproductive health care and abortion access two years post Dobbs.
Speakers included Dr. Jamila Perritt, President and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health who spoke in Appleton about the fall of Roe and its impact on communities of color and health equity. In Madison, Amelia Bonow, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Shout Your Abortion shared information about the organization’s work to destigmatize abortion and elevate the many voices who have stepped into their power to publicly share their personal abortion stories. In Milwaukee, Dr. Gazaleh Moayedi, an OB-GYN and Abortion Provider from Texas shared her experiences and observations of providing care in one of the most restrictive states in the US — noting that Wisconsin rivals many of Texas’ draconian delay measures.
Sarah Noble, Principal Partner of the Be Noble Group, spoke at all three events about reproductive justice, and the call to move from “safe spaces” to “brave spaces” — places that decry perfection, and acknowledge our shortcomings as humans — to move the work forward in meaningful ways. To illustrate, Sarah closed her remarks by sharing a poem inviting us to gather together in brave spaces.
Invitation to Brave Space
“Untitled Poem by Beth Strano” (Interpreted by By Micky ScottBey Jones) Together we will create brave space, Because there is no such thing as a “safe space,”
We exist in the real world,
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space,
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere.
We call each other to more truth and love.
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect. This space will not be perfect. It will not always be what we wish it to be
But...
It will be our brave space together, and
We will work on it side by side.
&
BASH BACK TO SCHOOL G.E.T. FRESH!
Back-to-school events center health equity, community, and fun!
The 3rd annual Back to School Bash was held at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s Northwest (Milwaukee) Community Center, providing 375 backpacks to students from the surrounding area. The center’s parking lot was converted to a family-friendly mini-carnival with a DJ, facepainting, balloon art, a kid-run lemonade stand, carnival games, blow-up basketball, a video game bus, and lunch. The Milwaukee Police and Fire Departments were at the Bash, providing community members with fire safety and crime prevention information.
Inside the Community Center, partners from Familia Dental, CHORUS, Progressive Community Health Center, Children’s Wisconsin, Food for Health, Covering Wisconsin, and Wraparound Milwaukee came together for a resource fair. The Holton Street Clinic provided rapid HIV and syphilis tests, while Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin had a table staffed by a Patient Navigator and health center staff.
In La Crosse, PPWI sponsored its first G.E.T. (Getting Everyone Together) Fresh! Back to School Readiness Event, where 123 backpacks with supplies were given out. Students were also offered free haircuts or hair-braiding by one of the volunteer stylists on site that day. Breakfast and lunch were provided by Beer by Bike Brigade, Bikers Against Child Abuse and the Franciscan Sisters of Adoration anti-racism team.
The resource fair at G.E.T. Fresh! featured New Horizons, WAFER, Habitat for Humanity, La Crosse Public Library, RHYMES, The Nature Place, Great Rivers 211, YWCA, Hope Restores, La Crosse Public School District, and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
PPWI is dedicated to serving communities — as we listen and learn, build trust, and address the community’s needs beyond PPWI services. Staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners came together to make these events happen and foster PPWI’s mission to empower communities to be safe, healthy, and strong.
302 N. Jackson Street Milwaukee, WI 53202
Pillars of Strength Giving
Please consider a gift to fuel the mission’s 90th year. Every single gift creates a ripple effect of support throughout the state.
Thank you for your strength. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your generosity.
Visit supportppwi.org or scan this code.
https://qrco.de/Winter-24
Listen on Spotify
Child — The Five Stairsteps
A Thing — Stevie Wonder
Worry
Affair — Mary J. Blige
Thing — Shonn Hinton
— Jill Scott
Natural Woman — Aretha Franklin, Ralph Burns
Know That You Are Loved — Cleo Sol
God is a Woman — Ariana Grande Woman — Raheem DeVaughn I Am Light — India.Arie
Freedom Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar
Citizens Alice Russell You’re Not Alone — Allison Russell, Brandi Carlile
“When I think about family and my womanhood in terms of my relationship with myself and others, songs like these come to mind. Tune in, as they honor and celebrate femininity, individuality, and community; values demonstrated by PPWI within its 90 years of service to people of all kinds, everywhere. Thanks!”
DJ DRiPSweat captures the artistry of the playlist in her latest PPWI curation and shares her thoughts:
