A LETTER FROM OUR CO-CHAIRS

Dear friends,

We are so grateful to each of you for joining us at the Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, 2023 Baton Rouge Spring Event! Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast has been providing care to our community for 40 years and with your help we hope to see their work continue for another 40 years.

Over the past year, we have seen regressive and hateful laws introduced and adopted at all levels of government across the country. But in those same communities, we have seen resilient resistance. Every book that has been banned has been thrown on a fire of building rage, and every voice that has been silenced has been added to the sounds of protest shouts pounding at the doors of government and demanding justice.

We have seen what courageous communities can do, and we know that our community is brimming with courage. We hope this event inspires that courage to action.

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast is a courageous organization at the front lines of the fight for accessible and inclusive health care and education. Thank you for your support of this event and this organization, and a special thank you to our incredible committee and sponsors who made this event possible.

With Courage,

Debby Apcar Laneceya Russ

Courageous

For this year’s event we wanted a theme that recognized the alarming wave of opposition we are facing but embodied the strength of our community. We settled on one powerful word. Courageous.

COURAGEOUS encompasses all of the elements we need in our fight for a better, more equitable future.

Courage gives us the strength to defend our community and our rights even when our adversaries are relentless.

Rage pushes us to continue fighting no matter how long or challenging the battle may be.

And finally, the US. The power of our movement lies in the power of our people. Together, we will continue this fight until we realize a world where everyone is in control of their reproductive health, lives, and futures.

We hope that this evening of solidarity and celebration inspires you to be courageous with us as we boldly fight for the future our community deserves.