2024 New Orleans Fall Celebration Program

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024

A LETTER FROM OUR CO-CHAIRS Dear Friends, We are so grateful to each of you for supporting this year’s New Orleans Fall Celebration and for standing with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast in the fight for reproductive freedom. Both of us have witnessed firsthand the impact Planned Parenthood has had on our community, and it is heartening to see this community return the support.

We hope this evening of reflection, celebration, and camaraderie brings you inspiration and a sense of unity as we ensure every Louisianian has access to the high-quality health care they need and deserve – no matter what.

For 40 years now, Planned Parenthood has been on the frontlines of the fight for compassionate, inclusive health care and education in Louisiana. Your support tonight helps ensure PPGC’s mission continues here for the next 40 years and beyond. Thank you all for joining us, and a special thank you to our incredible committees and sponsors who made this evening possible.

With gratitude,

Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran 2024 Co-Chair

Katherine Bickford 2024 Co-Chair

40 YEARS MOVING FORWARD This year, Planned Parenthood celebrates 40 years of caring, educating, and advocating for our Louisiana community. Our theme, “40 Years Moving Forward,” honors our past and charts a course for our future. Over four decades, Planned Parenthood has evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of our community, all thanks to the unwavering support of advocates like you.

As we reflect on a remarkable journey, we recognize the strides we’ve made in advancing reproductive health and rights while acknowledging the relentless political opposition we still face. With each passing year, we grow stronger and more committed to our mission.

Moving forward, we are guided by the lessons of the past and fueled by the vision of a future where everyone can access the health care they need and make informed choices about their bodies and lives. With optimism and resilience, we move forward together toward a brighter, more equitable future for all.

TONIGHT’S PROGRAM WELCOME

Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran and Katherine Bickford 2024 New Orleans Fall Celebration Co-Chairs

SECOND CENTURY AWARD PRESENTATION: HONORING CECILE RICHARDS Melaney A. Linton President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast

FIRESIDE CHAT: AN INTIMATE DISCUSSION WITH LOUISIANA LEADERS Nancy Davis Patient Storyteller & Reproductive Health Advocate

Kaitlyn Joshua Patient Storyteller & Reproductive Health Advocate Moderator: Lauren Collins Peterson Author & Speechwriter

40 YEARS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD: AFFILIATE UPDATE

Petrice Sams-Abiodun, PhD Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast

SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE Sunni Patterson Poet

FORWARD TO THE FUTURE: CLOSING REMARKS Isabella Parise and Amber Bonner Planned Parenthood Young Leaders

SECOND CENTURY AWARD Cecile Richards is a lifelong activist for women’s rights and economic justice. She is a co-chair of American Bridge 21st Century and the co-founder of Charley, a chatbot that provides information about abortion options in every zip code in the United States. She is also the author of The New York Times bestseller “Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead.”

As president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund for 12 years, Cecile helped expand access to reproductive health care, including abortion. She led the organization into its second century, innovating to help patients get the care they need through the technology they use every day, expanding access to preventive care and no-copay birth control under the Affordable Care Act, and investing in a new generation of activists and leaders.

With Cecile at the helm, Planned Parenthood successfully defeated politically motivated attempts to block millions of women, men, and young people from care and grew their supporter base from 2.5 million people to nearly 12 million.

After beginning her career as a labor organizer working with women earning the minimum wage, she went on to start grassroots organizations including the Texas Freedom Network and America Votes and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. In 2019, she co-founded Supermajority, an organization dedicated to making women the most revered and respected voting bloc in the country. She was twice named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.

PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS

SECOND CENTURY AWARD: Sallie Morian (2024); The Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge (2024); Tamara Kreinin (2023); Elena Marks (2023); PPGC Hand Holders (2022); PPGC Frontline Health Care Staff (2021); Lillie Robertson, Beth Robertson, & Cullen Geiselman (2020); Melanie Gray (2019); The Clayton Family (2018) LEGACY CIRCLE HONOREES: Louella Breedlove, Betty Lou Carter, Abby Ray Catledge, Richard Colt, Peter J. Durkin, Flora Fenner, Tina Freeman, Karen Ostrum George, Melanie Gray, Susan Gundlach, Dr. Holley Galland Haymaker, Peggy Heaton, Burdine Clayton Johnson, Rosa Keller, Wendy Wallace Kelsey, Caroline Weiss Law, Susan McAshan, The Rev. W. Stewart MacColl, Nancy McGregor Manne, Neal Manne, Peggy Neuhaus, Hanni Sr. Orton, Joan C. Penniman, Genevieve Peterkin, Nancy Peterkin, Dee Dee Reilly, Mimi Robinson Rose, Gwyn W. Smith, Eleanor Tinsley, Phyllis Van Kerrebrook, Isabel Brown Wilson

TONIGHT’S PANELISTS NANCY DAVIS Nancy Davis is a passionate advocate for reproductive justice and maternal health whose activism is driven by her personal experiences and a deep commitment to social change. A Louisiana native and proud mom, daughter, and fiancée, Nancy began her journey into advocacy after being denied lifesaving health care, which inspired her to speak out against systemic inequities, particularly for Black women. She has since become a leading voice in the fight for reproductive rights, organizing rallies and testifying in legislative hearings.

Nancy has engaged with influential figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden.

As the founder of the Nancy Davis Foundation, Nancy is committed to bridging gaps in reproductive health care and championing the rights of individuals across Louisiana. Nancy also serves on the National Leadership Council for Dignity Grows, combating period poverty.

Her advocacy has earned her numerous accolades, including the RBG Fierce Advocacy on Behalf of Women Award presented by Lift Louisiana, the 2024 Foundation for Louisiana Legacies That Live On Award, and, most recently, the Advocacy Award from The Brigid Alliance.

KAITLYN JOSHUA Kaitlyn Joshua is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is married to Landon Joshua and is mother to Lauryn and Liam. She has worked in the environmental justice (Earthworks) and voting rights space (the Power Coalition), with a focus on restoring the rights of formerly incarcerated individuals in Louisiana. In the fall of 2022, Kaitlyn and her husband found themselves trying to navigate a health care crisis in a post-Roe Louisiana when Kaitlyn was denied care at two hospitals in her area while experiencing a miscarriage at 11 weeks pregnant. Finally, she was seen by a third hospital, where it was confirmed she was indeed having a miscarriage but would not be able to get the care she deserved because of the state’s abortion ban. Using her experience in organizing and advocacy, Kaitlyn took it upon herself to speak out and shed light on the issues of abortion access through the lens of Black maternal health. Now, she works with abortion advocacy organizations and campaigns to highlight the need for reproductive justice in the Deep South.

Kaitlyn recently received Young, Gifted and Green’s 40 Under 40 Award for Black maternal health and Glamour Magazine’s Woman of the Year Award.

MODERATOR: LAUREN COLLINS PETERSON Lauren is a writer, political strategist, and the co-author of The New York Times bestseller “Make Trouble” with Cecile Richards. She worked on the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and served as senior writer and advisor at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She is currently writing a book about LGBTQ+ family building, “This Will All Be Worth It,” to be published in 2025. She lives in Brooklyn with her wife, Liz, and their son, Remy.

PPGC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Pam Reiland, Chair Cathy Coleman, Vice Chair Victoria Ramos, Treasurer Juliet McBride, Secretary Lindsay Reeves, Development Committee Chair Robin O’Neil, Immediate Past Chair Belinda Lewis Batiste Lisa Coffin Mariella De Alba Ortiz Tiffany Echevarria

Micah Fincher Fatima Hassan Ali Angela Jones Rashmi Kudesia, MD Verniss McFarland Swati Narayan Michael Reeder Takema Robinson Erin Mincberg Spiegel Rochelle Tafolla

EVENT COMMITTEE Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran, Co-Chair Katherine Bickford, Co-Chair Jane Bertrand Marie Cahn Carlie Cintrón Yvonne Garrett Michele Goldfarb Lindsay Reeves

Swati Shah Melanie Sheen Glenda Spears Pamela Steeg Lorraine Thien Linda Usdin Danielle Wright

MOTHER-CHILD HOST COMMITTEE Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran & Katherine Bickford 2024 Event Co-Chairs Cecile Richards & Hannah Adams 2024 Honorary Co-Chairs Nancy Aronson & Beth Lavin Maggie Baccinelli & Ruby Mendis Judy Barrasso & Ashley Barriere & Jennifer Barriere Jane Bertrand and Katherine Bertrand Jane Billings & Taylor Billings Susan Cooper & Kelly Pickett & Brooke Pickett Joia Crear-Perry, MD & Jade Below Elizabeth Cropp & Isabelle Cropp Katie Darling & Remy Darling-Huntington Evelyn Odoms & Alanah Odoms & Élan Jolie Hebert Aimee Farnet & Sara Siegel Ouida Forsyth & Britain Forsyth Susan Good & Caroline Good Kendra Hensen & Kasmine Hensen Susan Hess & Audrey Hess Helaine Higgins Benjamin & Mary Beth Benjamin

Ellen Kempner & Emily Sucherman Ruth Kullman & Read Kullman & Dr. Ginny Kullman Annie LaRock & Sarah LaRock Cielo Monrose & Marisol Getchel Naomi Orlansky & Shana Orlansky & Blair Orlansky Pearlia Thomas & Latasha Branscomb Ozrenka Popovic & Misa Eiritz Katie Rafferty & Barkley Rafferty Gwendolyn Redman & Megan Redman Dr. Alisha Reed & Morris Reed, III Timolynn Sams & Jaxon Sumter Petrice Sams-Abiodun & Oluremi Abiodun Pamela Steeg & Merrill Steeg Jackie Tate & Zakkiya Tate Ann Thompson & Siobhan Thompson Linda Usdin & Anya Bingler & Josie Bingler Julie Wise Oreck & Sophie Oreck Beverly Wright & Danielle Wright Jayne Weiss, MD & Alana Weiss-Nydorf Elly Zakris & Arielle Zakris

EVENT SPONSORS

Audubon Fertility Anonymous Nancy J. Aronson & Virginia Besthoff Barbara Arras Dr. Judith Barnes-Cochran Judy Barrasso & Brent Barriere Helaine & Mary Beth Benjamin Jane Bertrand Jane Besthoff Steiner Taylor & Jane Billings Steven Bingler & Dr. Linda Usdin Marie Cahn Rosalind Cook Susan Cooper Robin & Bruce Crutcher Angela Cryer Annette Cumming Holley Pavy DeBlois & John M. DeBlois Foundation at Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana Maria Elliott & Michael Kuhn Jennifer Fallon Aimee Farnet Siegel Jessica Fass Fierce Advocacy Fund & Ellen Solms Micah Fincher Diana Fisher Ouida Forsyth Laurie & Jason Frank Allison Freeman Yvonne Garrett Marilyn McConnell & Jody Gates Kendall Genre Cathy Glaser Melissa & Joey Glass Michele Goldfarb Susan Good Caroline & Jeff Good Seth Harris & Julie Schwam Harris Holley Haymaker Shannon & Eric Holtzman Virginia Horner Sarah Hunter Jeanette Jaffe Lisa Keleher Rosalind Hinton & Tamara Kreinin

Susan Lizbeth Krinsky Ruth Kullman Suzy Lamore Sally & James Lapeyre Anne K. LaRock Gay LeBreton Belinda Lewis Batiste Katia Lindor Greg Lucas Sallye Marcus & Bill Kaufman Melissa Mason Gordon Emilee Masters Elizabeth & Willy Monaghan Tracey Moore Helena Moreno Paige Morrison Leann Moses Michele P. Mullin Margaret Neuse Kimberly O’Brien Julie Oreck Larry & Naomi Orlansky Kim Page Deborah Peters John Pojman Felicia Rabito Lindsay Reeves Pam Reiland Stephen & Sandy Rosenthal Dionne Rousseau & John Pojman Madalyn Schenk Swati Shah Melanie Sheen Jane Sizeler Pamela & Robert Steeg Joanna Sternberg Lorraine Thien Kim Tubre Kim Tuleu Melanee & Steve Usdin Priya Velu Audrey Wascome Jayne Weiss Danielle Wright Janice C. Taylor Margaret Neuse

OUR VISION

Planned Parenthood seeks a world in which all children are wanted and cared for, all individuals have equal rights and dignity, sexuality is expressed with honesty, equality, and responsibility, and the decision to bear children is private and voluntary.

OUR MISSION

The mission of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast is to ensure the right and ability of all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health by providing health services, education, and advocacy.

@ppgulfcoast

www.ppgulfcoast.org