(Image: Renee Bracey Sherman. Source)

“Reproductive Justice can be used as a theory for thinking about how to connect the dots in our lives. It is also a strategy for bringing together social justice movements. But also, it is a practice-a way of analyzing our lives through the art of telling our stories to realize our visions and bring fresh passions to our work.” ~ Loretta Ross, “What Is Reproductive Justice?” (Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change)

Why is storytelling so powerful? Because it works. Before video, social media, and other media we use today, many of us remember listening to stories as children from our parents and grandparents. Stories resonate with us and helps us build powerful connections with others. Sharing our story also helps others to build compassion, especially when they haven’t had the same experience.

Storytelling isn’t something new when it comes to advancing Reproductive Justice. Testifying before political leaders, using social media, blogging, podcasting, or video, attending speak-outs, or simply sharing between close friends and loved ones are some examples of how storytelling can be used as an empowerment tool. And today’s exercise will hopefully do just that.

This exercise can be found in the We Are Brave Toolkit: Building Reproductive Autonomy and Voices for Equity, created by Western States Center (with a few adaptations from me). The exercise was co-authored by Karla Castaneda, Diego Hernandez, Oscar Tzintzun, and Rebecca Shine of Momentum Alliance in Portland, Oregon.

Here’s what you need:

• Sheets of paper to write on (or notepads)
• Writing utensils for each participant
• Flip chart paper and markers 
• Chairs arranged in a circle (or have the participants seated on the floor in a circle if they are able to)

The steps:

There are several parts to this exercise, but I’m focusing on the writing portion. The writing prompt given is

“I am from a body that…”

Using the prompt, spend 15 minutes or so sharing how Reproductive Justice connects with your identities. Being a young person, person of color, woman, trans person, person living with a mental health diagnosis, coming from a poor background, living in a “red” or flyover state, are just some identities we can write about.

Here’s a slight adaptation: In 2011, I spoke on a Congressional Black Caucus panel on on young women of color and reproductive health activism. I wasn’t sure how to craft speech. Jamia Wilson shared this process of connecting my personal story to current problems our communities are facing, and to the larger vision of a world we want:

• The Story of Me: Share your story of how Reproductive Justice connects with your identities (This is essentially the “I am from a body that…” prompt)
• The Story of Us: Share the current state of how reproductive injustices are impacting your communities using the prompts “We live in a world where…” or the prompt “When I look around my community, I see…”
• The Story of Now: Share your vision for reproductive freedom using the prompt “We will have reproductive justice when…”

After participants are finished writing, have them either share their stories either in small groups or with the larger group. Participants can choose to share their stories, or listen to everyone else who chooses to share.

Here’s another slight adaptation:

For smaller groups, have the group participants choose someone to be the transcriber and write on the flip chart paper. While participants are sharing their stories, have the other participants reflect back to them what resonated with them personally. The transcriber will summarize the reflections, writing key words, phrases, or drawings that represent what resonates with the group, and more. When each group is done, have the transcribers bring the flip chart papers to the front of the room so that participants can see the themes that connect each group together.

If participants are sharing in the larger group, you as the facilitator will be the transcriber. Once the sharing is done, highlight the themes that connect their stories.

As a closer to this exercise, have participants reflect on their experience with writing and storytelling. Writing and sharing may not come easy for some participants, and hopefully this will be an empowering and reflective exercise for them. Also, discuss other ways that writing and sharing can be used to advance Reproductive Justice. Try this exercise and let me know how it goes.