The Supreme Court began a new term and one of the items on the docket is an abortion case that challenges a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks. To discuss, we SPOTLIGHT Julie F. Kay. An experienced and passionate advocate for equality, attorney Kay is an expert on women's human rights domestically and internationally. Her initiatives include litigation, policy work and public speaking to increase support for access to reproductive rights and religious freedom. Kay is the co-author with Kathryn Kolbert of Controlling Women: What We Must Do Now to Save Reproductive Freedom. Media includes: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Slate, LA Times, The Guardian, WNYC.
A federal judge has granted the Justice Department's request to put a pause on the Texas law that would ban abortion across the state. To discuss, we FEATURE Shivana Jorawar. Jorawar is a lawyer and policy advocate and, currently served as the State Legislative Counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights where she managed their defensive state advocacy initiatives. Prior to joining the Center, she was the Federal Policy Director for the National Abortion Federation where she developed and executed federal policy strategy to further NAF’s priorities and position as a leading voice in the reproductive rights movement. Media includes: Associated Press, The Prospect, The Nation, The Hill.
The Washington Post, in collaboration with The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) recently published the "Pandora Papers"—documents that lay out where and how the world's richest people are hiding money. To discuss, we FEATURE Juliette Kayyem. Kayyem is currently the Robert and Renee Belfer Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where she is Faculty Director of the Homeland Security Project and the Security and Global Health Project. She has spent over 15 years managing complex policy initiatives and organizing government responses to major crises in both state and federal government. Media includes: The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, MSNBC, CNN, NPR.
This week Frances Haugen revealed that she is the Facebook whistleblower. Haugen spoke to the Senate Commerce Committee about how Facebook has been putting profits before public safety especially in regards to how Instagram has been harmful to young users. To discuss, we FEATURE Sarah Granger. Granger has more than 25 years of experience working at the intersection of technology, media and government. She is an award-winning digital media innovator and bestselling author of The Digital Mystique: How the Culture of Connectivity Can Empower Your Life – Online and Off. Her work focuses on issues related to innovation, digital politics, cybersecurity, online privacy, technology accessibility, and open democracy. In 2011, Sarah founded the Center for Technology, Media & Society, dedicated to educating, informing and connecting stakeholders around converging topics like transparent e-government, high-tech workplace flexibility, and gender bias online. Media includes: Forbes, Spectrum, The Huffington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, PBS.
As the infrastructure bill continues to be debated in Congress, the topic of eldercare—which is mentioned in the bill along with childcare and climate—has come up. To discuss, we FEATURE Bobbie Sackman. Sackman is a leading expert on issues facing the elderly and a well-known advocate for the importance of providing community-based senior services to diverse populations. Bobbie spent 10 years delivering direct services to the elderly, including a stint as Director of a senior center in Brooklyn, NY. She also served as a Legislative Analyst in the NYC Office of Management and Budget. Media includes: The New York Times, New York Daily News, NPR.
The CDC has released its guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 during the holidays. To discuss, we FEATURE Dr. Valda Crowder. Dr. Crowder is a board-certified emergency medicine physician who uniquely blends clinical knowledge with public health and business acumen. Dr. Crowder has worked nationally and developed policy that is presently a part of today’s Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act legislation and Affordable Health Care Act. She has had 30 years of experience as a board-certified emergency medicine physician. She has provided medical care in three pandemics (COVID-19, HIV, tuberculosis), gun violence incidents, a mass shooting associated with the US Postal Service and category four hurricane Maria in 2017. Outside of her medical practice, Dr. Crowder holds webinars to answer the public's questions about COVID-19. Media includes: The Baltimore Times, The Dallas Examiner, NPR.
The Guardian recently published an op-ed about how the U.S. criminal justice system needs a feminist overhaul in order to properly handle sexual asssault cases. To discuss, we FEATURE Justine Andronici. Andronici is a feminist lawyer and victim’s rights and women’s rights advocate. Her work focuses on gender based violence, discrimination, and progressive politics. Andronici has represented thousands of survivors of violence and abuse in her 18 year legal career, including several high profile survivors of Jerry Sandusky’s child sexual abuse. Now, in addition to representing survivors in very select civil cases, Andronici works as a trainer and strategic consultant for non-profit women’s rights and victim’s advocacy organizations. Media includes: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Bloomberg Law, Ms. Magazine, NPR.
Monday is Indigenous Peoples' Day and to commemorate, we FEATURE Sarah Deer. Deer is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma and a professor at the University of Kansas, where she has a dual appointment in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Department and the School of Public Affairs and Administration. Her scholarship focuses on the intersection of Federal Indian law and feminism, with a focus on violence against Native women. Media includes: The New York Times, The Washington Post, MSNBC, NPR.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To discuss, we FEATURE Rochelle Shoretz. Shoretz a two-time breast cancer survivor and Founder and Executive Director of Sharsheret, founded the organization to connect young Jewish women fighting breast cancer following her own diagnosis at age 28. Since the organization’s founding, Sharsheret has launched ten national programs and has responded to more than 19,000 calls and emails from those affected by breast cancer, health care professionals, women’s and Jewish organizations. Media includes: Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fox News.
National Hispanic American Heritage Month continues until October 15th. To commemorate, we FEATURE Adriana Rivera Sanchez. Adriana is a native of Puerto Rico and has a BA in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico. She has worked in the private and non-profit sectors, bringing forward her knowledge of marketing and communications strategies. Since her debut into political work, she has already been featured in the media as an expert on the Puerto Rican constituency and she was one of the Latinx comms professionals featured in "We Are Ms" Top Democratic Latina/Latino Strategists and Communicators in the State of Florida 2020. Media includes: Herald Tribune, South Florida Sun Sentinel.















