Southwest Women's Law Center

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Southwest Women’s Law Center End of Year

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With all that 2020 has been, the issues we here at SWLC have been at work to remedy for our families and community have been magnified immensely. Here is our -End of the Year- break down and the endeavors we will continue through the coming year.
 
We are so grateful for our team and each of the moving parts that keep us connected to you (our supporters), and our funders. 
 
Our new office manager, Jamie Savage, has been imperative to ensure that our team expansion efforts are up to date. She has been keeping us in check with our social media platforms, which has made for a smooth transition for our new Communications Consultant, Erica Davis-Crump, who joined us in November. Jamie has also equipped us for the coming legislative session. This is critical as it will be our first virtual session, which is unprecedented. 
 
Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) is being led by Tracy McDaniel. To date, the PFML coalition has been able to present to the Governor’s Racial Justice Commission’s Health Subcommittee. The PFML coalition has been growing abundantly, making for intersectional outreach. Tracy has been garnering great support through community leadership as well. The SWLC will be working on a revised PFML bill this coming 2021 Legislative Session.
 
Reproductive & Gender Justice, is being led by Wendy Basgall. We are working with partners to expand access to menstrual supplies, specifically in the city of Albuquerque. In preparation for the coming legislative session, Wendy has been working along with the Coalition for Choice to repeal the outdated Abortion Ban law from 1969. With our recent win for pregnant worker accommodations, we will oversee the proper implementation and protections of that legislation. We have obtained several grants to work on discrediting disinformation about Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) in New Mexico’s Indigenous communities. We have also received a small grant to work with the Indigenous communities to determine why abortion care is not being provided, even when legal under the Hyde Amendment’s exceptions regarding health of mother.
 
In the first week of December, we observed and supported the Congressional hearing to end the Hyde Amendment. We also signed a letter of support to end the Hyde Amendment, along with more than 100 other supporting partner organizations nationwide.
 
This year, there has been a huge spotlight on Indigenous women’s wellness. Our executive director and champion, Terrelene Massey (Navajo), has been fundamental in the critical solutions that are being realized. Terrelene has been working with and on the board of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) since last year. Terrelene is also working on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) that CYFD will be pushing this coming legislative session providing input to the CSVANW staff. Terrelene was also recently approved to practice in the recently created ICWA court in Bernalillo County under a partnership with the Pegasus Legal Services for Children in 2021. She will also be working with Wendy on the issues impacting Native American women reproductive services.
 
In the fall of this year, SWLC submitted position statements on Savanna’s Act (requires the Justice Department to establish justice and law enforcement protocols to address missing and murdered Native Americans) and the Not Invisible Act (establishes a commission to study violence in and against the Native American community). Just last month, Terrelene presented on these federal legislations at the State Bar of New Mexico’s on this subject, speaking about these bills from a state and federal level perspective. The CSVANW was also on this panel, along with the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department and the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office.
 
This coming year, the SWLC will continue efforts to lead this spectrum of economic security, gender equity and reproductive justice. You have been an essential part of ensuring we can continue and expand our work as pillars of support for our communities. 

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