Anyone who knows me knows that I have such a deep appreciation and love for the South. The folks in the South are the most compassionate, community-oriented people, and being around Southerners fills my cup unlike anything else. I was born and raised in Kentucky and have come to understand how the disenfranchisement of the South led to many revolutions. My love for the South has led me to be the Southern States Strategist with NHeLP and last month I was able to host my first Southern Spring Summit.
More than 30 advocates met in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 1st for a day and a half of deep conversation, informative trainings, and joyous reunions. Advocates traveled from Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, and Florida. The agenda was packed with sessions discussing: federal updates, reproductive justice, contraception access, expanding access to care in rural communities, and social services for immigrant communities. Many ideas stemmed from these presentations. Advocates relayed the projects in their states and offered to support others across the South.
Although our time together was short, it wasn’t lost on me how incredibly lucky I was to have the space. As soon as the day began, there were no strangers and no awkward moments. It was so clear that the advocates in the room loved and appreciated the South as deeply as I do. That, in itself, made the time absolutely worthwhile. Aside from the strong emotions I felt, I gained so much knowledge and wisdom. As a new attorney and NHeLPer, I am humbled to have learned from the savviest and most innovative advocates from the South. The summit offered a space for people like me to deeply listen to those who have been doing this work for several years. The love for fellow Southerners and the idea of a better future are our biggest motivators.
Advocates expressed a lot of gratitude for having a space like the summit. It is important, and crucial, for a space to be held specifically for Southern sexual and reproductive justice advocates. One of the summit’s key takeaways involved the need to continue coordination relating to legislation, organizing, and messaging. A post summit-survey indicated that many felt rejuvenated, informed, and inspired. Everyone was able to make new connections during the meeting and also received the emails of everyone present in order to continue working together.
The goal, outside of creating connections and getting to know one another, was to leave the space with new action items and ways to keep the momentum going. Following the summit, the Network’s Steering Council identified the urgent need to convene more frequently in order to make a longer lasting impact. We are going to host monthly Zoom meetings, not mandatory, to bring advocates together and hear what each organization is working on and how we can lean on each other to truly utilize the expertise from the group. NHeLP is also planning to uplift the social media accounts of organizations on our social media accounts to promote the good work that is happening.
I am deeply grateful for the new connections that I made and to continue the work with such incredible people. I can’t wait until next year!
Alecia Reed-Owens
Deputy Director, Health Law at Mississippi Center for Justice
Southern SRH Steering Council Member
I had the pleasure of attending NHeLP’s Spring Southern Sexual and Reproductive Health Summit held in Charlotte, North Carolina from May 1 through May 2, 2025. The summit brought together a diverse group of individuals from multiple southern states dedicated to improving sexual and reproductive health in the South. The energy in the space was phenomenal and each presenter spoke on relevant issues that significantly contributed to the continued flow of rich discussion. At the end of the first day’s session, we had an opportunity to fellowship at a local restaurant. This outing allowed us to unwind and connect on a more personal level and highlighted the need to take moments to breathe outside the work to recharge our batteries. On the second day, our batteries were fully recharged and we took a deep dive into strategizing and identifying our next steps.
I left feeling energized despite the pending budget cuts and current political landscape because I was surrounded by thought partners and visionaries committed to change despite the challenges. The rich and engaging discussions reinforced the critical need to re-imagine the way we do the work. I have taken this as a personal charge to examine how I approach the work in my individual role within my organization. This has led me to being more intentional with thinking outside the box and looking for non-traditional collaborative opportunities to move the needle to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes in the South. I cannot wait until the next summit to refuel!
