California is a harbinger of national trends— “As goes California, so goes the nation,” as they say. However, despite its reputation as a bastion of progressive values, the Golden State is also a testing ground for conservative strategies aimed at shaping the broader American political landscape.
California is a profound experiment in the principles of democracy itself. At the center of this experiment lies reproductive justice—a cornerstone for a thriving and equitable democracy. Reproductive justice is not merely a set of policies; it is a reflection of a society’s commitment to individual freedom, bodily autonomy, and equitable access to resources. In California, the ongoing struggle and advancements in reproductive justice presents a progressive vision of what a just society can and should look like.
Join us for a compelling discussion with Women’s Foundation California in conversation with reporters from the Center for Investigative Reporting, which publishes Mother Jones magazine and MotherJones.com and produces Reveal radio show and podcast. Together we’ll explore how California’s evolving multiracial, democracy is advancing through grassroots mobilization and the power of storytelling to amplify voices at the forefront of this transformative work.
Check out more resources for this event.
SPEAKERS
Monika Bauerlein is the Center for Investigative Reporting’s CEO, and prior to that role she served as Mother Jones’ chief executive officer, and co-editor (with Clara Jeffery). Under her tenure, Mother Jones has grown its audience twentyfold, doubled the size of its staff, established bureaus in Washington and New York, won multiple awards, and launched a campaign to establish a new media business model centered on reader support for investigative and in-depth reporting. |
Bia Vieira is CEO of Women’s Foundation California, where she leads the Foundation’s work to advance gender, racial, and economic justice. The Foundation’s program strategy is focused on building community-based power through investing in nonprofit organizations, training community leaders in policy advocacy, connecting key partners, and mobilizing significant financial resources. |
PANELISTS
Nina Martin (she/her) is a reporter and editor for Mother Jones/Reveal, focusing on reproductive and gender issues. She has worked as an editor and reporter at numerous media outlets, including ProPublica, San Francisco and Health magazines, the Washington Post, the International Herald Tribune, and BabyCenter. She is based in Berkeley. |
Madison Pauly (she/her) is a reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area and has written for Mother Jones for nine years. She covers gender, reproductive justice, and anti-LGBTQ extremism. |
Onyemma Obiekea (she/her) is the Policy Director for Black Women for Wellness (BWW) and its sister organization, Black Women for Wellness Action Project (BWWAP). She began her work in Reproductive Justice (RJ) as Program Coordinator for BWW’s Get Smart B4U Get Sexy Program – the comprehensive sex and sexuality education program of the Organization’s RJ-focused Project, Sisters in Control. |
Marisol Franco (she/her/ella) is responsible for leading program development and curriculum for the Solís Policy Institute (SPI)-State, SPI-Local, and Funders Policy Institute as well as Women Foundation California’s overall policy advocacy strategy. She is a Solís Policy Insitute alum and believes all people have the right to thrive, including a living wage, health care, education, and affordable housing. |