The Reproductive Health to Reproductive Justice Teach In unites groups across Kent State’s campus to shine light on the current state of abortion rights in Ohio after the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year.

For Women’s Center Director Cassandra Pegg-Kirby, the teach-in evolved from organic conversations and weekly meetings that centered around navigating a post Roe v. Wade climate.

“So we actually started having conversations individually, and then bringing people together kind of as a group and saying, ‘What are we doing about this? How are we informing our students?’” Pegg-Kirby said.

The teach-in was organized by the Reproductive Health Collective, a group formed in fall of 2022, and various departments across campus.

“So another goal is get people in a space together, where they can really think about what they want to do,” Pegg-Kirby said. “Then maybe, positively impact change or have a greater reach or opportunity based on conversations with each other and being able to support one another in those efforts.”

The teach-in opened with a panel discussion featuring two sociology professors from the University of Cincinnati: Dr. Tamika Odum and Dr. Danielle Bessett.

“So today, we are talking about reproductive rights and reproductive rights are designed to protect access to reproductive health services, including abortion from a legal point of view,” Odum said.

The panel also covered the level of abortion access in Ohio and who is most likely to be affected if that access continues to be limited.

“Where reproductive justice is really looking at those folks who have been marginalized, and those folks who are really at the center and will take the brunt of the issue that’s going on,” Odum said.

The panel was followed by breakout workshop sessions led by various student groups, professors and faculty members.

Through these workshops, attendees were given the opportunity to learn about student mobilization on campus, the importance of using the right language in conversations surrounding reproductive rights  and social organizing for change.

Kent State associate professor and one of the event organizers, Dr. Clare Stacey, said the goal of the teach-in was to inform but also create a space where people could come together to network.

“I hope they walk away with up-to-date information about the state of reproductive health nationally and in Ohio,” Stacey said. “That they have found other like minded people who want to work together to protect the rights of women in the state of Ohio.”

For those looking for a way to continue the fight for reproductive justice, Odum said to vote and continue the dialogue.

“This is not something that is an unattainable fight to win, it’s going to be long, it’s going to be hard but we’ve done it before,” Odum said. “And we will do it again.”

For more information on upcoming Reproductive Health Collective events, sign up for its newsletter through [email protected].