Join Planned Parenthood in HUDSON for #StopTheBans: National Day of Action on Tuesday, May 21st!

As you may have heard the BANS on abortion keep coming so we KEEP RALLYING! In an effort to include our Columbia and Greene County advocates and highlight our new center, our rally for the National Day of Action will be in Hudson.

Here are the details:

On May 21, activists in all 50 states will take to the streets with rallies and mobilizations happening at state capitols, town squares, courthouses and health centers to say #StoptheBans. If you are outraged by recent restrictions and limitations on abortion access join Planned Parenthood outside our new Hudson Health Center for a Honk and Wave event to show you STAND STRONG FOR ABORTION ACCESS. We will provide the PINK swag!

This is a terrifying time for women in America. Anti-women’s health politicians are pushing dangerous policies that will endanger women’s lives and the public’s health. Planned Parenthood will not sit by and watch as politicians take our rights and freedoms to women's health care away. We will fight in Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, and everywhere else politicians interfere with medical care, because women’s health care is health care and health care is a human right.

JOIN US! 

Location: 804 Columbia Street in Hudson (Planned Parenthood in Hudson)
Date: TUESDAY, May 21
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 pm

We will provide the PINK! PLEASE RSVP AND SHARE our Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/917041565307584/

Photos from the 2018 Women's March in Albany

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Capital Region Handmaids Take on DC!

Here is a link to some photos. Feel free to SHARE them but do credit Kate Canfield at Timeless Perspectives Photography. On Tuesday, UHPP, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts (PPESA), Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley and Planned Parenthood Central and Western NY joined together with staff, advocates and volunteers to travel to DC. And what a GREAT trip it was! Our volunteers were AMAZING and our Handmaids ROCKED Washington! And the proof was that Senate Leader Mitch McConnell suffered a setback and was forced to delay the vote to “defund” Planned Parenthood and repeal the ACA. This is clearly the result of all the tremendous pressure Planned Parenthood affiliates and partners are exerting online, on-the-ground, and through grasstops connections. We have to take a moment to celebrate every victory we have -- and this one is important. They are buckling under the immense pressure we are exerting. Simply put: this is because of the tireless work of Planned Parenthood staff, supporters, and volunteers over the last six months. Every call, tweet, rally -- IT MATTERS. And we can’t let up. They are going home over July recess -- and we will be there waiting to deliver the same message -- people will not stand for blocking women from Planned Parenthood. Thank you to the awesome volunteers and especially to the staff who came...Anne, Jonathan, Amy Wo., Nicole C., Chelly, Kate, Tracey! And HOLY did we get some attention! Our local advocates made a stir in DC and it was noticed by national and international media! In the US: Glamour,  Vogue, Elle, Cosmo UK, International Business Times, NBC, Time, Huffington Post, The Hill , Business Insider , USA Today ,  CNN , Huffington Post (2) , Reuters ,  Newsweek, People , Newsweek (2), Perez Hilton , Yahoo News, TV Guide, MSN, Hollywood Reporter, The Daily Beast, NY Magazine Instagram, Brietbart , Variety, Washington Post Live, Willingston Herald, Washington Examiner, New York Daily News, Federalist, Mediate In the UK: The Debrief, The Independent, The Times News in Picture Blogs: IndieWire, CollegeCandy, Parents.com, Alternet.com, Appsforpcdaily, Daily Dot, Hello Giggles, Mashable, ScaryMommy   Please feel free to share to your social media to help us spread the word! Katherine S. Bruno Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood

Pink Out, June 2017

Last night, about 350 supporters came out to show legislators in Washington that we will not accept any shady health care bill that will defund Planned Parenthood and is not in the best interest of women all over the country.  As the sun set, we collectively lit up Capitol Park in pink, and blasted power anthems to tell our legislators in session that we will not give up the fight! Check out some powerful photos below, and the full album here.  If you'd like to get involved, please reach out to Nicole C at 518-434-5678 x 137, or nicolec@uhpp.org.

MORE events at Planned Parenthood!

Upcoming Lobby Visits! As the stakes get higher UHPP is committed to meeting with local elected officials on behalf of women and families in the Capital Region and we want you with us. Now more than ever it is crucial that we make our voices heard and demand protection for Planned Parenthood healthcare services in New York State! Join us next week as we meet with local New York State Senators and voice our concerns. Do you live in the 46th Senate District? Join UHPP Monday, March 20th at 11:00am to visit with Senator George A. Amedore and remind him that women and families in New York are watching. Register for the visit HERE Do you live in the 44th Senate District? Join UHPP Tuesday, March 21st at 1:30pm to visit with Senator Neil Breslin to thank him for his continued support of Planned Parenthood. Register for the visit HERE PATIENT STORIES NEEDED! If you are a current or former patient of Planned Parenthood and would like to share your story that we can use in our media outreach please email Katherine at katherine@uhpp.org. Upcoming Events to Support Planned Parenthood!   Saturday, March 18th: I Stand with Planned Parenthood Rally in Hudson!  Join the Columbia County Democrats and Planned Parenthood at Public Square at the 7th Street Park in Hudson on Saturday, March 18th from 2 to 4 pm. The snow will not deter us! It is vital to show the community support for Planned Parenthood. Come out and show your support for unfettered access to women’s healthcare, LGBTQ healthcare and access to abortion services. Speakers will include Assemblymember Didi Barrett, Hudson Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton, Dr. Richard Collens, Vice President of Development at Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Curran Streett, Pastor Kim Singletary from Overcomers Ministries International Church in Hudson, Amber Harris, former Youth Health Educator from Columbia County, Carol Peckham from the Columbia County ACA Taskforce and Cyndy Hall from the Columbia County Democrats. There is uncertainty ahead and Planned Parenthood is being attacked. But, one thing is for sure — we will never back down, and we will never stop fighting to make sure that patients are able to access the care they need. The days ahead will not be easy, but we will all work together to ensure that Planned Parenthood is here, caring for patients, for the next 100 years. RSVP on Facebook and SHARE. We need to have a big crowd! Monday, March 20: Petition Drop and Rally at Congressman Faso's Office in Kinderhook  Please join us at Congressman Faso's office on Monday, March 20 at 4:30 pm to 6 pm at 2 Hudson Street in Kinderhook as we deliver thousands of petitions from constituents who want him to know WE STAND WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD. As most of you know, Congressman Faso has stated publicaly he would not vote to defund Planned Parenthood and that he understands the important services we provide to our communities. We want to let him know we appreciate his support and that we expect him to vote no on any legislation, including stand alone or ACA repeal, that includes language to defund Planned Parenthood. This will be a positive rally that demonstrates the depth of support Planned Parenthood has in Congressional District NY19. Why is it so important now? Tucked into the Affordable Care Act repeal bill is a dangerous provision blocking Medicaid patients from Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide. We need to show Congressman Faso that YOU ARE a part of the overwhelming majority that opposes defunding care at Planned Parenthood health centers. Let's show him we will be ready to fight to protect reproductive health and rights in his district. RSVP and SHARE on Facebook! Thursday, March 23: Comedy Show to Benefit Planned Parenthood in Albany Thursday, March 23rd from 7:30 to 9 pm. Erin Harkes expands her monthly Chick's Are Funny show to raise money for the UHPP! Erin Harkes headlines a night of comedy with other local ladies Jennifer McMullen, Dre Cerbin, Dee Watson and host Katherine Gaultier.  RSVP here! Sunday, April 2 Rise and Shine Breakfast at the Blue Plate in Chatham  Join Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood at the Blue Plate in Chatham located at 1 Kinderhook Street from 11 am to 1:30 pm on Sunday, April 2. This fundraiser will support our beautification project for the Hudson health center including the purchase of a new sign! Call Jonathan at 518.912.9031 for cost and to RSVP. Tuesday, April 4: Teach-in: Defunding Planned Parenthood and the Future of Rural Healthcare in Columbia County Event will be held at Hudson Library located at 51 N. 5th Street in Hudson from 6 to 8 pm.  Join Claire Parde, Executive Director of the Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium and Chelly Hegan, President/CEO of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood to talk about the future of healthcare in Columbia County. We will discuss increasing access to quality health care through collaboration, education, information and service delivery. You will learn what defunding would mean to our local Planned Parenthood affiliate, what it means to others affiliates in our state and nationwide. You will learn about the Hyde Amendment, Title X and how Medicaid funding works and how that all affects Planned Parenthood. The event is FREE and OPEN to the public. Please RSVP on Facebook and SHARE! If you have any questions or want to get involved, email Nicole at nicolec@uhpp.org or call 518.434.5678, ext. 137.

What's Happening at UHPP in March (and Beyond)

A Public Affairs Update from Nicole Carvalho and Katherine Bruno.

URGENT ACTION! NEEDED TODAY! We need letters to the editor! If you are interested in submitting a letter, please email katherine@uhpp.org. We can give you talking points, full copy or details you may need to submit a letter in your community! Upcoming Events to Support Planned Parenthood! UHPP Teach in Hudson: “Defunding Planned Parenthood and the Future of Rural Healthcare in Columbia County.” on Tuesday, April 4 from 6 to 8 pm at Hudson Area Library. Join Claire Parde, Executive Director of the Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium and Chelly Hegan, President/CEO of UHPP to talk about the future in Columbia County. RSVP here! I Stand with Planned Parenthood Rally in Hudson! Saturday, March 18 from 2 to 3 pm at the 7th Street Park.Come out and show your support for unfettered access to women’s healthcare, LGBTQ healthcare and access to abortion services sponsored by the Columbia County Democrats! RSVP here! Comedy Show: Thursday, March 23rd from 7:30 to 9 pm. Erin Harkes expands her monthly Chick's Are Funny show to raise money for the UHPP! Erin Harkes headlines a night of comedy with other local ladies Jennifer McMullen, Dre Cerbin, Dee Watson and host Katherine Gaultier. RSVP here! If you have any questions or want to get involved, email Nicole at nicolec@uhpp.org or call 518.434.5678, ext. 137.

Amazing Rally on Saturday!

We had an amazing turnout of about 1500 people on Saturday at our Albany offices for the Rally for Reproductive Justice!  We heard from lots of people like UHPP CEO Chelly Hegan, Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Congressman Paul Tonko, Assemblymember Pat Fahy, students, activists, people of all ages, races, and orientation. The organizers all did a wonderful job and deserve our gratitude. Folks hand-knitted many hats and scarves, and collected donations for UHPP in exchange for them.  It truly was a beautiful collective of individuals, and one message was heard loud and clear: New Yorkers demand funding for Planned Parenthood!

Special thanks to Sean McLaughlin for donating his time to be DJ, and thanks to Christopher Wilber for the following photos.