Join WGS in partnership with WREN, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Carolina Abortion Fund, and Soda City Bail on Sunday, Feb. 27th for a film screening of “Jane: An Abortion Service.” This movie is a fascinating political look at a little-known chapter in gender justice movement history. The film tells the story of “Jane,” the Chicago-based women’s health group who performed nearly 12,000 safe illegal abortions between 1969 and 1973 with no formal medical training.
Following the film is a panel discussion featuring Meredith Matthews, Field Organizer with Planned Parenthood South Atlantic; Justine Orlovsky-Schnitzler, Director of Engagement with Carolina Abortion Fund; Cora Webb, Program Director with We Are Family; and more! The panel discussion will focus on abortion justice and reproductive rights.
Seating will be outdoors at the Stern Center Garden and limited in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Masks will be required.
Follow the QR code to register or the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-of-jane-an-abortion-service-with-panel-discussion-tickets-253456002727?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Learn more about the panelists below. Image descriptions are provided thanks to Effy Francis.
Image Description: A mint colored image graphic with hot pink accents, containing a close up photo of Meredith Matthews, a Black woman with dark brown hair in locs wearing round tortoiseshell glasses and winged eyeliner. She is smiling with an open mouth while looking at the camera, resting one hand against her temple. Her name is in hot pink, with the following text in black font: “Meredith Matthews (she/her) Originally from Walterboro, SC, Meredith has lived in Charleston for the last 7 years. Meredith credits her rural upbringing and the positive influence of strong Black women for her passion in public policy and advocacy. While studying Political Science in college, she became mother to son, Ulysses who continues to inspire her commitment to serving the community. She is currently a Field Organizer with Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and chair of the Lowcountry Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). Meredith is motivated by the need to protect historically marginalized communities and centering all intersections of Black identity in the conversation of social justice.”
Image Description: A mint colored image graphic with hot pink accents, containing a waist-up photo of Cora Webb, a Black person wearing a white shirt, bright green hair scarf, and small, round hoop earrings. She is smiling widely at the camera, with arms folded across her chest. Cora’s name is in hot pink, with the following text in black font: “Cora Webb (they/them/all pronouns): As a graduate of the College of Charleston, double majoring in Women’s and Gender Studies and Public Health, Cora Webb has developed a deep commitment to community advocacy and actively seeks to build communal care networks. Throughout her college career, she assisted with designing and implementing informative events that aimed to properly represent different cultures and advance the campus community’s understanding of gender, sexuality, and identity. As Program Director of We Are Family, Cora continues to prioritize community engagement while addressing community needs.”
Image Description: A mint colored image graphic with hot pink accents, containing a headshot photo of Justine Orlovsky-Schnitzler, a white woman with long, dark brown hair, wearing a black top. She is smiling at the camera with an open mouth. Justine’s name is in hot pink, with the following text in black font: “(she/her) is the Director of Engagement for the Carolina Abortion Fund. Born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, she served as a CAF campus intern while attending UNC-Chapel Hill as an undergraduate. After earning her BAs in American History and Women’s and Gender Studies (her thesis focused on post-Roe challenges to abortion via the Supreme Court) in 2017, she volunteered as a helpline casework for CAF before joining the Board of Directors in 2018. Prior to joining staff in 2021, she earned her MA in Jewish Folklore with a focus on the Yiddish language and Holocaust resistance music from UNC-Chapel Hill.”
Image Description: A mint colored image graphic with hot pink accents, containing a headshot photo of Tessa Torgovitsky, a white person with shoulder length, light blonde hair, wearing large, dark brown glasses and a forest green shirt. They are smiling with a closed mouth at the camera. Her name is in hot pink, and the following text is in black font: “(they, them & she, her) is a queer, Jewish, anti-racist feminist born in the nation’s capital. They moved from DC to South Carolina to attend the College of Charleston, where they received a B.A. in Women’s & Gender Studies. Tessa now works at the Carolina Youth Action Project! CYAP is an abolitionist organization that centers political education and community organizing to build power among girls, trans youth, and gender nonconforming youth. Tessa is one of their Campaign Organizers, working specifically around the Sex Education Beyond Abstinence Campaign.”
Image Description: A mint colored image graphic with hot pink accents, containing a headshot photo of Anjali, a brown person with long, black hair and a nose stud, wearing a sapphire blue collared shirt, and a large, beaded, chain link style necklace. They are looking at the camera with a neutral facial expression, head tilted to the side. Behind them is a patterned wall of colorful lottery tickets. Anjali’s name is in hot pink, with the following text in black font: “(they/them) is the singer, electronic producer, and new media artist behind Diaspoura. Diaspoura’s sound and speech has brought forth a fresh perspective to the media of a poor, brown, and gay South. Their newest music, web art, and events discuss artist exploitation and solidarity.”
Image Description: A mint colored image graphic with hot pink accents, containing a bust shot photo of Astasia Williams-Bertles, a white woman with long, light blonde hair, wearing a black top. She is smiling at the camera with mouth closed. Her name is in hot pink, with the following text in black font: “(she/her) is an Assistant Public Defender in Berkeley County, South Carolina. Astasia practices criminal law, representing juveniles in the Family Court and adults in General Sessions. Astasia is a member of the Reproductive Justice Lawyers Network, the Charleston County Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar Association, and South Carolina’s Young Lawyers Division. Astasia earned her Juris Doctorate from the Charleston School of Law in 2021. During her time in law school, she was the co-founder and co-president of CSOL’s Student Chapter of If/When/How: Lawyering For Reproductive Justice. She was the 2020 Elaine Fowler recipient, highlighting outstanding academic achievement, leadership and philanthropic potential, a strong commitment to the legal profession, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion. Astasia graduated from the New York Institute of Technology in 2018, earning her bachelor’s degree in political science summa cum laude, where she played collegiate soccer. In her spare time, Astasia enjoys painting and staying active with her pitbull, Nova.”
