Reproductive Left

With Election Day just around the corner, on this episode, we are talking about women in leadership and the importance of voting. Here with me today is Bangor City Councilor Sarah Nichols. After successfully completing the Emerge Maine training program for Democratic women candidates, Sarah was elected for the first time to public office after winning a 7-way citywide race in November of 2015. Born and raised in Bangor, She studied New Media at the University of Maine and currently works for three feminist organizations; Maine Women’s Lobby, Hardy Girls Healthy Women, and Mabel Wadsworth Center. Additionally, Sarah currently serves on the Emerge Maine Board of Directors. When she isn't working to better the lives of all women and girls you will find her cross-country skiing, hiking, traveling abroad, or enjoying a local beer at her favorite bar, Nocturnem Draft Haus. She talks about why she ran for office, what it is like being the only woman on the council, and she offers some advice for other women who want to run!

After our discussion with Councilor Nichols, one of our current interns, Meghan Frisard, from the University of Maine will be joining to talk about when, how and why to vote this year. Be sure to stick around until the end for our “Ask Mabel” segment where Nurse Practitioner Terry Marley-DeRosier answers your sexual and reproductive health questions!

On this episode, we talk with Sharon Barker, co-founder of Mabel Wadsworth Center and former director of the University of Maine's Women's Resource Center. Shortly after Sharon retired from the University of Maine, the Women's Resource Center abruptly closed. Due to committed student activists, the WRC has reopened without a director or a budget. Sharon explains what happened to the Women's Resource Center (WRC) and why it was so important. We also discuss the overall landscape of women in higher education. In our "ask Mabel" segment, Terry Marley-DeRosier explains the cause and remedies of dysmenorrhea (painful periods).

On this episode of Reproductive Left, our executive director, Andrea Irwin, joins us to discuss a new report by the Abortion Care Network titled: "Communities Need Clinics. She explains the importance of independent abortion care providers in communities across the United States and highlights what makes Mabel Wadsworth Center unique. We also discuss Medicaid expansion and abortion coverage. In our "Ask Mabel" segment, nurse practitioner, Lindsey Piper, joins to answer questions about birth control options.

In this episode, we had the opportunity to interview Victoria Yeboah, a young African leader with the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. It started in 2014 and this year, the Fellowship has provided 1,000 young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. college or university with support for professional development after they return home.

The Fellows range in age from 25 to 35 and have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive impact in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries. The Fellows represent a diverse group of leaders from 48 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa and 50 percent of Fellows are women.

Each fellow is connected with a local leader or organization for mentorship during the program. We had the privilege of being paired with Victoria Yeboah, a midwife and NGO leader who provides sexual and reproductive health education in Wenchi, a rural town in Ghana.

In our "Ask Mabel" segment, Terry Marley-DeRosier, WHNP answers a very common question about bodies after childbirth.

On June 22, 2017, we hosted a Bangor Pride Week event which included lunch, networking, and the opportunity to learn more about the services Mabel Wadsworth Center offers for the LGBTQ+ community. We were thrilled to open our doors during Pride to give our community the chance to see our center and to meet our healthcare providers and staff. We offered an "LGBTQ Health Questions and Answers" program and recorded it for Reproductive Left.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On this episode, we speak with Arianna Sessoms, a graduate student who works at the Office of Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention at the University of Maine. We discuss the services they offer students at UMaine and the education programming.

Lindsey Piper, WHNP, joins us for the "Ask Mabel" segment where she answers questions about what sexual assault survivors can expect at an appointment at Mabel Wadsworth Center and tips to prepare for the exam.

March 10th is Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, to recognize this important day, Jennifer Thibodeau from the Abortion Care Network joins us on this episode. We discuss what it means to be an independent abortion provider, like Mabel Wadsworth Center, and we explore the challenges we face as a movement.

We switch things up a bit in our "Ask Mabel" segment - this month we ask Andrea Irwin, executive director of Mabel Wadsworth Center, to explain how defunding Planned Parenthood will impact Mabel's and what would happen in Maine if Roe v. Wade were overturned.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we decided this was a good month to discuss healthy relationships. Joining us on this episode is Alex Patel, a local Marriage and Families Therapist, with 20 years of experience. We explore what it means to be in a healthy relationship, what to do when conflict occurs, she offers advice for single folks, and promotes the importance of honesty and vulnerability in relationships. Additionally, Alex explains why she isn’t actually the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day.

In our “Ask Mabel”, Lindsey Piper answers questions about Transgender Healthcare at Mabel Wadsworth Center and we explain a little more about our new name!

For the first episode of 2017, Andrea Irwin, executive director of Mabel Wadsworth Center, guest hosts to give our listeners a chance to get to know your host Abbie Strout. On this episode, Abbie discusses how she got involved in reproductive rights and at Mabel Wadsworth Center. She provides an overview of the education and community engagement work at the Center and announces some news.

There wasn't time for our "Ask Mabel" segment this month, but we promise to answer your sexual and reproductive health questions in February.

On this episode, Maggie Campbell, the director of communications and development at the Health Equity Alliance, joins us to discuss World AIDS Day. Maggie talks with us about how stigma impacts people with HIV/AIDS, the harm reduction philosophy of HEAL, and provides prevention tips.

Since the election, we have noticed an increase of interest in IUDs. Many women are worried they will lose birth control coverage with the next administration and are considering getting IUDs inserted prior to January 20th. In our "Ask Mabel" segment, Terry Marley-DeRoiser, WHNP, answers questions about Long Acting Reversible Contraception, including IUDs, providing medically accurate information to help with your decision.