Our 3rd annual UCRJ Reproductive Justice Week will take place April 4-13, 2025. Last year's UCRJ Week included 26 events in partnership with over 45 organizations. We look forward to an even more impactful week of events in 2025. It's never too soon to get involved - email us if you'd like to host an event or volunteer!

In collaboration with the School of Social Work, UCRJ is organizing an annual RJ Summit. The event will bring together individuals and organizations working in reproductive justice in the downstate area. Our goal: helping to build a stronger network of RJ and perinatal care for our communities. The first summit is planned for early February 2025.

In the summer of 2024, we started work on a plan to provide essential supplies to all new parents in need in our community. These "baby boxes" will include clothing, diapers, lactation supplies, etc. UCRJ is teaming up with CUPHD and a team of volunteers to make this dream a reality.

UCRJ offers volunteer and internship opportunities for students interested in reproductive justice and community organizing. Email inquiries to Julie Laut: julie@ucrj.org.

In collaboration with Midwest Access Coalition, UCRJ helps provide emergency contraceptives, condoms, and other safe sex supplies to the community. Local partners include Uniting Pride, Cunningham Township, RACES, Avicenna Community Health Center, and CUPHD. Find out more on our free morning after pills page.

The UCRJ Birth Equity Fund will provide direct financial grants towards doula and homebirth midwife services for expecting pregnant people of color in Champaign County. By supporting wrap-around guidance and support throughout the pregnancy and birthing process, the fund will improve care for pregnant and birthing people and help reduce BIPOC perinatal mortality in our community. With the help of seed funding from the UC Friends Meeting, we are in the development stage and plan to officially launch in April 2025.

UCRJ's vision is to act as an umbrella organization, linking and supporting reproductive justice activists and organizations in our community. To that end, our work focuses on collaborative activism. Our steering committee includes representatives from Uniting Pride, BIPOC for Better Birth, Planned Parenthood, the University of Illinois, Eastern Illinois University, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, and dedicated community activists.