Attending a general interest conference or workshop: 3 points

 On September 9th, I attended the 2025 Georgia & South Carolina Reproductive & Maternal Health Summit screening and panel in Sisters Chapel. The screening involved remarks from those passionate about maternal and reproductive health and professionals, as well as input from NPHC sororities. Additionally, representatives from the sororities on Spelman's campus led a presentation on different things to know or think about in regards to reproductive health and justice in their own lives. There was also a presentation from Dr. Hammond about her organization and her own experiences. I had the honor of assisting in preparation for a letter writing campaign in which I handed out postcards and explained to attendees that they would be able to write postcards to officials in office regarding reproductive justice.

I enjoyed the event. I have an interest in reproductive justice and maternal health as a result of my proximity to reproductive danger through my own mother. She went through IVF before having me and nearly lost me during pregnancy. Overall, I also thought the event was very engaging. I attended it last year, but this year was much more interactive and kept you drawn in thanks to the presentation from the sororities and the audience engagement/discussion they weaved in. 

The event touched on reproductive and maternal statistics in relation to black women and other women of color, who are more at risk of pregnancy complications and less aid from medical professions due to the combination of misogyny and racism. This relates to one of the classes I'm currently taking, Feminist Film Criticism. In this class, we recently watched Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust (1991). Dash's film approaches reproductive and maternal injustices through its discussion of slavery in which Nana Peazant references breeding of enslaved people. Slavery acts as part of the root of why black people typically do not get equitable medical treatment during tough times such as pregnancy because slavery helped set up the idea that black people could handle more pain, and black women were useful for labor reproduction. Dash also addresses tough decisions regarding pregnancy as a result of sexual violence through Eula Peazant who gets pregnant after an assault. Histories of sexual violence shape reproductive choices for women, and Dash captured it beautifully.

In conclusion, I loved the event and had a wonderful time while learning more about reproductive matters.

By Samantha Hines