On Tuesday, OSI-Baltimore joined the Mayor’s office and members of the Baltimore City Council to announce a commitment to protect access to abortion and ensure the preservation of other reproductive rights in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade on June 24.
“This Supreme Court decision is a devastating blow to women around the country, particularly women of color, who will be disproportionately impacted,” says Danielle Torain, Director of OSI-Baltimore and Open Society-US’s Leadership and Innovation Program.
OSI’s investment of $250,000 nearly doubles the $300,000 commitment from the City (which was announced Friday) to provide funding to organizations that offer abortion and family planning services, and mutual aid providers such as the Baltimore Abortion Fund. These funds will create a safe harbor for Baltimore’s residents along with those seeking these fundamental health care services who reside in states that have onerous or restrictive access to abortion.
Karen Webber, who recently shifted from director of OSI-Baltimore’s Education and Youth Development Program to leading Open Society-US’s Innovation program, joined Mayor Brandon Scott and Councilman Zeke Cohen, among others, to make the announcement.
“I’m also using this opportunity to invite my colleagues from other foundations to add funding to this important venture,” said Webber, senior manager of innovation at the Open Society Institute-Baltimore. “We will literally protect the lives of thousands of women who will be re-traumatized, and who will be subjected to never ending cycles of poverty.”
“We are grateful for the city’s partnership in this effort,” Torain said, “and we hope that funders and civic leaders around the country can come together on similar efforts.”
Watch highlights from the press conference here: