Allies in Action is eight weeks away — and it’s already shaping up to be one of our most meaningful gatherings of the year. On Thursday, November 6, our community will come together to celebrate solidarity, deepen connections, and stand strong for reproductive justice.

This event is more than a night out—it’s a powerful reminder that when allies across Minnesota unite, our collective voice is unstoppable. From inspiring speakers to shared moments of purpose, Allies in Action will highlight the impact we can make when we fight side by side for a future where everyone has reproductive rights and access to care.

🌟 Sponsorship are now available! By sponsoring Allies in Action, you’ll help ensure this movement continues to grow stronger—and show your commitment to building a Minnesota where reproductive freedom is non-negotiable.

Mark your calendars for November 6—we can’t wait to see you there.

With Texas Republicans redrawing the state’s congressional maps for the sole purpose of cementing Republican control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and California Democrats responding in kind, it’s easy to feel like our democracy is in a tailspin. 

But there’s another battle for power happening right in your neighborhood, and it’s one that you have the power to influence.

That battle runs through the nation’s 13,500 school districts and 80,000+ school board seats that make up the largest category of elected officials in America.

Well-funded right-wing groups have gained major ground in this arena, recognizing that in a democracy, power isn’t just about who sits in Washington or state capitals. It’s about who controls local budgets, who builds the pipeline of future political leadership, and who decides what the next generation learns.

Nearly one in five elected officials in America serves on a school board. These aren’t ceremonial positions. School board members control budgets often exceeding $100 million, make policy decisions, and hire superintendents. Many go on to seek higher office. 

They have the power to build educational infrastructure that either advances American values or opposes them. They can approve inclusive curricula, or ban books. They can move to affirm and protect LGBTQ students, or target them. They can build trust in public institutions and public servants, or tear them down.

Most importantly, your vote at the school board level is supercharged. Fewer than 10% of eligible voters typically participate in school board elections. This means every vote counts exponentially more than in higher profile contests, every donation goes further, and every volunteer has outsized impact.

But here’s the hopeful truth: when voters are given real choices and accurate information, they consistently reject extremism. Recent data shows that progressive school board candidates are winning at high rates across red, blue, and purple communities because the values they champion aren’t partisan. They’re American.

The disconnect isn’t between public opinion and our values—it’s between public opinion and who shows up to vote in school board elections.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Monday that she will defend her state’s abortion protections in a lawsuit brought by the state of Texas. James’ involvement sets up the first interstate fight over abortion laws since the fall of Roe v. Wade, opening the door for the Supreme Court to weigh in on a key legal mechanism that has helped people in states with bans access abortion.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a civil suit against Dr. Margaret Carpenter in December for providing a telehealth abortion to a Texas-based patient. Carpenter lives and practices in New York, where abortion is legal; in Texas, where her patient received the health care, there is an almost total ban on abortion. 

New York is one of several states where abortion providers are protected by shield laws — statutes that ban cooperation with other states’ attempts to enforce abortion bans. The law prohibits New York law enforcement officials from arresting or extraditing health professionals who provided abortions that are legal in New York; law enforcement also cannot cooperate with investigations or punishments of such procedures.

📌 Allies in Action

📌 Run As You Are: Minnesota State Training Social Media Toolkit

📌 International Peace Day - Hands Across Mississippi River

📌 Planned Parenthood Celebrate!

📌 WFM Leadership Celebration

📌 Run As You Are: Minnesota training!

📌 Abortion Access Community Resources from OurJustice