Georgia State alumni push for change through nonprofit organization

Jaira Burke has always been known for her fierce and hard-working spirit throughout high school and college. Little did she know that her willful intuition would lead her to a future full of campaigning for others. 

Now, as a Georgia State alumnus, Jaira has found her calling within the non-profit organization, Amplify GA. This non-profit organization strives towards the protection and expansion of abortion access in Georgia cities. As the campaign manager, Jaira asserts her passion and a strong belief in justice and non-profit advocacy work.

“When Alabama passed the House Bill 314, a near-total ban on abortion with no exception for rape or incest, we sent a plane over to fly our “Abortion is Ok!” banner over Alabama State Capitol,” Jaira says. 

Ms. Burke is one of the thousands of women in Georgia who fights for reproductive healthcare rights. After months of advocacy and organizing, the Atlanta City Council passed a resolution establishing the first-ever Reproductive Justice Commission (RJC). 

The Reproductive Justice Commission’s goal is to convene community members, advocates, and local decision-makers to come up with innovative ideas and solutions to protect and expand access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare. Jaira is one of the members who helped lead efforts to get the RJC passed and helped draft the resolution. 

“We envision the commission to be transparent, accountable, and reflective of the Atlanta community,” Jaira says. “We are currently in the process of identifying the finest experts and advocates to sit on the RJC, which will be launched this year.”

RJC also aims to improve health outcomes “related to reproductive, maternal and infant health, and abortion access in Atlanta,” according to Casey Quinlan of Rewire News.

 Reproductive justice activists believe that restrictions on abortion and other healthcare needs in Georgia are responsible for the rising rates of maternal deaths for black women. States that have more restrictions on abortion contribute to poor health outcomes, and racism assists in this problem as well, according to the Center of American Progress. 

“Georgia has a high maternal mortality rate, and that disproportionately affects women and trans and nonbinary people of color in the state, so any time you implement something that is going to restrict health care it is going to impact the groups already affected,” says Kenyetta Chinwe, project coordinator of SisterSong. 

Amplify GA and other similar organizations experience setbacks in the process of fighting for reproductive rights. One of Jaira’s close friends and coworkers, Lara Tine, has been fighting for reproductive freedoms alongside many other people.

“We are constantly challenging misinformation and stigma on our work,” Lara says. “That is why education and promoting the sharing of scientifically accurate information is critical to our work.”

Ms. Burke is regularly working with Amplify GA and other similar organizations for more access to reproductive healthcare in Georgia cities. The organization plans on establishing a Reproductive Justice Commission in Clarkston, Georgia. Therefore, they can inform the capital of the advocacy work they are doing on. 

Last December, Amplify GA teamed up with NAPAWF to host discussions with Clarkston stakeholders about the reproductive health barriers unique to their community. 

“Everyone sat back and listened as the stakeholders shed light on obstacles such as misinformation and stigma,” Jaira says. “As well as the need for greater cultural competency among healthcare professionals and service providers in Clarkston.”

This year, Amplify intends to continue these conversations through listening sessions. They plan on partnering up with local community leaders to develop the best strategy to advance reproductive health, rights, and justice in Clarkston.

“Amplify GA has major upcoming events this year,” Ms. Burke says. “We are currently launching our listening sessions to engage Clarkston’s unique immigrant and refugee communities and surface their local reproductive health needs.”