As a “Collective Rising” intern, Jonell Ashby, a WGSS major, worked with SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective during Summer 2023. Jonell’s experience assisting with the Trust Black Women project has inspired her to become a full spectrum doula.

Jonell Ashby is an 18-year-old senior majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. While taking her first WST course at Stony Brook, her instructor, Frankie Petronio, told her about the Collective Rising summer program, which places women of color from all over the US in internships with reproductive justice organizations.

Collective Power for Reproductive Justice placed Jonell with SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective for Summer 2023. As a “Collective Rising” intern, she helped produce the first-ever “Trust Black Women Universe” project for Essence Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the event, SisterSong shared their mission statement and their experiences in reproductive justice organizing with thousands of attendees. (She even got to see Monica Simpson, the ED of SisterSong, interview Vice President Kamala Harris!) Jonell also helped launch a youth-centered menstrual equity project, which involves a giveaway featuring people of color-owned and organic menstrual brands. Along the way, she learned a lot about creating social media content for social justice. Later in the summer, Jonell was selected to serve as a TA for Frankie Petronio’s summer class. In this capacity, she developed a unit on reproductive justice based on the knowledge she obtained from her internship.

After this powerful experience, Jonell wants to be involved in the hands-on work involved in making a real difference in the most marginalized communities. Hearing the stories shared at the Trust Black Women Universe let her know that the basic everyday needs (including but not limited to reproductive healthcare) of Black women are not being met. Her passions reside in Black maternal health, so she is now undergoing training to become a full spectrum doula. She knows that reproductive justice groups like Collective Power and SisterSong are doing important work to change the lives of people. This is the kind of impact Jonell wants to make through her own work!