Defending Our Lives Screening
Sunday, March 2, 2008
3401 W. Armitage Avenue
2:00 PM

Pomegranate will screen the documentary Defending Our Lives, in which survivors of partner violence tell their stories.

Everyone is welcome at this event!  Please join us for the screening and discussion. 

March 10th, 2007 commemorates the 14th year anniversary of the death of Dr. David Gunn at the hands of an anti-choice, "pro-life" extremist. Since 1996, pro choice advocates have begun to claim this day National Day of Appreciation For Abortion Providers and have turned this day of mourning into a day of remembrance of our losses, mobilizations for activism and celebration for our gains.

This March 10th, join Chicago Abortion Fund and Pomegranate Health Collective for a celebratory, informative and yummy event at Acme Art Works, located at 1741 N. Western from 4-7pm.

Celebrate! will consist of:
A Bake Sale*
A Cake Walk with cakes donated from local bakeries and bakers.
A Raffle with donations from Women and Children First Bookstore, Early To Bed, Chicago Women's Liberation Union Herstory Project, local artists and more!
Speakers
Short Films relating to abortion rights and choice
lots of information to browse and cards to send to abortion clinics and doctors!

For more information, please contact Pomegranate Health Collective at info (at) pomegranatecollective.org.

*The bake sale and cake walk will be peanut-free, along with some accommodation for other allergies and ethical diets such as veganism (most of the goodies will be vegan).

When: Saturday, November 18th at 2:30 pm
Where: Roosevelt University: 420 S. Michigan Ave | Room 306
Cost: Free (Donations Accepted)

For centuries our culture has been moving away from traditional, woman-centered birth, and toward medicated births in hospitals, with an ever increasing rate of Cesarian section. But a new movement is helping women find the options that allow them to truly connect with their infants and themselves, without the interruptions of a medical birth.
A natural childbirth can vary according to the desires of the parents, but in order to make the choice that's right for you, you must know your options. Organized by Pomegranate Radical Health Collective, this panel of speakers will explain the role of doula and midwives in childbirth, birthing options such as homebirth or waterbirth, and how to choose a practitioner that suits your needs.

Welcome to people of all genders, sexual
orientations, and birth histories.
Wheelchair Accessible

Featuring Speakers:
Kathy Puls: Independent and experienced Certified Nurse Midwife for over 34 years, speaking about the role of midwives.
Ami Burns: Doula & childbirth educator, creator of the documentary "Mothers and Babies: Lesbians Creating Families." Speaking about the role of doulas.
Gayle Riedmann: An Oak Park Certified Nurse Midwife attending waterbirths, with over twenty ears of experience. Speaking about waterbirth.
Jennifer Gagnon: A certified nurse midwife from A Woman's Place Birth and Health Resources, an independent nurse midwife practice experienced in home and hospital birth. Speaking about homebirth.
Karen Laing: Experienced childbirth educator and founder of Birthways, a labor support and postpartum doula group in Chicago. Speaking about how to find a practitioner that's right for you.

When: Saturday, November 18th at 2:30 pm
Where: Roosevelt University: 420 S. Michigan Ave | Room 306
Cost: Free (Donations Accepted)
Pomegranate zines and merch, and light refreshments will be for sale.

Hello, fellow reproductive freedom fighters! Here's your updates.

-Pro Choice Action Committee EVENTS

Protest the "Contraception Is Not the Answer" Conference!

When: Friday, September 22nd, Lunch Break Protest, Time TBA
Where: Downtown Chicago

When: Friday, September 22nd, 5-7pm
Where: Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare, 5440 River Road, Rosemont, Il


Hyde Amendment Anniversary
Bike Ride, Film Screening and Panel Discussion

When: Saturday, September 30th
Where:
Bike Ride: Starts at 1pm, at Wicker Park (Damen and Schiller) | Ends at panel (prizes will be given for best political shirts, bikes, and other fun categories!)
Panel: Begins at 3pm, at Roosevelt University, 430 S Michigan
How Much: Donation (no one turned away- all profits raised will go to the Chicago Abortion Fund!)
Roosevelt University is wheelchair accessible.

Ride with us on an informative, fun bike ride to promote reproductive justice! Prizes will be given in several categories, including most decorated bike, best reproductive freedom shirts, and more! A little speech will be given, as well as flyers to hand out as we ride to Roosevelt University, where we will be screening Motherhood by Choice, Not Chance and have speakers from several pro choice groups discussing historical and recent attacks on women's health justice and how we can help stop them.


Speak Out: I Had An Abortion
screening and discussion

When: Thursday, October 19th at 7pm
Where: New World Resource Center
How Much: Donation (no one turned away)


Birthing Options Panel

When: Saturday, November 18th
Where: Roosevelt University (430 S Michigan, wheelchair accessible)
How Much: Donation (no one turned away)
Wheelchair Accessible

Come learn about alternatives to a medical hospital birth from a panel of experienced birth assistants. Learn how and why to find a practitioner from Karen Laing. Learn about the roles of doulas from Ami Burns, LCCE, CD(DONA); and about midwives from Kathy Puls, CNM. Jennifer Gagnon, CNM will explain homebirth, and Gayle Riedmann, CNM will explain waterbirth. After this informative panel of speakers, we will open up the floor for some Q & A, and be sure to stick around and check out our tables, with Pomegranate's zines and merchandise, and some information from and about the speakers.


-Next Pro Choice Action Committee MEETING

Where: 4541 S. Whipple (bottom doorbell)
Several blocks from the Orange Line Kedzie stop
When: Thursday, September 21st, 7pm
NOT wheelchair accessible


-Pro Choice Action Committee Call Outs

Protest the Pro Life Action League's "Contraception Is Not the Answer" by politely calling or writing to the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare and announcing that you will no longer rent rooms at their hotel due to allowing this conference to happen on their premises, and will tell all your friends, family, and pro choice acquaintances not too, either.


-Other Group's Pro Choice Events

"Jane: An Abortion Service" Screening
Friday, October 6 at 7:00

Las Manos Gallery presents a screening of Nell Lundy and Kate Kirtz's film "Jane: An Abortion Service." Jane, a Chicago-based women's health group, performed nearly 12,000 SAFE, illegal abortions between 1969-1973. As Jane members describe finding feminism and clients describe finding Jane, archival footage and recreations mingle to depict how the repression of the early sixties and social movement of the late sixties influenced this unique program.

Judith Arcana will discuss her experience with Jane and read from her new book What if your mother, recently published with Chicory Blue Press. What if your mother is a collection of poems and monologues examining a constellation of motherhood themes rarely offered with such richness: abortion, adoption, miscarriage, and the biotechnology of childbirth. The book will be available for purchase.

A suggested donation of $5.00 will benefit the Illinois Reproductive Justice Fund. Help contribute to the solution!

Las Manos Gallery is located at 5220 N Clark Street, corner of Foster and Clark, 773.728.8910


-Articles of Interest

Illinois: State Court Revives Teen Abortion Law
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0609190133sep19,1,4668889.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Iowa: Pro-Life Terrorist Attacks Emma Goldman Clinic
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20060902235510488

Hey, Pro Lifers! Make sure the clinic you're trying to set on fire is actually an abortion clinic!
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-37/1158074946243690.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

New Controversial Blog Called STOP MY ABORTION Sparks Debate
http://stopmyabortion.blogspot.com

Strong Hearts and Poisoned Waters: The Exclusion of Women of Color and the Reproductive Rights Movement in the U.S.
http://www.illegalvoices.org/index.php?optionfiltered=com_content&task=view&id=112&Itemid=32

Busy week coming up! We are working on getting Sign Language interpreters and Spanish translators to our events regularly- if you or someone you know would like to request one, or would like to help make our events more accessible, please get in touch with us! Please contact us if you need childcare for an event, we also like to provide for that need, however, we can not assure that there will definitely be someone there without advance notice (once we get more people to volunteer with us, we'll see to that!). Hope to see you at our upcoming events!

www.pomegranatecollective.org
info@pomegranatecollective.org

www.myspace.com/prhc
http://community.livejournal.com/prhc/



September

Speak Out: I Had An Abortion screening and discussion
When: Wednesday, September 20th, 6-8pm
Where: Affinity Community Services, 5650 S. Woodlawn Ave., Garden Level (not wheelchair accessible)
Cost: Donation (no one turned away)


Folk Show featuring Mojdeh, Carrie Lydon, and Nellie Eve, to benefit the New Orleans Women's Health and Justice Initiative and Pomegranate.
When: Saturday, September 23rd, at 7pm
Where: Women & Children First Bookstore (5233 N. Clark)
How Much: $7-10, no one turned away (wheelchair accessible, but tight corners)


New Orleans Women's Health and Justice Initiative Supply Drop Off
When: Sunday, September 24th, from 2-5pm
Where: Wicker Park (the actual park), Damen and Schiller
To see what is needed, please see: http://www.pomegranatecollective.org/inciteneeds.php


Hyde Amendment Anniversary Bike Ride, Film Screening and Panel Discussion
When: Saturday, September 30th
Where: Wicker Park, Damen and Schiller at 1pm
Roosevelt University, 430 S Michigan Ave at 3pm (wheelchair accessible)
Cost: Donation (no one turned away- proceeds go to the Chicago Abortion Fund)

Ride with us on an informative, fun bike ride to promote reproductive justice! Prizes will be given in several categories, including most decorated bike, best reproductive freedom shirts, and more! A little speech will be given, flyers to hand out as we ride unto Roosevelt University, where we will be screening Motherhood by Choice, Not Chance and have speakers from the Chicago Abortion Fund, NARAL/Pro Choice America, and more discussing historical and recent attacks on women's health justice and how we can help.


October

General Meeting
When: Wednesday, October 11th, from 6-8pm
Where: Association House, 1116 N. Kedzie, wheelchair accesible


Doohickey Project
When: Sunday, October 8th, 4-7:30pm
Where: Early To Bed, 5232 N. Sheridan
Cost: Donation (no one turned away- proceeds help out the lovely doohickey ladies)

The rad ladies known as the Doohickey Project are touring the country talking about reproductive issues and reclaiming our bodies. On their Chicago stop of the tour, we get the fine privilege of hosting them! They will be discussing fertility awareness and sexual anatomy. Learn about and discuss the racism, sexism, and homophobia in the health industry. A Pomegranate local will give an additional presentation on the Jane abortion service, and for those interested, the event will be followed by a cervical self-exam workshop. All genders, bodies and sexualities invited!


New Orleans Women's Health and Justice Initiative Supply Drop Off
When: Sunday, October 15th, from 12-3pm
Where: McKinley Park (the actual park), Western and Archer
To see what is needed, please see: http://www.pomegranatecollective.org/inciteneeds.php


Speak Out: I Had An Abortion screening and discussion
When: Thursday, October 19th, 7-9pm
Where: New World Resource Center, 1300 N Western Ave (screening- wheelchair accessible, bathroom NOT)
Cost: Donation (no one turned away)


November

General Meeting
When: Wednesday, November 8th, from 6-8pm
Where: Association House, 1116 N. Kedzie


Birthing Options Panel (MORE INFO)
When: Saturday, November 18th, 4pm
Where: Roosevelt University, 430 S Michigan Ave (Wheelchair accessible)
Cost: Donation (no one turned away)

Come learn about alternatives to a medical hospital birth from a panel of experienced birth assistants. Learn how and why to find a practitioner from Karen Laing. Learn about the roles of doulas from Ami Burns, and about midwives from Kathy Puls. Jennifer Gagnon will explain homebirth, and Gayle Riedmann will explain waterbirth. After this informative panel of speakers, we will open up the floor for some Q & A, and be sure to stick around and check out our tables, with Pomegranate's zines and merch, and some information from and about the speakers. This is sure to be an inspiring and educational event for all. Open to people of all genders and sexualities.


(Hopefully) In the works before the end of the year:

A screening of Holistic Healing For The Hip Hop Generation
The Alternative Health Group's zine about depression debut and screening of We Don't Live Under Normal Conditions
A rock show to benefit the New Orleans Women's Health and Justice Initiative


====================================
A little tidbit thrown our way from Early To Bed (www.early2bed.com)


Recycle your vibrator batteries!

Hey folks in Chicago-- earlier this year the City of Chicago [finally] set up a battery-recycling program! While this doesn't make up for the fact that the blue bag program sucks dildos, it's nice to have a convenient option for keeping all those batteries-- which we know you're flying through-- from harming the environment.

You can drop off your used household batteries at any Chicago Public Library or Walgreens Drug Store! (http://www.chicagorecycling.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=86)

We just dropped of at least 12lbs of 'em yesterday... the woman at Walgreens looked at us like we were crazy :)

Keep on buzzin' Chicago!

====================================

Finally, a request that we would really like to help out with (please tell them you heard about it through us if you do buy a book). Hurry, the program already started, and they do not have enough for all the girls!

Changing Bodies, Changing Lives

Chicago Womens Health Center is in need of 60 copies of this book for classes we will be teaching to girls in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center throughout the coming school year.

If you can help out by buying 1 or more copies, we (& the girls) would greatly appreciate it!

Please ask a Women and Children First (www.womenandchildrenfirst.com, 5233 N. Clark St.) staff person about this, so you can buy at a discount.

Educate to Liberate!!

Thanks so much in advance for your support.

For more information, please contact Laurie or Aisha at CWHC 773.935.6126 ext. 230

Underneath the din of politicians posturing about "life" and "choice," beyond activists yelling about murder and rights, there are the stories of women who have had abortions...

Come to the screening of Speak Out: I Had An Abortion at Affinity Community Servces. Affinity is a wonderful southside organization in its eleventh year serving Chicagos black lesbian and bisexual womens community. All are welcome!

When: Wednesday, September 20th at 6pm
Where: Affinty Community Services, 5650 S. Woodlawn Avenue, Garden Level
How Much: Donations will be asked for, no set price

Sponsored by Pomegranate Radical Health Collective's Pro Choice Action Committee.

Feel free to post in other places!

New Orleans Donation Drop-Off Days:

Sunday, September 24th
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Wicker Park- at Damen and Schiller

Sunday, October 15th
12:00 - 3:00 pm
McKinley Park- at Western and Archer

These days are set up in public parks to give a location to drop any donations for the New Orleans Women's Health & Justice Initiative, a project of Incite! Women of Color Against Violence. This amazing group was given a clinic space in New Orleans, but are still working on gathering the funds and supplies needed to open it.


What is needed:

OFFICE NEEDS
Cell phone
Clipboards
Pens
Business Cards
Folders
File Cabinet (locked)
Computer
Printer
Couches and comfy chairs
Art and other decorative items
Stapler
Paper Clips
Rubber Band
Food (for gatherings/ workshops)

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
Self-health
Vaginal Health
Reproductive Health
Diabetes
Hypertension
STDs
Drug abuse
Children's health
Prenatal health
Mental health/self help
Basic Herbal remedies
Healthy Cookbooks
Intimate Partner Violence
Nutritional Information
Lactation Information

CLINIC NEEDS
Hand Sanitizer
Latex Gloves/ Non-Latex Gloves
Soap
Tongue depressors
Alcohol preps
Sterile water
Saline
Privacy Screen
Bandage Scissors
Thermometers
Gloucometers
Stethoscopes
Otoscope
Blood pressure cuffs
Pearl cover 4 thermometer
Flu shots
Speculums
Table
Stirrups
Lamp
KY Jelly
Wound care
Band-aids
Ace bandages
Gauze
Antibiotic ointment
OTC medication (Tylenol, etc)
Hepatitis Shots
Tetanus Shots
Vitamins (calcium, iron, B complexes, vitamin E)
Tissues
Clinic staple
Pregnancy tests
Needles
Syringes
OTC yeast infection treatment
Condoms/contraceptives
Keepers/Diva Cup/ alternatives to tampons and pads
Herbs
Prescription Meds
Emergency Contraceptives
Diabetes meds
Hypertension
Heart medication
Asthma medications and inhaler
Antibiotics (broad spectrum)
Hormones (esp. Thyroid)
Estrogen supplements
Birth control pills
Eye chart
Tuning Fork
Rubber Hammer
Diagnostics
Urine Dip Sticks
Hem occult Tests
Heart Monitor

BABY SUPPLIES
Baby bottles
Diapers
Formula
Bottles water
Breast pumps
Baby wipes
Blankets
Toys
Scale
Fetal Heart Monitor (portable)

CASH
Spare Money to supplement other people's workshop ideas and projects