Join The Brush Foundation and a panel of experts for an analysis of the latest local and national policy on reproductive health.

The Brush Foundation, in collaboration with Foundation Center-Cleveland, is pleased to convene a panel discussion about the current political discourse related to reproductive health in Ohio and beyond.  In addition to highlighting recent and pending public policy decisions related to reproductive health care, we hope to explore the potential impact of the political discourse around reproductive health care on health care providers in our community and beyond. 

Panelists include State Representative Nickie J. Antonio, Kellie Copeland, Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio and State Deputy Director Elizabeth Thames of Senator Sherrod Brown’s office.  The discussion will be moderated by Dan Pellegrom, Brush Foundation board member and the former President and CEO of Pathfinder International. 

Come join a lively conversation with colleagues and advocates working in the field.

About the Foundation:

The Brush Foundation is a private, Cleveland-based family founded in 1928 by Charles F. Brush.  The Brush Foundation’s mission is to support organizations that:

• Advance the freedom of reproductive choice
• Promote access to and utilization of direct family planning services
• Disseminate science- and evidence-based information on reproductive health and choice
• Support effective, accurate and comprehensive adolescent education on reproductive health and sexuality
• Work toward responsible public policies for reproductive health

About the panelists:

State Representative Nickie J. Antonio, MPA, BsEd.
State Representative- Ohio House District 13
Serving in her first elected term at the Ohio House of Representatives, Nickie J. Antonio has long been an advocate working for equality for women, minorities, working and low-income families, seniors and the LGBT community for more than two decades. She also has a history of advocating on behalf of environmental issues and is a strong proponent of arts and culture as an economic engine for Northeast Ohio. She currently serves on the Education, Health/Aging and Commerce/ Labor committees in the general Assembly and is co-chair of policy for the Ohio Women’s Legislative Caucus.

Kellie Copeland, Director NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation
Kellie Copeland has served as the Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio for the last decade. Kellie oversees the research and education work of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation, the advocacy and lobbying activities of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, and electoral work of their political action committee. Kellie has relentlessly fought on the front lines in the battle to protect reproductive freedom in Ohio, and played a leading role in defeating the abortion ban of 2006. She has been quoted in every major Ohio media outlet and has testified at over 40 anti-abortion hearings, giving a face and a name to the reproductive justice movement in the state of Ohio.

Elizabeth Thames, State Deputy Director, Office of Senator Sherrod Brown
Elizabeth Thames has been serving as Senator Brown’s Deputy State Director since he took office in January 2007. Prior to that, she served as his District Director when he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. She held that position for nearly 10 years. Before joining Sherrod Brown’s staff, Elizabeth worked for 25 years as an editor and reporter at daily newspapers in Ohio, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania as well as in the Middle East at the Arab Times in Kuwait. As a freelance writer for Associated Press, she wrote first-hand accounts of the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

About the moderator:
Daniel E. Pellegrom, Brush Foundation

Dan Pellegrom’s career in reproductive health has spanned more than 4 decades including Presidencies of three different organizations, concluded with a 26 year tenure as President and CEO of Pathfinder International. Dan is widely respected for his experience in both management and advocacy. His career at Pathfinder was the longest tenure of anyone serving as the head of a reproductive health organization. Dan was regarded as a successful fundraiser, leading Pathfinder from $8m annual budget to $100,000,000. Pathfinder became only the second US-based organization to receive the United Nations Population Award in 1996. In 2011, Dan was awarded the Union Medal by Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Space is limited. Register online with the form below, in person, or by calling (216) 861-1933. Registrants requiring ASL signers or other disability-related services are asked to contact the Foundation Center at least two weeks in advance.

Please arrive on time or your seat may be given away to others who are waiting to attend. If you need further information, please call (216) 861-1933.

This session will be video recorded and streamed live via GrantSpace. If you plan to send live updates to your Twitter feed during this event, please use the hashtag #FCClevelandLive.