Jazz Murray, Organizing and Communications Associate

(Jazz) Murray (she/her) joined us this January as our new Organizing and Communications Associate. Jazz will be providing administrative support to the Network and Clusters, as well as heading up our communications team as we build our presence on social media and online. 

What sparked your passion for reproductive health care and justice?

After taking related coursework in college in Women’s Studies, I became passionate about the rights of women and uplifting the importance of intersectionality. 

In your new position at RHAP as the Organizing and Communications Associate, what are you most excited about?

I am definitely excited to create social media content for RHAP and also get a chance to be an integral part in supporting the Network. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I enjoy listening and creating music, and also developing my Youtube channel. 

Please share one of your favorite authors. Or, please share an activist that you would recommend following on Twitter.

One of my favorite authors is James Baldwin. I absolutely love the book, Giovanni’s Room. 

Victoria Pittl, Manager of Individual Giving

Victoria Pittl (she/her) joined RHAP in October 2020 as the new Manager of Individual Giving. Victoria manages fundraising initiatives, cultivates relationships with individual donors, and organizes special (virtual) events. 

What sparked your passion for reproductive health care and justice?

As someone who has lived in New York for their entire life, it can be easy to forget how hard it is to access reproductive health care. Reproductive health care is unnecessarily politicized and stigmatized. Far too many people have to travel long distances, cross picket lines, endure medically unnecessary delays, and pay out-of-pocket for what should be basic health care.

In your new position at RHAP as the Individual Giving Manager, what are you most excited about? 
I love fundraising for reproductive health access! Clinicians are working everyday to ensure that their patients have comprehensive, compassionate healthcare – including full spectrum reproductive health care. Anyone can support this important work by investing in RHAP. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I like to listen to true crime podcasts, support local coffee places with my caffeine addiction, and snuggle with my cats.

Please share one of your favorite authors. Or, please share an activist that you would recommend following on Twitter.

I highly recommend following your local mutual aid fund on social media! They will often tweet out what items are in need and how else you can support your neighbors during this pandemic.

Ying Zhang, Reproductive Health Care and Advocacy Fellowship Consultant

Ying Zhang became the Reproductive Health Care and Advocacy Fellowship Consultant in September 2020 and is also a member of the Reproductive Health Access Network.

What sparked your passion for reproductive health care and justice?

Growing up, I knew family members and close friends who had abortions. Eventually, I would need one myself and was so grateful to have the ability to do so in a supportive environment—a provider who gave me patient-centered care, insurance coverage for this service, and a system that integrated abortion care with other primary care and reproductive healthcare. I was enraged when I first learned this kind of care and access is not available to everyone in this country. While attending medical school in the conservative South, I began to better see and understand some of the barriers patients faced to attaining comprehensive reproductive health services, including abortion care. Witnessing these injustices and individuals’ hardships to receiving dignified reproductive healthcare sparked my own commitment to this work. As a family doctor, I love being able to provide whole-person care—this includes prenatal care, delivering babies, and abortion care and family planning. It is important for me to always center the patient in their healthcare decisions and know that each individual knows what’s best for themselves and for their bodies. 

In your new position at RHAP working on the Reproductive Health Care and Advocacy Fellowship, what are you most excited about?

I’m most excited about working on visioning and strategic planning for creating change, improvement, and growth of the national fellowship. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from other members of the Fellowship team and RHAP staff to do this work. I have enjoyed connecting with past, current, and future fellows as well!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I spend most of my free time with my kids and family. My kindergartener is really into writing and illustrating his own comic books these days and my toddler is a little explorer. I love experiencing the world through their eyes. We all love being outside—hiking, playgrounds, discovering parks, and watching wildlife in Seattle! 

Please share one of your favorite authors. Or, please share an activist that you would recommend following on Twitter.

Favorite RJ authors: Loretta Ross and Dorothy Roberts

Favorite most recent fun read: Ally Wong’s Dear Girls