Zócalo Public Square

In the weeks preceding the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Gov. Gavin Newsom called on California to continue to serve as a “beacon of hope” for those seeking abortions. But even within the state, geography often determines individuals’ reproductive rights—access to abortion, but also access to prenatal and pregnancy care, contraception, sex education, and institutions that support parents. In South Los Angeles, community groups and public officials have worked for years to address disparities, including maternal and infant mortality rates that have been dramatically higher for Black families. What strategies have succeeded in getting more people better reproductive care in South L.A.? And how might they inspire other people and organizations, at the community, state, and even national level, in post-Roe America? Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Janette Robinson-Flint, executive director of Black Women for Wellness, Allegra Hill, midwife and co-o