Service learning proposal

Charlotte Albone
February 2, 2012
Meredith Tweed
Wst 3015- 002

Contact information:
Title of proposal: VOX service learning community partners, spring 2012.
Name of community partner: VOX
Group members: Erika S, Lydia H, Scott V, Kelsey G, Charlotte A
Community partner profile:
Name: VOX, Voices of Planned Parenthood
Contact: Alexa Nelen
Community partner mission statement: “Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood-UCF chapter exists to educate the University community about reproductive health and rights, to translate increased awareness into pro-choice activism on campus, and to serve as a coalition partner to state, national, and international reproductive rights efforts” (“VOX UCF”).
Political/and or social basis for organization: VOX strives to obtain equal reproductive justice for women. VOX works with Planned Parenthood to help achieve this goal. Equal reproductive rights for women are being threatened by a number of political initiatives in which Planned Parenthood is opposed to. Some current concerns that will be addressed this semester are: birth control refusal under the affordable health care act, pro-life protests at the Planned Parenthood clinics, general access to sex education and contraception.
Community partner needs: Many of Vox’s activities are reactions to things that are going on politically therefore, the organizations needs may not be known that far in advance. Some of the organizations immediate requests include:

• People to solicit donations for the “Lets Talk About Sex” event- This is a benefit event that has a lot of raffle prizes, games, and music. We have been asked to go to businesses and ask for donations for the event.
• clinic escorting-We will be helping patients safely enter Planned Parenthood when protestors are present. Training is necessary for this and VOX will provide this later on in the semester.
• tabling oustside of the student union- A table is set up in which members of VOX inform students who approach the table about safe sex, current reproductive issues, any questions they may have. VOX also has condoms readily available for students.

Plan proposal:

Specific problems my student learning partner will address: Equal reproductive rights for women, informing students about “safe sex,” and access to contraception. This is relatable on a macro level because recently, contraception has been a big issue for the Obama administration. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans will be required to cover the cost of birth control and other women’s preventive services without charging a co-pay or deductible. Churches and other houses of worship are exempt from the requirement to offer insurance that covers contraception. This is a problem because it would be wrong to deny them coverage for contraceptives that all other employees will have. The specific needs of my community partner include: help with the “let’s talk about sex event,” clinic escorting, and tabling.

Rationale for women’s studies: VOX’s mission really highlights educating people about reproductive rights for women and awareness of pro-choice activism. Unlike, “first” and “second wave” feminism, “third wave” feminism really emphasizes multiple identities. Issues brought about by a variety of women make us question assumptions on issues such as health care (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 14). All these different women with different skills and backgrounds have different opinions regarding reproductive rights. Just because we are all women does not mean we have common viewpoints on everything. What we have talked about in class really ties into this. Every person has experienced different social and historical situations that have produced different experiences, also known as situated knowledge (Kirk and Okaawa-Rey 56). This is why not everyone shares the same beliefs regarding women’s reproductive health. If you grow up in a conservative family in which it is instilled in you that abortion is wrong, you will most likely hold these views when you are older. Situated knowledge plays a big role in how people form their opinions. The goals of VOX can also be affected on a macro level. The government has the ability to pass laws that can restrict or help the reproductive rights of women. The price of birth control, who has access to it, access to abortion services all depend on rulings made by a national institution.


VOX is a pretty active student organization so more events are likely to come about as the semester progresses.
Action: We have met with Alexa Nelen, the president of VOX at UCF. She is aware that we are available for service learning and has made some requests in regards to getting donations for “Let’s Talk About Sex.” We will continue to attend meetings throughout the semester and respond to needs as they become apparent.
Timeline: Again, new needs will arise as the semester progresses, so a full timeline is not possible at this time. Some presently known events include:

• “40 Days of Life,” a 40-day sustained nationwide protest targeting Planned Parenthood clinics, will last from February 22nd through April 1st. There will be a recurring need for clinic escorting throughout this event (“40 Days for Life”).
• A training session for clinic escorting will occur “in the coming weeks,” according to meeting notes from VOX’s Facebook group (“VOX UCF”).
• “Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby,” which will happen “sometime in March” according to VOX’s website (“Events”).
• Tabling will occur throughout the semester.

                                                Works cited

" 40

" 40 Days for Life."    40 Days for Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

            <http://www.40daysforlife.com>.

"Events - VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood at UCF." VOX: Voices for Planned

            Parenthood at UCF - About. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.

            <http://www.VOXUCF.org/events.html>.

"VOX UCF." Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

            <http://www.facebook.com/groups/2200915873/>.

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. NY:
              Frank Moritmer, 2007. Print.