Written by: Delilah Cruz, Cisneros Scholar ‘25
At the heart of who I am lies a core belief: Everyone should have the freedom to shape their own futures — especially without government interference. For this reason, I have always been a fervent advocate for reproductive rights, which are on the line this election year.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade has had devastating consequences — especially for communities of color. Cruel abortion bans in 21 states have pushed some people to travel hundreds of miles to other states to access an abortion and led to many being blocked from the emergency care they need. Now, we face the threat of a national abortion ban and attacks on contraception and IVF, rolling back decades of progress. As a young Latina woman, the potential outcome of this election deeply worries me and what it could do to marginalized communities, including my own.
This has been a historic and eventful election year. While we have all seen it unfold in the news, my internship at Reproductive Freedom for All has given me the chance to experience it on the front line.
Reproductive Freedom for All, formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America, has helped lead the charge for over 50 years in the fight to protect and advance reproductive freedom, including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and postpartum care, and paid family leave.
During my time at Reproductive Freedom for All, I had a front row seat to the ins and outs of political mobilization. I learned the power that messaging and public outreach have to keep people up to date on local and national political news through my work helping the communications team write press releases, endorsement releases and ICYMIs. I also researched and reported on pro-abortion candidates, the Senate blocking the Right to Contraception Act, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance as his running mate, Project 2025, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.
At the start of this year, the communications team began making strides in Spanish messaging to connect and mobilize the Hispanic and Latine communities. An important part of my identity is being the daughter of Latine immigrants, and my passions lie within social justice and the political inclusion of the Latine community. I’m thrilled to see such an important nonprofit making progress toward reaching my community and making sure we aren’t forgotten in this issue.
My experience with Reproductive Freedom for All has strengthened my commitment to advocating for justice and equity in our world. I’m thankful for this incredible opportunity to grow and learn in such a pivotal time, and I look forward to applying my new knowledge and perspective as I advance in my career.
Delilah Cruz is a Cisneros Scholar majoring in Political Science and French. This summer, she is a Comunicadores intern at Reproductive Freedom for All. Delilah's views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.
This article was originally published by Vanguard Communications.