Reproductive Equity Now Launches Advocacy Work in New Hampshire

Press Release
Written By Taylor St. Germain

The growing organization aims to make New England a regional block for abortion access, with NH as a key state

CONCORD, NH (September 26, 2023)—Reproductive Equity Now, a leading advocacy organization for reproductive freedom and equity, today announced it will officially expand its work into New Hampshire. The organization aims to make New England a leader in protecting and providing reproductive health care for all, with New Hampshire as a key state. 

Founded in Massachusetts, Reproductive Equity Now has a long and proven record of relationship building, policy expertise, and passing bold laws that will inform its growth and impact throughout New England. The organization is also expanding into Connecticut this fall.

“We strongly believe that New Hampshire is key to making New England a regional beacon for abortion access,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now. “Granite Staters share a deep commitment to reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, but recent attacks on our health care show us that the state is only one election away from eroding New Hampshire's and our region’s reproductive health access. We look forward to bringing our support to a coalition of incredible advocates in New Hampshire who are electing champions for reproductive freedom and building a movement to protect abortion access.”

Reproductive Equity Now will invest in civic engagement and voter education to help shift the tides in the Granite State and oust anti-abortion politicians from office. The organization will work to amplify the critical work being done by groups like Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire, and the state’s two independent abortion clinics, and invest additional resources, with a focus on reproductive equity and grassroots engagement, to change the landscape of reproductive health care in the Granite State. 

While abortion currently remains legal in New Hampshire through 24 weeks gestation, it is the only state in New England that has not codified the right into state law. In just 2021, the Legislature passed the state’s first abortion ban. New Hampshire’s Executive Council has also voted repeatedly to defund the state’s family planning contracts, which has limited reproductive health centers in providing Granite Staters with birth control, STD testing and treatment, cancer screenings, and annual exams.

“At this moment of crisis for reproductive freedom, there is an urgent need to bring forward new voices and new strategies to forestall attacks and make the connection between abortion access, maternal health, and health equity. We are looking forward to bringing our expertise and support to a cadre of incredible advocates, and together, create a collaborative, well-resourced, regional coalition to advance reproductive freedom,” said Christina Warriner, Reproductive Equity Now’s New Hampshire State Director. “We have seen time and time again that New England states can be most effective in passing bold policy when we work together, share strategies, and collaborate across state lines.”

Reproductive Equity Now has hired a number of former New Hampshire organizers and leaders to guide the organization’s expansion into the Granite State:

  • Christina Warriner, a Concord-native and former North Country Regional Field Director during the 2020 New Hampshire primary, will lead the organization’s state work as New Hampshire State Director

  • Leah Cohen, the Board President of the Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire and a former Granite State Progress press secretary, will serve as Communications Officer

  • Liza Frazier, former Finance Director for the New Hampshire Senate Democratic Caucus, will serve as Development Officer

  • Jennifer Frizzell, former Vice President for Public Policy at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Director of Policy at the NH Women’s Foundation, will serve as a consultant to advise Reproductive Equity Now’s regional expansion

As part of its regional expansion, Reproductive Equity Now will also be expanding its Board of Directors to include members from New Hampshire and Connecticut.

Reproductive Equity Now’s wins in Massachusetts include:


“New Hampshire has a proud history of protecting reproductive freedom. But the recent rise in influence of far-right voices in the legislature and on the Executive Council has led to the enactment of an abortion ban and the defunding of the state’s network of family planning providers. These extreme policies are way out of step with what Granite Staters want from their leaders. It is critical for our movement to welcome new and energized voices to our state’s fight for reproductive freedom, and to diversify and strengthen community engagement and voter education work, especially as we head into 2024,” said Terie Norelli, former Democratic Speaker of the House of the New Hampshire Legislature and board chair of the former NARAL-NH PAC. “I have seen firsthand the importance of building alliances and sharing best practices with elected officials and movement leaders in neighboring states, and I fully embrace the idea that New England can and should be a regional powerhouse for abortion access. Reproductive Equity Now’s expansion into New Hampshire this fall demonstrates both the urgency of our state struggles and the critical role New Hampshire plays in preserving and expanding access in post-Dobbs America.”

“I'm so excited to see Reproductive Equity Now expand their work to include New Hampshire, especially at a time where so much is at stake and there is so much important work to be done,”  said Josie Pinto, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire. “I deeply appreciate the lens and approach Reproductive Equity Now is taking, and The Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire can't wait to partner with them to achieve our shared vision for reproductive equity in our state."

“We are so excited to welcome a new voice into our state’s grassroots coalition of abortion and reproductive freedom advocates,” said Jinelle Hobson, Executive Director of the Equality Health Center of Concord. “As an independent clinic, we have a lot on our plate as we work to support as many patients as possible across the spectrum of reproductive health care. Having a partner like Reproductive Equity Now who is committed to fighting for our patients, amplifying our stories, and winning major victories alongside us in New Hampshire will be critical as we continue to navigate the provision of care in a post-Dobbs landscape and amidst repeated funding cuts to our family planning contracts by the Executive Council.”

Learn more about Reproductive Equity Now’s work in New Hampshire.

Based in New England, Reproductive Equity Now works to make equitable access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care a reality for all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, income, zip code, gender, age, immigration status, ability, sexual orientation, or religion. Advancing reproductive justice and eliminating barriers to safe, legal abortion care are central to the organization’s mission.

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Taylor St. Germain
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