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Tucson Abortion Doula Training rescheduled to March 4th & 5th

1/29/2017

Hello! Our Abortion Doula Training in Tucson, AZ has been rescheduled for March 4th & 5th to allow ample time for the organizers to fundraise and make arrangements for the event.
Please share this application link widely with friends interested in reproductive autonomy and abortion access in Arizona! This training space will prioritize attendance to queer and trans people of color; please contact us if you have any questions. If you have already submitted an application, thank you so much! Please expect to hear from us by or before February 15th.
Application link and more info here:
https://goo.gl/forms/P7DrguTQNTs4RTNn2

Tucson, Arizona Abortion Doula Training Application - January 2017

11/29/2016

We are thrilled to announce that we have been invited to organize an Abortion Doula Training in Tucson, AZ on January 28 and 29, 2017. Please share this application link widely with friends interested in reproductive autonomy and abortion access in Arizona! This training space will prioritize attendance to queer and trans people of color; please contact us if you have any questions.

Houston Abortion Doula Training Reflections

10/27/2016

image description: 8 people in various poses (sitting, crouching, and standing) smiling and grouped together in front of a white wall

image description: a diagonal view of the training space room with black chairs stacked on the right side, an orange wall at the back with multicolored papers taped to it and a whiteboard with text and papers in front of it, a wall with 2 windows (closed blinds) on the left side, and an "L" shaped table in the center of the room with black chairs around it.

image description: an orange wall behind a whiteboard with a bulleted list written in blue dry-erase marker, with two papers taped to the center of the board (content of papers indiscernable; one sheet has images and writing with a typed heading, the other has text only), and a poster taped to the board directly to the right of the papers. whiteboard reads: womenonwaves.org (parking lot*) -$$$ [dollar signs], -language barriers / Deaf or HoH, -judicial bypass, -geography/proximity to clinic, -access to pregnancy test, -photo ID + citizenship esp in RGV etc, -transportation, -lodging, -time off work, -childcare, -knowing where services are / avoiding CPC's [sad-face], -physical accessibility in clinics, -private phone, - access to computer, -internet, -address, -clinic capacity the poster taped to the board has a header written in pink and orange marker: "WHAT IT TAKES TO GET AN ABORTION.....IN TEXAS!"underneath this is a green line / divider, and a list written in blue marker: -money, -geography, -transportation, -parental consent, -aftercare, -gestational limits, -support, -time, -childcare, -a place to stay, -clinic availability, -is it an actual abortion clinic?, -sonogram, -24 hour consent, -mandatory counseling, -escorts, -identification, -judicial bypass, -determination*, -safety w/phone calls, -blood tests [dollar sign]

image description: pink paper taped to an orange wall (the tape is patterned with multi-colored grey, yellow, teal, pink, yellow rectangles); written heading on the paper in black marker says self-care strategies and is circled. three sub-headings are written below in black marker, with a bulleted list underneath each (list written in black, blue, and purple pens by multiple different people / in various different handwritings): 1) BEFORE stressful events: sleeping, watching tv, tumblring, smoke weed, positive self talk, good shower, yoga, sex, focusing on nutritious but delicious food, baking, cuddle cats, masturbate 2) DURING stressful events: breathing, dissociating/"checking out", remind myself that this will pass, scream/cry, going outside, drinking enough water, deep breathing, bake/cook/look at recipes, rip papers (destroy cardboard by stabbing with scissors), take a walk, stretch, telling a friend, cuddle cats 3) AFTER stressful events: crying, eating food, smoking weed, masturbate, soft music in cool completely dark room, sex, not leaving the house unless i have to, sleep, biking, writing / making art, compartmentalizing (aka "bunkering") [sad-face], cuddle cats

image description: white paper with tape on corners (tape is patterned with seafoam green squares), heading written in purple marker says "DOULA SKILLS" underlined with a squiggly line. underneath is written "What skills, resources, identities, knowledge, qualities, etc. do we need to do this work responsibly and accountably?" underneath this is a row of 6 small purple post-it notes with handwriting by multiple different people in various pen colors; the notes read: 1) non-judgemental, 2) affirm dignity, worth & autonomy of client, 3) fuck you colonialism and white supremacy, 4) emotional capacity / compassion, 5) how to deal with authority figures [sad-face], 6) know boundaries and limits. additional rows and post-its below are not pictured.

image description: a white piece of paper on a white wall attached w/ patterned green tape; the paper has written words. heading in red marker says "How do we define "Support"?" with a red squiggly divider line underneath. beneath this is a multicolored bulleted list: written in orange -informational support: telling the client what to expect, what procedures look like, helping them find resources for services + care. written in green: -emotional support:being present to hold all the clients feelings before, during, and after the procedure. written in blue: -physical support: comforting and providing care to manage physical symptoms of pain and discomfort before, during, and after the procedure. written in purple: -practical support: providing the necessary logistical support (lodging, transportation, funding, meals, etc) to help your client access their procedure.

image description: an orange wall with white and pink papers taped to it; the heading of one paper says "Self-Care" handwritten in marker. below the posters and against the wall is a table with one chair under it, and water, snacks, and books arranged on top of it. part of a whiteboard with written words can be seen on the right, and sunlight / visible sun rays are streaming through open blinds of a window on the left.

image description: orange wall with two rows of multicolored colored paper taped to the wall with patterned green tape. the papers have multicolored writings, marker drawings, and colored tape on them, each created by a different individual to depict their personal journey.

we are overwhelmed with joy after our Abortion Doula Training in Houston at The Montrose Center this past weekend! the experience was fulfilling and enlightening in so many ways, and we are immeasurably thankful to everyone who helped make that space and our presence possible. it was truly transformative work to collectively share and develop tools for empathy, accountability, learning through discomfort, intentional care-taking, compassion, self-care, and the myriad of complex support skills that we hope to practice - both as abortion doulas helping others access the care that they need, and as caring and self-reflective individuals hoping to incite change.

there was so much brilliance, thoughtfulness, and intention present in that building/in our hearts, and we feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to meet and grow with all of the insightful and engaging people who created & shared space with us this past weekend. we felt so welcomed, and we genuinely look forward to continuing to build together. for those who had planned to attend and were unable to, please know that you were missed, and that we sincerely wish to connect, share, and learn together as soon as possible. we love building with our friends & communities in Houston, and hope to return for more collaborative events in the future!

thank you again to everyone who has and continues to support us emotionally, physically, and financially. these vital services would not be possible without your help, and we are eternally grateful. please continue to share and donate if able to our fundrazr (https://fundrazr.com/81AzC8?ref=ab_b61b45) or paypal (cicada.collective.ntx@gmail.com) to help us recover lost funds - we are only $175 away from reaching our goal!

Support Houston Abortion Doula Training!

10/21/2016

Support Houston Abortion Doula Training!

Hello, lovely friends and supporters! This is noreen and morgan, Co-Directors of Cicada Collective and co-organizers and facilitators for our organization's 4th Abortion Doula Training - in Houston this weekend, October 22 & 23rd! We are so excited and grateful for all the support that has made it possible for us to make this event happen.

Putting on a training involves a lot of background labor - we spent months telecommuting with organizers on the ground in Houston to fundraise, find a location, date, and interested participants while we worked on redeveloping and curating the content of the training. When the hosting doula group chose to seek other trainers at the last minute because we were unwilling to allow individuals who made racist or transphobic remarks to attend our queer and trans people of color centered training, we knew it was important to make sure the training still happened - we wanted to honor our commitment to the individuals in Houston for whom these skills are necessary tools of support and resistance.
Unfortunately, we only received $120 from the original hosts after they cancelled, though they were responsible for fundraising at least $400 more to cover the costs of the training and make sure we were paid for our labor (see a breakdown of the costs below). We have used our personal funds to pay for a lot of these costs because we were not willing to raise the sliding scale fee for our participants, who would not have been able to attend without low-cost options, but this means that we are not receiving payment for our time organizing and facilitating.
the total costs of putting on this training: $1445
we have covered $415 from our incoming participant fees and donated funds:
-$180 room rental for training space,
-$100 Houston-based facilitator for 60 min,
-$75 supplies (markers, nametags, easel pad, binders, etc),
-$60 gas for transportation to Houston

and $430, plus unpaid labor in organizing and as facilitators, from personal funds:
-$200 for printing costs,
-$30 snacks for the 2-day / 16-hr training,
-$200 food and lodging for 2 nights / 2 traveling facilitators.
what's missing is $600 for 2 Cicada Collective facilitators for 15 hr / 2-day training(not incl unbilled hours for months of prep work, plus travel time).
Our labor is valuable and we care deeply about sharing these skills - please help us make this work sustainable by supporting us and the individuals who access our services and trainings. (also, we have to pay rent next week! please help. <3)
love,
cicada collective

Thank you Pamela Buchunam! pamelabuchunam.com

4/12/2016

[Image Description: A drawn self portrait by Pamela Buchunam on a light blue background of a woman in a purple sleeveless top with her face covered by a purple galaxy print hood that depicts multicolored ice cream floating among planets. She is wearing black rimmed glasses and faces the viewer while blowing a big piece of pink bubble gum.]

We want to offer a huge thank you to Pamela Buchunam for designing the ID cards that our volunteer drivers will be using. NTX Abortion Support Network uses these IDs (not pictured), watermarked with the Cicada Collective logo, to make sure clients know their drivers have been trained through us and can be trusted to value their autonomy and privacy. We are so grateful to Pamela for helping us provide this safety and reassurance!

Here is what Pamela has to say about herself: “ I’m an artist based out of Dallas Texas at the moment. I currently work at at an awesome toy store while freelancing as an artist as well. When I’m not busy doing that I’m finding new burgers to eat, re-re-watching films and cartoons, bothering my local comic shop, and playing video games that I’m scary bad at. Though my education was concentrated on traditional painting and art making I have skills animating and designing in digital programs. My art has been published in zines, self published in collaboration art books, official university publications, and internationally in magazines. To receive more information, contact me for work, or just whisper weird secrets directly in my general direction email me at:pambuchunam@gmail.com. You can also check out www.pambuchunam.tumblr.com, www.pamelabuchunam.com and www.instagram.com/pamaramaa/.”

Please check out and support Pamela’s amazing work athttp://www.pamelabuchunam.com - to help thank her for volunteering with us, you can donate to her paypal, or contact her at pambuchunam@gmail.com to commission an art piece!

(iimage created by Pamela Buchunam)
www.pamelabuchunam.com

Apply to Volunteer for the NTX Abortion Support Network

1/18/2016

Cicada Collective’s North Texas Abortion Support Network (NTX ASN) is a network of trained volunteers who provide various practical support services to individuals seeking abortions in the Dallas Fort Worth area. We are currently seeking volunteer drivers, hotline managers, doulas, and a few other positions detailed below. If you wish to volunteer to help support access to abortion in North Texas please fill out and submit an application below! The deadline to be accepted for the early February training session (date TBD) is January 31, 2016. Application link: https://goo.gl/N9v6f3

Happy New Year!

1/11/2016

Cicada Collective and it's practical support program, the North Texas Abortion Support Network (NTX-ASN), have been on hiatus in recent months due to lack of volunteer and organizer capacity. We are currently in the process of restructuring our organization to better assist North Texans who need transportation to abortion services in the DFW area. For those invested in supporting access to abortion in North Texas, please keep an eye out for further updates and new volunteer opportunities coming later this week! and as always, thank you for supporting Cicada Collective through the tireless struggle for reproductive justice in Texas.

Introduction Our North Texas Abortion Support Network (NTX-ASN)

4/24/2014

Cicada Collective was founded a year ago in April 2013; since then, we have hosted the first open Abortion Doula Training in the state of Texas, and have traveled far and wide across the state and region, sharing and learning skills to make reproductive justice and autonomous health an accessible reality for more people in our communities (click here for a list of everything we’ve done in the past yea r!)

Among the many exciting projects Cicada Collective has undertaken are our efforts to support access to abortions in the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex by providing lodging,transportation, and doula services to clients seeking abortions in the area. We have a small team of volunteers that has been accepting clients over the past few months, but the need for compassionate care is growing, and we need your help to meet the demand. After many months of hard work and dedicated effort, we are proud to announce the launch of our North Texas Abortion Support Network (NTX-ASN)! With your support and volunteer effort, we can make accessible abortions a reality for everyone in our area of the state!

We will be offering Abortion Support Trainings for volunteers in the Dallas-Forth Worth area on May 31st and June 28th - come learn the skills necessary to logistically support people seeking abortions by providing them with transportation to and from their abortion appointments, as well as lodging during their stay if they are traveling from outside the area. Attendees will be eligible to become part of Cicada Collective’s NTX Abortion Practical Support Network and can begin helping clients in our area access safe, reliable transportation and housing during their abortion procedure. (**If neither of these training dates work for you, please apply anyway and specify what your scheduling needs are; we want to make sure these skills are made accessible to as many members of our communities as possible and will do our best to accomodate you.**)

To support safe access to abortion in North Texas, fill out an Abortion Support Network Volunteer Application and click here to help us fund this project (proceeds will go to hosting and transportation expenses, as well as printing and educational resources for our training materials). Contact us at ntx.asn@gmail.com if you have any questions.

How to help if you don’t live in Dallas-Fort Worth, or if you feel that providing practical support is not for you: Make a donation to help fund our volunteer–run collective! Contact us if you are interested in a training, skillshare, or collaboration, or invite us to speak at an event or facilitate a workshop in your city. Look for more details in the next few weeks about upcoming Abortion Doula trainings in Austin, TX and Oklahoma City, OK this summer!

Please share this information widely among your personal and professional networks and encourage potential volunteers to apply! If you have any questions about the Abortion Support Network or about Cicada Collective, contact us at ntx.asn@gmail.com or cicada.collective.ntx@gmail.com.

A response to anti-choice abduction schemes

11/11/2013

It has recently come to our attention that a right-wing Christian group (known as “Praying for you” on Facebook)* has been circulating our email address among anti-choicers, advising them to infiltrate our group by emailing us about our upcoming ride and lodging share program and volunteering to give patients rides to clinics, with the hidden intent of abducting these patients by driving them to a church instead of the clinic, thus forcing them to miss their appointments. (View a screenshot of the post on Abolish Human Abortion’s Facebook page here.)

We were quite surprised to see this screenshot when many of our supporters sent it to us, but became especially concerned when we began receiving an influx of emails and messages from people previously unfamiliar with Cicada Collective who saw the screenshot and mistakenly believed that we were the ones coordinating this anti-choice plot. We want to take this opportunity to clarify that Cicada Collective is NOT affiliated with the group Abolish Human Abortion; we are NOT anti-choice. Cicada Collective exists to provide reproductive resources (informational, emotional, physical, and practical support) to people seeking abortions in North Texas.

We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received, as well as the many words of caution – we understand that these threats are alarming, but we want to reassure all of our supporters that these anti-choice infiltrators WILL NOT pass our screening requirements for practical support, or for any affiliation with our collective. We are currently in the process of forming the groundwork for our ride and lodging share system, but we intend to work within our personal, professional, and activist communities and networks to find volunteers for this program, always taking into first consideration the safety of clients as well as volunteers. We are fortunate and grateful to be working within a network of dedicated reproductive justice groups across the state to fine-tune the many nuanced details of this program and make this kind of community support a reality. We appreciate your continued interest and support, and hope that this helps to clear up some of the confusion and dismay. We also greatly appreciate the many inquiries about offering us financial support! If you would like to help fund our project, visit our wepay page. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments, and view our website and various social media for more information about our work!

Noreen
Cicada Collective