Practicing Reproductive Justice in Policy & Partnership
In Colorado, reproductive justice is not theory; it’s lived practice. Organizations like COLOR, Soul 2 Soul Sisters, and Elephant Circle each carry a piece of our shared story. Their work, alongside many others across the state, reminds us that justice grows from care, connection, and collective courage.
Reproductive Justice was envisioned and named by Black women in 1994 to describe a movement that had long existed: one led by women and trans people of color organizing for bodily autonomy, family, and community care. Born from brilliance and necessity, the framework offered language for what many were already practicing: the four pillars of Reproductive Justice—
- The right to bodily autonomy
- The right to have children
- The right not to have children
- The right to raise the children we have in safe, sustainable communities
With a deeper understanding of Reproductive Justice, we invite you to evaluate your policy priorities through this lens and partner with us in the following ways:
1. Lead with a Reproductive Justice Lens
Every policy, from healthcare and housing to climate and education, can be evaluated through a Reproductive Justice framework. Legislators who apply this lens craft policies that anticipate ripple effects and strengthen long-term outcomes because they’re grounded in real community experience and co-created with those most impacted. Ask:
- How does this policy impact the pillars of reproductive justice?
- How does it expand care and autonomy without coercion?
- How does it center Black, Indigenous, Latine, queer, and trans communities most affected?
2. Redefine What “Winning” Means
Not all progressive policies advance justice. A campaign win that excludes or harms historically excluded people is not a win. True progress uplifts everyone and redistributes power; it doesn’t replicate harm. Progress for one group experiencing oppression at the expense of another is not a win.
We measure success not only by policy outcomes but by the integrity of the process and the communities empowered along the way. When progress uplifts everyone, policy becomes more durable. Constituents see themselves in the work and defend it because it was built with them, not for them.
3. Honor Process as Policy
Process shapes outcomes. Ask whose voices are leading, whose are missing, and how power is being shared, not just what’s being decided. Centering process isn’t procedural; it’s strategic. Policies created through shared power are more effective, more equitable, and more likely to succeed over time. The experiences and perspectives of Indigenous, Black, Latine, queer, and trans people should never be tokenized; they should be realized through intentional power-sharing and leadership.
4. Partner with Us
Work with us, not just for us. Invite us as thought partners to evaluate policy through a Reproductive Justice lens. Let us help illuminate real impacts on our communities and strengthen your connection to the people by co-creating solutions rather than prescribing them.
Collaboration through a Reproductive Justice framework transforms engagement from a transactional to a relational approach, ensuring that policy reflects the people it impacts and endures over time.
Reproductive Justice is not an endpoint; it’s a way of being and acting. Unlike the mainstream reproductive rights movement, which often centered white women’s experiences, Reproductive Justice addresses the intersecting systems of power that shape people’s real choices and chances to thrive. Evaluating policy through this lens means questioning who benefits, who is left out, and how we build toward collective freedom.
COLOR has made historical moves when it comes to policy. Click below to learn more about our work! Make sure you sign up for our monthly newsletter, where you can get more content like this!
In community,
Vanessa Martinez
[Disclaimer: These stories reflect the voices, experiences, and perspectives of the COLOR team shared in the spirit of learning, connection, and collective growth.]