Pacific University’s Reproductive Justice Action Team (RJAT) received the Emerging Public Health Leader Award from the Washington County Department of Health and Human Services for their efforts to educate the campus community on health issues. The award was presented during National Public Health Week on April 5, 2024. Adelle Monteblanco, an assistant professor of public health at Pacific University and a member of RJAT, expressed pride in the team’s work.
The team, which consists of about 15 undergraduate students, staff, and faculty, collaborates with the university’s Center for a Sustainable Society and the Center for Gender Equity to promote reproductive justice through education, outreach, and action. RJAT focuses on distributing contraception, increasing access to information about STI testing, and reducing the stigma associated with abortion.
Since its establishment in 2022, RJAT has organized various events on the Forest Grove Campus. One of their most notable events was hosting Roslyn Banish’s exhibit, “Focus On Abortion: Americans Tell Their Stories,” in September 2023 at the Tim and Cathy Tran Library on campus. The exhibit featured personal stories of abortion through photographs and narratives, highlighting the importance of reproductive rights and justice.
Monteblanco emphasized that public health goes beyond healthcare and commended the dedication of the students, staff, and faculty involved in RJAT. Their work aims to create a culture of health on campus by empowering community members with knowledge and resources related to reproductive health.