We’re excited to welcome a special guest to our #MenstrualEquity student advocacy zoom panel this Thursday!
State Senator Adriane Johnson (30th District) joins us this Thursday, April 23 for a conversation on advancing menstrual equity in Illinois.
Register today! bit.ly/SVILeventbrite0423
🎉🎉🎉 The IL Senate has unanimously passed SB3361, a bill that would prohibit private schools from banning religious hairstyles, & has moved on to the House.
Support protecting students from discrimination. Contact your IL State Rep and urge them to support and co-sponsor SB3361.
Chicago voters will elect all 21 members of the Chicago School Board this November for the first time.
It’s a major shift from mayoral appointments to a fully elected board: deciding leadership, budgets, school closures, and CPS priorities.
Learn more here:
www.wbez.org/education/20...
Most people going through perimenopause or menopause turn to the internet for answers, but “menopause Googling” can often spread more confusion than clarity.
Brain fog, hot flashes, & anxiety are real symptoms, but so is misinformation online.
Learn more here:
Who is leading the charge for #MenstrualEquity in Illinois? Meet our incredible panelists for next Thursday’s student advocacy event, Menstrual Equity in Action! 🩸
🗓️ Thursday, April 23, 5:30 PM
🎟️ Save your spot 👉 bit.ly/SVILeventbrite0423
Illinois is seeing record demand for domestic violence support, but shelter capacity hasn’t kept pace.
Meeting this moment requires both stronger investments in shelter and housing for survivors, and long-term domestic violence prevention efforts.
bit.ly/4vAAS61
Let’s talk periods. No stigma, just facts.
Calling all students! Ever had a question about your menstrual health but didn't know who to ask? We’re bringing an expert to you!
Join us Monday, April 20 @ 5:45 PM for an IG Live featuring:
🔸 Dr. Jana Richards, OB/GYN
🔸 Hamsika Thumu, She Votes IL
Spring is here and She Votes Illinois is on the move! 🌸
From Springfield to Chicago, we’re advancing equity and justice for all Illinoisans. Our latest newsletter covers critical legislation, community action highlights, and upcoming events.
Read more & take action:
🔗 mailchi.mp/f1c7e721a0c8...
Rule changes expected in the coming months could “reimagine” the program, shifting funding toward crisis pregnancy centers.
⚠️ Future calls to simply “fund Title X” deserve a closer look on how that funding is used as it may be changing in a big way.
Stay tuned for updates.
(2/2) She Votes IL is proud to be part of the RIFL Act Coalition working to advance this legislation.
Help Illinois lead the nation in reducing gun violence. Join us May 8th in Springfield! Sign up HERE 👉
🧵 (1/2) Gun violence is the #1 killer of children and teens in America, and we’ve normalized living with it.
Dr. Anthony Douglas II refuses that normalization. In a Chicago OR, he sees preventable injuries, shattered families, and lives cut short.
🚨 CALL TO ACTION - DUE TODAY, APRIL 15 BY 2PM🚨
Fill out a witness slip as PROPONENT to support HB4760 to require better restroom access & sanitary conditions for menstruation & lactation on construction sites. 👉 bit.ly/4tp9I0c
Support legislation that improves worker health and dignity.
🚨 CALL TO ACTION — DUE TODAY, APRIL 15 BY 10AM 🚨
Fill out a witness slip as PROPONENT for HB5046 to allow pharmacies to transfer e-prescriptions if they can’t fill them. Help reduce delays and improve access to medications, especially in pharmacy deserts and shortages. Act now 👉 bit.ly/4msEnHq
Graphic with a teal border and celebratory confetti icon announcing “HB4235 PASSES THE HOUSE!” On the left, a photo shows a person holding a handmade card that reads “I LOVE MOM” with a painted red heart. On the right, text explains that the bill limits IDOC and its contractors from charging more than standard postage or any fees for incoming mail, bans profit from mail, phone, or other communication services, and requires annual public reporting on contracts. At the bottom, a banner reads “Call your Illinois State Senator to support this bill!” next to a phone icon, with the She Votes Illinois logo in the corner.
Graphic with a teal border and confetti icon reading “HB4339 PASSES THE HOUSE!” On the left, a smiling female student in a blue graduation gown stands outdoors and tosses her graduation cap into the air. On the right, text states: “Requires a school district maintaining any of grades 9 through 12 to provide all eligible students graduating from high school with the opportunity to register to vote.” At the bottom, a teal banner with a phone icon reads “Call your Illinois State Senator to support this bill!” The She Votes Illinois logo appears in the lower right corner.
Graphic with a teal border and confetti icon announcing “HB4834 PASSES THE HOUSE!” On the left, a photo shows orange prescription pill bottles tipped over with white tablets spilling out onto a surface. On the right, text explains that the bill protects patients and providers by removing testosterone from and preemptively prohibiting the addition of abortion medications or other gender-affirming care medications to the Prescription Monitoring Program. At the bottom, a banner with a phone icon reads “Call your Illinois State Senator to support this bill!” and the She Votes Illinois logo appears in the lower right corner.
📣 Big news from Springfield!
These bills passed the Illinois House and are headed to the Senate, protecting family connections, expanding youth voting, & safeguarding healthcare privacy.
Take action 📣:
Contact your IL State Senator and urge them to support these bills!
Graphic promoting a “Reimagining Public Safety Town Hall: Northshore” event. The design features a stylized city skyline in red, white, and blue. Event details include: Monday, April 20th, doors open at 5:30 PM CST, located in Highwood, Illinois (address provided upon RSVP). Topics listed include RIFL Act, CVI, community policing, and more. The graphic states the event will discuss proven and new solutions to end gun injury in Illinois and includes a “Join Us!” call to action.
📣 North Shore—join us Monday, April 20!
Come learn about the RIFL Act, groundbreaking legislation aimed at holding the gun industry accountable, saving taxpayer dollars, & strengthening support for survivors & communities across Illinois.
Register here: secure.numero.ai/signup/Reima...
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 UChicago Medicine is now offering 24/7 doula support. Making birth more supported, more compassionate, & more equitable for so many parents.
This is what it looks like when we invest in care, dignity & community. #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #BMHW2026 blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/09/a...
ILGA WITNESS SLIPS - WEEK OF APRIL 13
📣 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 📣
✅ Your Voice Is Needed: File a witness slip as a 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐍𝐓 to support legislation that strengthens survivor protections, improves public health, and promotes bodily autonomy and healthcare privacy.
👉 bit.ly/WitnessSlips0413
Flyer for Menstrual Equity Awareness Week event titled “Menstrual Equity in Action: A Student Advocacy Panel” on Thursday, April 23. The graphic features She Votes Illinois branding and states the event will be held virtually on Zoom from 5:30–6:30 PM CDT. It highlights that policymakers, advocates, and students will discuss menstrual equity in Illinois and equip young people to take action. Moderator is Sruthilaya Muthukumar of She Votes Illinois. The flyer emphasizes that students play an important role in shaping policy and raising awareness. A QR code and registration link (bit.ly/SVILeventbrite0423) are included, along with illustrations of menstrual products and the tagline “It’s time to move from awareness to advocacy.”
🎤 Menstrual Equity in Action | April 23
Ready to turn awareness into action? Join us for a virtual panel to hear directly from those doing the work, ask questions, and leave with tools to advocate for #MenstrualEquity in your school and community.
👉 Register now: bit.ly/SVILeventbrite0423
On this first day of #BlackMaternalHealthWeek, The Root highlights 13 urgent truths about #BlackMaternalHealth. Up to 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, yet Black women face disproportionate risk.
We need accountability, investment, & sustained systemic change.
bit.ly/48oCp53
A young woman in a white tank top and cozy sweater sits on a couch holding a red coffee mug and reading on a tablet that shows news headlines. To the right, text reads: “📧 She Votes, She Reads: What Our Community is Reading. Get Informed. Stay Activated. April 11, 2026.” In the bottom right corner is the logo for She Votes Illinois.
She Votes, She Reads: Our latest publication is live!
From the start of Black Maternal Health Week to our upcoming Menstrual Equity advocacy, we’re looking at the connection between our health, our rights, & our democracy.
Read the full update here 👉 mailchi.mp/815a54ba3269/shevotesshereads0411
A federal judge has ruled that patients can still access medication abortion through telehealth and mail-order services for now. The ruling is temporary & part of an ongoing legal battle that could reshape future access. Stay tuned for updates.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on a Colorado “conversion therapy” ban has raised new concerns, but Illinois’ ban remains in place for now.
Illinois is one of 23 states that prohibit the discredited practice which causes real harm to LGBTQ+ youth.
Stay tuned for updates. www.wbez.org/lgbtq/2026/0...
👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 The Chicago South Side Birth Center has broken ground, expanding access to maternal & reproductive health care. Opening in 2027, it will support hundreds of births each year & offer a full spectrum of care close to home. blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/07/s...
Flyer titled “Menstrual Equity Awareness Week” for high school students across Illinois, with dates April 20–24, 2026. A QR code in the top right corner says “Scan for updates!” The week’s schedule is listed in colorful blocks: Monday, April 20: Instagram Live — Kick off the week with a doctor-led conversation about menstrual health Tuesday, April 21: Emergency Kit Making — Create period kits for local shelters Wednesday, April 22: Fundraise with Food — Host a bake sale or partner with a local restaurant Thursday, April 23: Zoom Panel Event — Join for advocacy and action Friday, April 24: Spirit Day – Wear Red — Show support for menstrual equity at school Bottom section reads: “Follow us at @shevotesil. Email info@shevotesil.org with questions.” Footer notes the event is hosted by Northwestern’s Menstrual Equity Activists (MEA) and She Votes Illinois, with both logos displayed.
(2/2) The conversation doesn't end here! We have an entire week of advocacy and education planned. Explore the rest of our Menstrual Equity Awareness Week lineup here: shevotesil.org/current-initiatives.html
#MenstrualHealth #MenstrualEquity #EndPeriodPoverty
Flyer for Menstrual Equity Awareness Week with logos at the top for Northwestern’s Menstrual Equity Activists (MEA) and She Votes Illinois, the event hosts. Header reads “Menstrual Equity Awareness Week” and “Monday, April 20 | IG LIVE.” Center text says “Let’s Talk PERIODS with Dr. Jana Richards, OB/GYN.” On the left is Dr. Jana Richards, smiling and wearing a white blouse. On the right is Hamsika Thumu, smiling and wearing a light green blazer. A yellow banner reads, “Knowledge is power. Join us for a real talk on menstrual health!” Details listed: Time: 5:45 PM CDT; Where: Instagram LIVE @SheVotesIL; Special Guest: Dr. Jana Richards; Host: Hamsika Thumu, She Votes Illinois. Footer reads, “Medical Literacy = Menstrual Equity.” Decorative illustrations of menstrual products appear on the right side.
(1/2) 🩺 Let’s Talk Periods with Dr. Jana Richards! 🩸
Knowledge is power. We’re kicking off Menstrual Equity Awareness Week on Monday, April 20 by going straight to the source.
Join us on IG Live @SheVotesIL to talk #MenstrualHealth with Dr. Jana Richards, OB/GYN.
Graphic promoting a “Reimagining Public Safety Virtual Townhall: Illinois.” The design features a red and blue city skyline silhouette at the top with small burst icons suggesting gun violence. Event details read: Wednesday, April 8th at 6:30 PM CST. A call to action says “Register for Zoom Link.” Additional text highlights “HB3320/SB2279 RIFL Act, CVI, more” and “Discussing proven and new solutions to end gun injury in Illinois.” A red button at the bottom reads “Join Us!”
Tonight’s the night!
Join us for a virtual town hall on how we can reduce violence across Illinois. We’ll break down the RIFL Act (HB3320/SB2279) & what it could mean for our communities.
Don’t miss this important conversation. Register now: secure.numero.ai/signup/RIFL-...
Graphic titled “How to Fill Out a Witness Slip” with a green checkmark and She Votes Illinois logo. It lists steps under four headings: Identification (name, address, firm/agency or “SELF,” title or “N/A,” email, phone); Representation (organization, if any); Position (enter bill version, select position, click “Add Position”); and Testimony (choose “Record of Appearance Only”). Check Terms of Agreement and click “Submit Witness Slip.” Clipboard and pen illustration on right.
(2/2) 📣 SUBJECT MATTER HEARINGS
Please submit TWO witness slips as PROPONENT:
📅 Thursday, April 9
Select SB3264 in the “Add Legislation” dropdown
bit.ly/4tmnkZI
📅 Friday, April 10
Select SB3264 (last bill) in the “Add Legislation” dropdown
bit.ly/489zZak
Graphic with the headline “TAKE ACTION” and “SB3264 Online Safety Act.” Includes an image of a young girl wearing headphones using a laptop at a desk. Text explains that the bill requires social media platforms to add an online safety center, adopt a cyberbullying policy, limit how minors’ personal data is handled, and allows enforcement under consumer fraud law. Bottom banner reads “WITNESS SLIPS NEEDED!” with She Votes Illinois logo.
🧵 (1/2)🚨 CALL TO ACTION 🚨
Support SB3264, the Online Safety Act!
We need safer online spaces for young people. Take a minute to show your support and help protect kids online.
#OnlineSafety #Cyberbullying
While anti-abortion advocates call for more regulation, the latest 2025 data confirms that Governor Pritzker’s efforts to strengthen reproductive rights have made Illinois a critical hub for healthcare. www.wbez.org/health-medic...
Graphic titled “Witness Slips – Issues up for the week of April 6, 2026” from She Votes Illinois. On the left, an illustration of a person holding a megaphone. Three panels labeled “Take Action” highlight bills needing witness slips: SB3264 (Online Safety Act), HB3320 (The RIFL Act), and HB4410 (IDPH – HIV/AIDS funding). Each panel includes a brief description and “Witness Slips Needed!” banner. At the bottom, a call to action reads: “Submit witness slips as a PROPONENT at bit.ly/WitnessSlips0406.”
ILGA WITNESS SLIPS - WEEK OF APRIL 6
📣 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 📣
✅ Fill out witness slips as a 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗡𝗧 support legislation that protects children, improves public health, and increases public safety.
Submit your witness slips here 👉 bit.ly/WitnessSlips0406
#Cyberbullying #gtzil2030 #PublicSafety