By Angela Giacchetti, edited by Jim Luce
On March 22, 2011, I found myself in the company of some true champions for women’s health as I was asked to share my story at the Planned Parenthood Truth Tour in Englewood, N.J. Even as an outspoken patient of Planned Parenthood and a staunch advocate for women’s rights, I found myself intimidated to talk about my personal struggles in front of hundreds of people, including my elected officials and a rowdy group of anti-choice protestors.
Michele Jaker, Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Affiliated of New Jersey.
I felt small and unimportant. How could someone like me make a real difference in the face of crushing state budget cuts that threaten the very existence of family planning facilities all across the state of New Jersey?
That is the day I met Michele Jaker, the Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Affiliated of New Jersey (PPANJ). Michele literally held my hand as we navigated through the crowd to the podium and stood next to Senator Frank Lautenberg, Assemblywoman Linda Stender, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, and other New Jersey legislators.
Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey with activist and singer Bono.
It was up at that podium that I learned what sets Michele apart from others in her field: she believes in and understands the power of younger advocates like me. In fact, she sees how we all have the ability to make the changes we want to see in our state.
I am pleased to announce that Michele was recently recognized by the New Leaders Council for the “40 Under 40” award, an honor bestowed upon forty leaders under the age of forty, along with Dan Choi, Emily May, and other progressive power houses. With a passion for women’s health, Michele is best known for her position as the Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey (PPANJ) and the Family Planning Association of New Jersey (FPANJ).
Assemblywoman Linda Stender of New Jersey.
PPANJ is the statewide public affairs and government relations arm of New Jersey’s five Planned Parenthood affiliates and FPANJ is the membership association representing the majority of New Jersey’s family planning health care agencies. She also serves as the director of the Planned Parenthood Action Committee of New Jersey, a statewide political action committee that works in support of pro-choice and pro-women’s health candidates in New Jersey.
Prior to her current positions, Michele worked as a per diem attorney and was the Chief of Staff to State Senator Joseph Vitale, Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
Angela Giacchetti speaks at “Stand UP for Women: held June 20, 2011.
http://vimeo.com/...
Since I met Michele eight months ago, she has continued to believe in my ability to make a difference. She works tirelessly in the face of state budget cuts to educate New Jersey legislators and the general public about the critical women’s health services that Planned Parenthood provides. Not only has she mobilized against budget cuts, but she has also developed and implemented pro-active strategies to improve reproductive health care in New Jersey.
Angela Giacchetti. A young feminist from the greater New York City area, Angela Giacchetti is a recent Gender Studies and Political Science graduate of the State University of New York at Purchase College. Prior to and throughout college, Angela has dedicated almost a decade to working in health and wellness related positions. Currently, she is working as a Summer Intern for Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey, teen feminist blog, The FBomb, and acting as Production Assistant for Brooklyn-based indie band Futurist’s album release event, Bleeding Hearts.
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