ST. PETERSBURG — Bringing art to civic dialogue has become part of the mission of Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project (PDAP) a local nonprofit that combines creative opportunities, family engagement, and now “art to the issues” throughout Tampa Bay.
On Saturday, October 5, PDAP will hold its third voter registration event of the year during the “Amendment 4: What Does it Really Mean?” conversation with maternal and reproductive health experts.
The panel and audience conversation will happen alongside the “BODY RIGHTS” Comedy & Music showcase at Pinellas County African American History Museum, in North Greenwood, Clearwater, from 1 to 4 pm. There will be an art corner for children supplied by NOMAD Studio, as well as food.
Florida 4 All, Black Voters Matter, and League of Women Voters of North Pinellas will be on hand to give voter registration information.
Featuring local maternal and reproductive health experts, the panel will look at the larger issues around Amendment 4, which will be voted on during the general election.
The panel includes health advocate Sharlene Edwards, MPH, BSN, RD, CIC, founder of My Better Living LLC; Courtney West, DONA-trained doula certified in evidence-based pain management during childbirth and founder of 3 Gems Birth Services; Roxey C. Nelson, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East; Chantala Davis, president and founder of A Mother’s Arms, Inc, and Raena Boston, creator of The Working Momtras and co-founder of Chamber of Mothers.
Amendment 4, the Right to Abortion Initiative, is on the ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.
Balletpedia.org: states “A ‘yes’ vote supports adding the following language to the Florida Constitution’s Declaration of Rights: “… no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” Amendment 4 would maintain the current constitutional provision that permits a law requiring parents to be notified before a minor can receive an abortion.”
Dr. Christy M. Foust, Tampa Bay Organizer with Florida For All, noted, “Education on Amendment 4 is crucial right now, as misinformation is being spread by its opponents and even some Florida agencies. Voters deserve accurate information about how this Amendment will impact women and pregnant people, including themselves, so they can make informed decisions to support those affected by the current 6-week abortion ban.”
My Better Living LLC founder Edwards is the former director of Disease Control for the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County; her work in disease control and reproductive and maternal health includes extensive experience supporting vulnerable populations like refugees.
“It has provided me with a deep understanding of the barriers and inequities that exist in healthcare. I agreed to join this panel because addressing these disparities, particularly for Black and Brown women, is crucial to advancing public health and ensuring that all women have access to the care they need,” she acknowledged.
Edwards went on to add that restricting abortion access disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly for Black and Brown women, low-income communities, and those who already face barriers to accessing healthcare.
“Limiting government interference in abortion care before viability or when a patient’s health is at risk protects the fundamental right to make decisions about one’s own health,” she noted.
The panel will begin at 2 pm; before and after the panel comedian Amanda Manez, Darluz the DJ, and poet Miesha Brundridge will be performing as part of the afternoon’s “BODY RIGHTS” Comedy & Music Showcase.
This is a FREE community event. There will be all-day voter registration on-site, with the League of Women Voters of North Pinellas. This event is sponsored by Florida4All and Black Voters Matter. Black Voters Matter also offers an online toolbox for more information: https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/voter-toolbox.
Edwards responded to the question on how the community can support advances around the struggles for Black, Brown, and low-income women’s maternal and reproductive health by saying it was important to advocate for policies like Amendment 4, which protects women’s autonomy over their own healthcare decisions.
She noted that this is especially critical for women of color, who often face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth due to systemic inequalities in healthcare.
Edwards said it’s vital to ensure that healthcare providers offer culturally competent care and that the voices of Black and Brown women are at the forefront of policy discussions.
“As a public health professional, I’ve seen how access to proper reproductive health services, free of delays and government intervention, can save lives and improve health outcomes,” she affirmed.
The “Amendment 4: What Does it Really Mean?” The panel will happen alongside the “BODY RIGHTS” Comedy & Music showcase at the Pinellas African American History Museum, 1101 Marshall St, Clearwater, FL 33755-2644 starting at 1 pm. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/881713027233136.
Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, Inc. is a registered 501c3 organization, with a mission to support the arts in underrepresented communities of Tampa Bay through creative programming, family events, and civic education. For more information, visit https://pinellasdap.org; follow on Instagram @pinellasdap and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PinellasDAP.
The Pinellas County African American History Museum at The Curtis serves as a repository of historical and cultural information and physical artifacts primarily relating to African Americans in Pinellas County, Florida.
Located in a building that once served as a school for African American children, Curtis Elementary School, and named after renowned educator S.W. Curtis, the museum is located in Clearwater, Florida. Visit http://curtismuseum.org. Follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pcaahistorymuseum/
