Where Do We Go from Here? First Reproductive Justice Futurisms Think Tank Held at Smith

This article was originally published in the March 2025 print edition.

From March 12 to March 14, Smith College hosted the first Reproductive Justice Futurisms Think Tank convening in the Smith College Conference Center, gathering Reproductive Justice scholars from all across the country to present their work and plan next steps for the movement. 

The Think Tank was co-organized by associate Smith College professor, author-activist and founding member of Reproductive Justice movement Loretta Ross and Amherst College professor Dr. Jallicia Jolly. The team set up a learning library for people to continue reading about the concept following the event. Recordings of the livestream of the convening are all available on Loretta Ross’ YouTube channel for students and scholars to watch or refer back to.

But what are Reproductive Justice Futurisms exactly? Ross answered this question in her opening statement at the conference: “Reproductive justice futurisms are about hope. It’s always about our belief in the future and our belief that things will be better in the future, way beyond our dreams. It is what we can do now to make these dreams of tomorrow possible and how we can make it not only better for ourselves but for our descendants.” 

Ross and Jolly invited several influential speakers to dive deeper into how these dreams can become reality. The convening included names like Byllye Avery, founder of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, Paris Hatcher, founder of Black Feminist Future, writer and poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs and many more. 

The speakers presented at one of seven “plenaries” or panels with topics ranging from broad questions like “Why is Reproductive Justice necessary from the past to the future?” to more specific and scientific talks like “the state of AI, genomic and reproductive technologies.” After the panels, the participants had open discussions with the presenters and brainstormed next steps for the movement. 

Smith students from Ross’ classes and students doing research in the field gathered to share their findings in the classroom and learn from the founders of the movement. Senior Amelie Horn ’25 presented her medical research on the implications of the use of the drug diethylstilbestrol to prevent miscarriages. Smith graduates Robynne Lucas ’22 and Fhrynée Lambert ’24 presented on the fear mongering tactics of the Trump administration, diving into the question, “Do we freak out now, later or nah?”

The conference began with a “Libation Altar” led by Terri Bailey from the Bailey Learning and Arts Collective (BLAAC). At the ceremony, Bailey watered a small tree to symbolically bring “life affirming” energy into the space. She invited participants to give thanks to their ancestors who began the fight for Reproductive Justice and to set their intentions for the next few days of the Think Tank. 

Bailey finished with a call and response of Àse (pronounced Ah-shay), a word used widely in the African diaspora to mean “energy” or “life force.” Sounds of “Àse” echoed throughout the rest of the convening whenever participants or speakers felt a deep resonation with the words of a speaker, regardless of whether that person was a founder of the movement or a student who was new to this work.

Ross spoke about the importance of recognizing both this past and current scholarship and activist work in the movement of Reproductive Justice and Futurisms. “The chain of freedom stretches back to your ancestors who we just called into the room,” she said. “And it stretches forward towards your descendants for whom we’re working to build a brighter future for. Your only job right now is to make sure that chain doesn’t break at your link.”

Despite the uncertainty and fear participants expressed throughout the convening, the conference leaders were focused on uplifting their community. Bailey guided participants through a meditation on what had been learned and a reflection on how to move forward. 

Dázon Dixon Diallo, founder of SisterLove, began by reflecting on what the movement and the conference meant to her. “When someone asks me what Reproductive Justice Futurism is, what I want it to look and feel like, it’s right now,” she said. 

“That we’re in solidarity. That we’re in reflection. That we are together. That we are in gratitude. And that we are in motion because we are moving. Because we have somewhere to go and we’re gonna get there. Together. Àse.” Diallo was met with a chorus of “Àse” in response and one lone cry of, “It ain’t over.”

One participant brought the conversation back to the heart of the convening: hope for the future. “Hope is beautiful because regardless of my current situation, it whispers there is more and more. So for us, there is more and more.”