Monica Simpson facts for kids

Monica Simpson is a Black activist and artist. She is the executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. This is the largest group in the United States working for reproductive justice for women of color.

Monica Simpson's Early Life and Education

Monica Raye Simpson grew up in Wingate, North Carolina. She often found herself as the only Black child in advanced classes. This experience inspired her to become an activist. She wanted to fight for the rights of Black people and women.

Simpson earned a degree in communications. She studied at Johnson C. Smith University. This is a Historically Black University (HBCU). While there, she helped organize for LGBTQ rights. She worked both on and off campus.

After college, she became the Operations Director. She was the first person of color at the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Community Center. Simpson also helped start Charlotte's Black Gay Pride Celebration. For this work, she received awards. These awards came from the National Black Justice Coalition and the Human Rights Coalition.

Monica Simpson's Career in Activism

In 2010, Simpson moved to Atlanta, Georgia. She became the Development Coordinator for SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. This group first started the reproductive justice movement. It focuses on women of color in the United States.

She quickly moved up in the organization. She became Deputy Coordinator in 2011. Then, she was Interim Executive Director in 2012. Finally, she became the executive director in 2013.

Fighting for Health Equality

In 2014, Simpson spoke in Geneva. She testified before the United Nations Committee. She presented a special report. SisterSong, the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), and another group created it.

The report said the United States was not doing enough. It was failing to address high rates of Black maternal deaths. This meant the U.S. was breaking an international human rights agreement. The committee agreed with the report's ideas. They asked the U.S. to fix racial differences in health. They also asked for better data collection on maternal and infant deaths.

After this report, SisterSong and CRR started Black Mamas Matter. This group aimed to help Black mothers. In 2016, it became its own organization. Simpson continued to be involved.

Art for Social Change

In 2014, Simpson started Artists United for Reproductive Justice. This program helps artists of color. They create art to change how people think about reproductive justice. The goal is to shift culture in the U.S.

In 2016, Simpson made history. She was one of the first two reproductive justice leaders to speak. She spoke to the Democratic National Convention Platform Drafting Committee. Because of this, the platform included repealing the Hyde Amendment for the first time.

Awards and Recognition

In 2014, Essence Magazine named Simpson one of the New Civil Rights Leaders. This award recognized her important work.

Monica Simpson as an Artist

Simpson has been a singer since she was young. She grew up singing gospel music in church. Her mother and grandmother also sang gospel.

She has performed in many plays. These include For the Love of Harlem and For Colored Girls. In 2015, she released her first music album. It was called Revolutionary Love: The Live Recording. She has also performed at events across the country. This includes singing at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march in Atlanta, Georgia.