What does it take to run a grassroots reproductive justice organization in the Deep South, where access is scarce, rights are under constant attack, and the work often rests on just a few determined shoulders? This semester, I got to find out.
Through the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights internship program at Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute, I had the privilege of working with the Nancy Davis Foundation, a nonprofit founded by activist Nancy Davis after her own harrowing experience navigating Louisiana’s abortion ban. When her unborn child was diagnosed with Acrania, doctors told her that termination was medically necessary, yet impossible under state law. She made it her mission to ensure Acrania was accepted as one of the clinical exceptions to the ban
for all women who would come after her. Her success in that endeavor fueled the birth of the foundation, which now fights for reproductive freedom, uplifting the voices most affected by restrictive policies.
As a Newcomb Scholar who spent undergrad engaging in scholarship at the intersections of race, class, gender, and public health, this internship felt like a natural extension of my passions. While I’ve been involved with nonprofits since high school, this was the first time I’d seen just how much weight one person can carry in a small advocacy team. Nancy manages nearly everything herself, which meant I had to stay flexible, intuitive, and proactive, adapting my pace to match her needs and being thoughtful about how to contribute. It was a humbling reminder that real community-led work often isn’t glamorous but deeply personal and demanding.
Early in the internship, I created a month-long content calendar for the foundation, helping Nancy maintain consistent, relevant posts. I also compiled a list of hashtags to boost reach and wrote 30 short TikTok-style scripts to make future content easier for her to produce. Together, Nancy and I launched NDF’s Repro News, a new Instagram series spotlighting reproductive justice headlines, both local and national. I designed carousels for the series that were visually engaging and easy to digest, helping translate dense policy into shareable, human-centered content with Nancy’s voice and branding. I also began building a LinkedIn presence for the foundation to strengthen community ties and offer insight into where support is concentrated, whether in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or beyond.
Because the internship was short, I wanted to leave something behind. This led me to create a comprehensive media kit with logos, color palettes and hex codes, fonts, tone guidelines, and templates to help future interns get up to speed quickly. In my final week, I’m working on compiling a list of potential grant opportunities to support the foundation’s future work.
The Nancy Davis Foundation is doing amazing things in a region where reproductive rights are always on the line. I’m proud to have played a small part in that fight, and I’m walking away with a deeper appreciation for the grit, care, and creativity that keep movements like Nancy’s alive.
