The Reproductive Health Organization Deepens Its Focus on Accelerating National Client Capacity and Making Abortion Access Equitable, Especially for Those Facing Severe Barriers to Care
New York, NY – Today, The Brigid Alliance, one of the nation’s leading abortion access and support providers, announced that Serra Sippel, who has successfully led the organization as Interim Executive Director since March 2023, was appointed as the permanent Executive Director.
The Brigid Alliance supports people who must travel long distances for abortion care and provides individualized travel and logistical support for those forced to cross state lines for abortion access. Working to close the gap between the need for an abortion and the ability to access one, The Brigid Alliance takes care of all aspects of client itineraries, including local and long-distance transportation, meals, lodging, child care, and more.
Sippel’s depth of executive experience leading high-impact work to advance gender equality and sexual and reproductive health rights in the U.S. and globally has enabled The Brigid Alliance to strengthen its mission to make abortion burden-free and accessible to all.
Since Sippel took the helm of the organization last year, she has led new processes for strategic planning initiatives, ensuring the organization could respond effectively and operate in a post-Dobbs era. She doubled the staff, tripled the number of bilingual staff, hired new leadership to accelerate the capacity of client services, and expanded new partnerships with clinics to increase the organization’s capacity to receive referrals from over 200 clinics and providers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Under her leadership, The Brigid Alliance is poised to significantly increase the number of clients it serves as well as establish more clinic and provider partnerships, expand services, and hire additional travel coordinators to meet increasing need.
“As draconian bans and restrictions roll back abortion rights across the country, Serra’s transition to permanent Executive Director could not come at a more critical time. She has helped to ensure we remain nimble and effective in a rapidly changing political, legal, and healthcare landscape, which poses risks to abortion seekers at several turns. Abortion is health care, and we strive to see a world where bodily autonomy is the norm and access to abortion is not dependent on zip codes or bank accounts. Leadership like Serra’s is indispensable to bolster our mission and secure a future where everyone has access to abortion care, uninhibited by stigma or systemic barriers.”
Jasmine Teer, Board Chair of The Brigiud Alliance
“The Brigid Alliance’s client-centered and holistic approach to helping abortion seekers access care with compassion and dignity helps build our movement and honors every abortion seeker’s humanity and autonomy. Serra’s longstanding commitment and dedication to elevating the voices and experiences of people most impacted by injustice is critical during this pivotal time for abortion access in our country.”
Renee Bracey Sherman, Founder and Co-Executive Director of We Testify and co-author of Liberating Abortion
Over the last five years, The Brigid Alliance has supported more than 5,000 clients to access abortion care. Since the Dobbs ruling in June 2022, the total cost of helping its clients travel for their abortion care has increased significantly, with the average costs of its client’s itineraries now exceeding $2,300. While The Brigid Alliance has served patients from all 50 states, the overwhelming majority of clients travel from the South.
“Under Serra’s leadership, The Brigid Alliance has grown to help more people travel to clinics across the country at a time when we’re seeing increasing need for later abortion care. Abortion seekers in this country are in crisis and I’m grateful to have Serra and The Brigid Alliance’s partnership to deliver the quality care they deserve. Her tireless efforts to get people to abortion care are rooted in years of experience and a deep compassion for others, and I am delighted to continue our work together in the future.”
Diane Horvath, MD, MPH, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at Partners in Abortion Care LLC
“In a time when abortion access is increasingly under threat, organizations like the Brigid Alliance need thoughtful and intentional leadership to navigate the challenges ahead. Serra’s depth of experience and strategic approach have proven invaluable as the Interim Executive Director, guiding the organization through transformative change. We’re excited to congratulate her as she steps into this permanent role, and we look forward to working together to continue strengthening access for those who need it most.”
Porsha Pinder and Lynn McCann-Yeh, Co-Executive Directors, Baltimore Abortion Fund.
“Pregnancy Justice and The Brigid Alliance share a commitment to the civil and human rights of pregnant people, especially those who have been historically marginalized by racism, economic deprivation, and gender oppression. Serra’s proven compassionate and strategic leadership centering people most impacted by policies that violate sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice globally shows that she is exactly the kind of leader we need at this critical moment for reproductive rights and freedoms in the U.S. Her contributions will continue to be invaluable to the broader reproductive justice movement as we strive to uphold access to reproductive care for everyone.”
Lourdes A. Rivera, President, Pregnancy Justice
Prior to working at Brigid, Sippel served as President of CHANGE (Center for Health and Gender Equity) for 15 years, where she worked on bold policy and advocacy campaigns for sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice, and led the organization over a period of significant growth. In 2021, Serra co-founded Fòs Feminista, an international alliance for sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice.
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About The Brigid Alliance
The Brigid Alliance supports people who must travel long distances for abortion care. Working across the United States, we arrange and fund confidential travel, lodging, childcare, and logistical assistance, closing the gap between the need for an abortion and the ability to access one.