Get Involved!

Join our network of supporters in advocating for change by participating in various activities.

Attend Virtual Events with guest speakers and our Global Partners to stay informed and connected with our work. Express your thoughts on population-related issues by writing LTEs or Op-Ed pieces, amplifying your voice on critical topics. Become a local advocate by raising awareness in your community—share resources, foster conversations, and be a catalyst for change. Take direct action by contacting your representatives, urging them to prioritize investments in family planning programs. Stand up for reproductive rights by working with our sister organization, Population Connection Action Fund.

Together, we can create a powerful force for positive transformation! Learn more about how to get involved with our efforts below.

Partner Perspectives

Site Visit with WINGS Guatemala

Join us for the next virtual Site Visit Series session, spotlighting our Guatemalan partners, WINGS Guatemala! From expanding access to family planning in remote communities to empowering adolescents and adults with vital health education, WINGS is making a profound difference for thousands of people in Guatemala.

This session will begin with a presentation by Population Connection Senior Analyst Hannah Evans, who visited WINGS earlier this year. Hannah will provide an overview of Guatemala’s demography and development challenges before sharing photos and stories from her site visit, where she observed WINGS’ day-to-day operations.

Then, we will welcome WINGS’ Executive Director, Eleanor Unsworth, and Programs Director, Erik Pocasangre. They will discuss the organization’s programs, share inspiring stories from the field, and answer questions submitted by audience members.

Date: Tuesday, September 23rd
Time: 3pm ET/12pm PT

Register Here!

Educating the Next Generation

Presentation with Population Education

Population Education equips K–12 educators with the tools to teach about the connections between global population trends, people, and the environment.

A highlight of PopEd is our annual World of 8 Billion student video contest. This global competition invites middle and high school students to produce a 60-second video that explores the impacts of population growth on one of three topics each year—and propose a creative, sustainable solution.

During the event, you’ll see this year’s winning entries and hear about the incredible response from students worldwide. In addition, you’ll learn more about PopEd’s professional development workshops, ready-to-use curriculum, and interactive classroom activities that impact classrooms across the country and beyond.

Date: Tuesday, October 28th
Time: 2pm ET/11am PT

Register Here!

Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion

By Gabrielle Blair

This New York Times bestseller reframes the abortion debate by placing responsibility for unwanted pregnancies on men. Blair presents 28 concise, witty, and evidence-based arguments showing how contraception is simpler, more accessible, and less burdensome for men than for women. By contrasting the ease of condoms with the complex, ongoing demands of female contraceptives, the book calls on men to take more accountability.

Date: Thursday, November 20th
Time: 4pm ET/1pm PT

Register Here!

*We don’t record book club meetings, so tune in live, if you can, to catch the discussion!

John Milliken

Member Since 2008

Population Connection member John Milliken’s life has been shaped by a rich tapestry of experiences, starting with his upbringing in a military family.

John was around ten-years-old when he visited his grandparents in New York City. The sheer number of people there struck him. “When I saw how crowded New York City was, I’d lie awake at night thinking, ‘How do they have enough clean water for all these people? There must be 10,000 flushes going on all the time in that city!” This curiosity grew as he moved from Elmira, a small farm community,  to a larger city, Sacramento, California, where he became more involved in thinking about the world’s growing population.

Shortly after graduating from Sacramento State College, John joined the Air Force in 1967, serving two tours in Vietnam and spending 14 years, including reserve time, in the military. His career took a different flight path when he became a pilot for Delta, a role he filled for 28 years. His wife, a flight attendant, joined him in exploring the world, often with their son in tow.

Now retired from his flying career, John stays busy with his love for antique cars and traveling. He combines his hobbies and travels to judge car shows, including serving as Chief Judge at the International Auto Expo in New Delhi and the San Marino Car Show in California.

John was aware of the Zero Population Growth (ZPG) movement and became a supporting donor of Population Connection in 2008. He views rapid population growth as the root cause of many global issues. He expresses concern about the environmental changes he has witnessed over the years, saying, “I’ve traveled to other places, too, that I knew when I was much, much younger, and now they’re changed, and not nearly as pretty as they were before.”

John’s frustration with the lack of attention to population issues motivates him to stay involved. He actively responds to misleading headlines about population growth, particularly those from economists, by writing letters to the editor. “I would like people to become more aware of their carbon footprints,” John says, emphasizing his desire to break stigmas and shift negative perceptions about how population impacts our environment and social issues. His activism extends to women’s rights, a cause he passionately supports.

As a member of Population Connection, John is part of the Leadership Circle and stays engaged through virtual programs and reading our quarterly magazine. He also enjoys the interactive #MyPopulationNumber activity, reflecting on how the global population has grown during his lifetime: “When I was born in December of 44′, there were 2.4 billion people. My wife was born in August of ’58, and it was up to 2.9 billion people. When my son was born in 1995, the population was 5.7 billion. It has gone from 2.4 billion people to 8.2 billion people in my 80 years.”

Through his activism, John hopes to inspire others to become more aware of their impact on the planet and to advocate for meaningful change in addressing population growth and its role in global issues. We greatly appreciate having such a passionate member dedicated to protecting our planet. If you’re as committed to achieving global population stabilization as John, we encourage you to contact us at engage@popconnect.org or to tune in for an upcoming virtual event!

Membership Relations Staff