Spring Events and Activities in Full Swing

Population Connection members and supporters have brought loads of energy and enthusiasm to our spring slate of virtual events — we hope you’ll be inspired to join us in the future! You can find recaps of featured events and see what we have in store for the coming months here.

March

We celebrated International Women’s Day with Wendo Sahar, the Founder and Executive Director of Kenya-based NGO Dandelion Africa. This women-led organization focuses on reducing gender-based violence and improving women’s and girls’ reproductive health, maternal and child health, and economic livelihoods.

In just the last five years, Dandelion has provided reproductive health services to over 250,000 women and girls, eliminated female genital mutilation in 36 villages, facilitated the start of over 10,000 businesses led by rural women … and more!

We’re proud to feature this incredible organization and the work of Wendo and her team.

April

We celebrated Earth Month with a slew of activities supported by members and supporters like you!

Over 200 people joined us for two virtual events:

• We hosted an official side event to the 58th Session of the UN Commission on Population and Development called What’s the Story With Family Planning? How Women’s Empowerment, Reproductive Freedom, and Storytelling Build Healthier, More Sustainable Communities. Panelists from Population Media Center and Women for Conservation captivated the audience with their vivid stories of the life-changing power of family planning.
• Population Connection President and CEO John Seager gave a passionate and provocative presentation entitled: Deadly Silence: Ignoring Overpopulation Risks the Future of Our Living Planet.

Members tabled at Earth Day events in New York City, Pensacola, Florida, and Galena, Illinois — reaching hundreds of people in their local communities with materials and information making the links between population growth, climate change, resource depletion, and other environmental challenges.

We reopened the Green Spaces of Our Lives photo project for submissions and invite you to share a photo of yourself enjoying your favorite natural space (examples of what your fellow members have submitted below)! You can see the current entries and submit your own here.

May

Every other month, Population Connection members and supporters meet on Zoom to discuss a book or long-form publication. During our May meeting, we discussed What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. This 2024 New York Times bestseller offers an optimistic take on the future of the climate crisis. It features a diverse array of experts, including farmers, financiers, architects, and advocates, to envision a flourishing world where climate action triumphs. In exploring these viewpoints, Johnson asks, “What if we get climate action right?”

Upcoming

Our very popular Summer Photo Contest is now in its fourth year, and we invite YOU to submit photos! Winning entries will be printed in the September issue of this magazine, featured on our website throughout the year, and used in other Population Connection digital and print publications. Learn more and enter the contest here. The deadline for entries is World Population Day — July 11!

This summer, we’re hosting a special series with our Senior Analyst, Hannah Evans. She spent two weeks in March visiting all four of our Guatemalan Global Partners: Manos Abiertas, Maya Health Alliance, Seeds for a Future, and WINGS. Join us to learn more about these organizations’ important work, which complements our mission to stabilize population. Register for each virtual event in this series here!

Natalie Widel, nwidel@popconnect.org