In 2021, we updated our mission and vision statements to better reflect PPLM’s commitment to health equity:
- Mission: The mission of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is to ensure every person in the state has access to sexual and reproductive health care and education no matter who they are, where they live, or who they love. Our work is informed by research, powered by advocacy, and conducted with compassion and respect.
- Vision: Sexual and reproductive health is essential to every person’s overall health, well-being and happiness. At Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM), we envision a state where equitable access to sexual and reproductive health care and education is the norm, and where every person can decide what’s right for them and their families. PPLM will fight for a world where no systemic barriers stand between Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (or BIPOC), LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities—and their right to access the full range of sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion. We will relentlessly pursue racial justice and health equity in all aspects of our work, backed by the power of our staff, supporters, community partners, and patients.
PPLM has the tools, resources, and obligation to partner in our communities to promote health equity, especially as it relates to sexual and reproductive health. To do this, we must start with ourselves. In order to authentically address health equity in communities across Massachusetts, we are taking focused steps to make progress in our own organization. We have embarked on a diversity, equity, and inclusion process that will lead us toward becoming an organization that better reflects our patients and embodies cultural humility. Simultaneously, we will focus on specific sexual and reproductive health outcomes in key areas throughout the state where we believe the greatest impact can be achieved for people of color based on need, PPLM presence, and public support.
By pursuing these health equity initiatives, our work with community partners will result in people of color experiencing:
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Greater access to sexual and reproductive health care and education;
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Decreased stigma when accessing sexual and reproductive health services;
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Increased opportunity for authentic and culturally appropriate care; and
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Better sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
Additionally, we believe every person should have equitable access to safe, legal abortion, no matter who they are or where they live. PPLM recognizes that geographical and systemic barriers entrenched in discrimination and stigma prevent people in Massachusetts from having equitable opportunity to choose their own path and access abortion care. To combat this, we continue to focus on expanding abortion access across the Commonwealth.