Join us virtually on October 5th at 12 pm to hear personal stories of accessing reproductive healthcare prior to Roe v. Wade with Toni Van Pelt and Reverend Christopher Martin
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Although Toni Van Pelt is retired from her first career as a travel agent, she stays very busy. She currently serves as the vice president of her NOW chapter. Most recently she served as the president of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She served on the board of the NOW as the Southeast Regional Director and as Florida NOW’s president and treasurer. As a congressional lobbyist, she organized and directed one of the first public policy offices of the secular humanist movement in Washington, DC. Her key focus during her working career was on women’s rights, LGTBIA plus issues, the importance of science to the well-being of the nation, on the validity of separation of religion and government, and the defense of democracy and secularism.
The Rev. Christopher S. Martin is a retired Episcopal priest, married to Sandy Martin, and active in the League of Women Voters since 2015. As a young priest, new to Jacksonville in 1969, he met a Presbyterian minister named Rev. Marvin Lutz. Together they formed a local chapter of Clergy Consultation Service, which offered abortion counseling and referrals for women in need. After Roe v. Wade, Rev Marvin Lutz and Dr. Max Super founded the Jacksonville Women’s Center for Reproductive Health, the first non-profit, free standing abortion clinic in Florida. Soon after, Christopher joined the board of directors for the center. Christopher later became Chairman of the board of Planned Parenthood of North Florida. He became Chairman of the Board in 2005. Although retired from his position, he still supports and works for reproductive health and freedom for women (he is the father of two daughters.).