EGA President and CEO
Dear EGA Community,
As you are aware, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, ending the constitutional right to abortion. We were warned of this outcome and many of us saw it foreshadowed in the years leading up to the decision. As we parse the text for determinations and directives and brace our networks for the work ahead, we are faced with the stark reality that the social contract is being negotiated in ways that compromise our future, and with epigenetic force, narrow our options.
The SCOTUS opinion is breathtaking in its scope, assumptions, and reversal of the long-held procedures of our highest court. Frankly, the opinion is stunning, and it is meant to be. That said, it also provides a tangible opportunity to contest for a social contract that can hold complexity, equity, and the dreams of the generations. We are alive and this is our reality.
Let me remind you that in this moment, we remain a network of alignment and choice. I encourage you to take stock of this challenge and stand in your power to convene and resource a measured response to this calculated fissure that exploits the divergence within our union.
Our community is here to intervene in long-suffering and pool our resources for impact. So many of us work for people, places, and our planet, and support vulnerable communities. As an intentional Association, we are outraged by the political reframing of our access to basic services, healthcare, and the safety of our bodies.
We stand in solidarity with movements fighting for an equitable and inclusive future. I also remind you that the US Constitution is not a sacred text and at a minimum, it should be a reflective set of agreements about how we want to live. On behalf of the whole team here at EGA, please know that we remain committed to working alongside you to create the enabling conditions for a habitable planet, a just economy, and a social contract that generates—rather than shrinks—in the face of a multiracial, multigenerational future. And today gives us more to do, together.
Onward in solidarity,
Tamara Toles O’Laughlin (she/her/hers)
CEO and President
Environmental Grantmakers Association
