Planned Parenthood’s Raíz program is committed to the leadership of Latinx organizers and their creativity and work in breaking down barriers in accessing health care in the Latinx community.
What We Do
Community Outreach
We engage with Latinx communities throughout New York to provide education, resources and support around reproductive health and rights by organizing local community events such as cafecitos and other activities that reach out specifically to the Latinx community.
Advocacy and Policy
We advocate for policies and lead campaigns that put Latinx voices at the center and address the unique needs of Latinx people in reproductive health care.
Collaboration and Partnership
We partner with community organizations and leaders to amplify Latinx voices and create meaningful change.
Join Us
Participate in Our Events
Stay up to date on our upcoming events, workshops and community forums.
Volunteer
Become a volunteer and make a difference in the lives of Latinx people in New York
At a time when reproductive healthcare is constantly under attack, it's more important than ever to get involved with local organizations doing the necessary work to support so many individuals and families across the country. For me personally, the issue of reproductive justice is incredibly important because an individual's agency and bodily autonomy is the foundation of humanity and when that's under attack no one is safe. Particularly since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, I've become even more passionate about advocating for reproductive freedoms. Working with PPGNY has allowed me not only to support this important work for reproductive justice, but also to work in coalition with other causes, namely advocating for immigrants facing the threat of detainment and deportation. I'm really looking forward to continuing to volunteer with PPGNY and the Raíz program so that I can continue to find ways to support the local community in advocating for these important freedoms.
- Mikayla DaSilva, Raiz Volunteer Leader, Region 2
Join the Raíz Program
Volunteering with Raíz has been a wonderful experience. I am proud to be a part of a cause that is actively bridging gaps in the Latinx Community by educating the community about access to resources and information that they may not be aware of due to language barriers. Raíz's work is vital in helping destigmatize certain topics that are well prevalent in the Latinx Community, especially those revolving around reproductive care.
Volunteering with Raíz has not only been a way to give back, but it has also made me feel deeply connected to my heritage as a Dominican American. It has given me a sense of belonging that I cherish and motivates me to keep on volunteering.
- Oriana Acevedo, Raíz Volunteer
About Raíz
Since 2014, the Raíz program has worked to build sustainable, community-organizing teams in mutual partnership with Latinx communities to improve their health and rights.
Raíz began as an unprecedented effort by Planned Parenthood to sign Latinxs up for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. Today, organizers, fellows and volunteer teams work on local Raíz initiatives, including Coverage for All, comprehensive sex education and much more! Raíz is about more than just health. It’s about justice, knowledge, and power.
Our shared vision is that Raíz exists and thrives in every single state and affiliate, as we know affiliates serve Latinx communities every single day. Today, Planned Parenthood health centers provide care to almost 2.4 million patients per year, 24% of whom identify as Latinx.
Our Definitions
Root: Raíz means ‘root’ in Spanish, and it symbolizes the work we do in the Latinx communities from the ground up.
Latinx: It’s a gender inclusive and non-binary term that we use to describe the people we serve. It’s a term embraced by our team because we aim to build power among everyone in the Latinx community, regardless of gender.