Bridging the Gap

Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund began the Bridging the Gap deep canvassing program in 2015! Abortion stigma is pervasive in society. This project aims to address abortion stigma by educating and empowering supporters, and by facilitating empathetic, values-based conversations. Bridging the Gap is organizing strategy, abortion rights literacy, volunteer leadership coaching, community connections, and much more! 

Nearly 1 in 4 women have an abortion in the U.S. Despite this, there is a culture of stigmatization of sexual and reproductive healthcare that acts to silence people who have had abortions. Bridging the Gap seeks to facilitate conversations to reduce abortion stigma and inspire advocacy.  

By having one-on-one conversations, we help people understand their abortion attitudes in a deeper way, and make the connection with what they believe and how they vote.  

Deep canvassing is about long-term change. Over the past five years, we have shown the incredible power of this work to change minds, build bridges across different life experiences, and inspire action in support of pro-abortion rights policies, like insurance coverage for abortion.