Young Floridians Making Things Happen! Featured Activist: Abigail Malick

My name is Abigail Malick, and I am the President of VOX UCF: Voices for Planned Parenthood at the University of Central Florida.  UCF is a conservative campus, but our members are some of the most determined and caring people that I have ever come across.  We take pride that we are one of the most active chapters of VOX in Florida.  Currently we are working hard to ensure that VOX UCF has a permanent place and voice in Orlando. 

In the past year, VOX UCF has participated in many activities with PPGO, Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, including lobbying in Tallahassee for Healthy Teens Act and Prevention First Act.  We also had the honor of participating in the Roe v. Wade Anniversary where I was given the opportunity to speak to young activists about their roll in protecting reproductive freedom.  Most recently, VOX UCF set up information booths and distributed fliers around campus for the GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign.  This campaign is for anyone 25 years old and younger, it allows them to go to their local Planned Parenthood to be tested for four of the most common STD’s, for only $35.  These projects allow us to reach out to the community and educate them as to what Planned Parenthood is about and what we, as VOX UCF, stand for.

We create and hold functions, on our own initiative, to stay financially self-reliant as well as to enlist new members.  One of the functions include our 4th annual “Let’s Talk About Sex Baby!” benefits party; this benefit serves as a platform to discuss safe sex, activism, as well as introducing others to VOX UCF in a fun and relaxed environment.  We have been able to use the funds raised to subsidize future awareness and education events, as well as financing travel for conferences. This fall, VOX UCF is hosting an informational panel featuring pro-choice religious leaders. Through this event we hope to teach others that spirituality and reproductive freedoms go hand in hand, and that clergymen and women can be people to turn to when facing difficult decisions related to choice. 

I feel, that at 25 years old, I’m still a novice as an activist for reproductive rights, though I’m hopeful that mine will be a long and productive relationship with Planned Parenthood. I believe that this is a crucial time and that we all need to join in one mission: to protect the rights that have already been established by the women and men of this country. 

We all need to forge ahead to be active providers, whether that be financially contributing, canvassing the neighborhood with information, posting articles on Facebook, or participating in phone banking for elections.

Please join me in supporting the much needed works of Planned Parenthood.

Get Involved

To find out more about VOX chapters across the state, email fappa@fappa.org.

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