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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan (PPAM) is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood in Michigan. We work in conjunction with Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund at the national level, as well as our health center/education affiliate Planned Parenthood of Michigan, supporters, and patients at the state level to ensure access to reproductive health for all Michiganders.

The mission of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan is to protect and enhance the ability of affiliates to deliver reproductive health care services by affecting policy makers through electoral and non-electoral activities. (Affirmed, October 9, 1999)

The goals of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan are to: 

  • Educate communities about the status of reproductive rights and health.

  • Educate communities about the impact of public policy and conservative decision makers on the status of reproductive rights and health.

  • Drive action and hold decision makers accountable on women’s health and rights.

  • Mobilize voters around the election.

  • Build long-term power through the meaningful engagement of supporters and allies.

Our Team

Paula Thornton Greear is a proven executive leader with more than 28 years of experience across advocacy, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.

Paula Thornton Greear

President and CEO

Paula Thornton Greear is a proven executive leader with more than 28 years of experience across advocacy, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.

Erica serves as the Communications Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Erica Shekell

Communications Director

Erica serves as the Communications Director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Amy Belfer serves as the Associate Director of Field Organizing at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Amy Belfer

Associate Director of Field Organizing

Amy Belfer serves as the Associate Director of Field Organizing at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Kaylee is the Mid-Michigan Regional Community Organizer for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Kaylee Singer

Mid-Michigan Regional Community Organizer

Kaylee is the Mid-Michigan Regional Community Organizer for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Lexi serves as the West Michigan Regional Community Organizer.

Lexi Newland

West Michigan Regional Community Organizer

Lexi serves as the West Michigan Regional Community Organizer.

Ashlea leads the Advocacy and Communications teams at Chief Advocacy Officer

Ashlea Phenicie

Chief Advocacy Officer

Ashlea leads the Advocacy and Communications teams at Chief Advocacy Officer

Jenny Kinne is currently serving as the Director of Political and Field Operations at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Jenny Kinne

Director of Political and Field Operations

Jenny Kinne is currently serving as the Director of Political and Field Operations at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Allie Ingalls serves as the Generation Action and Young People Program Organizer

Allie Ingalls

Generation Action and Young People Program Organizer

Allie Ingalls serves as the Generation Action and Young People Program Organizer

Brianna serves as the Community Organizer for Detroit and Wayne County.

Brianna Bryant

Detroit and Wayne County Regional Community Organizer

Brianna serves as the Community Organizer for Detroit and Wayne County.

Sheyla serves as the Raíz Program Organizer for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan

Sheyla Paredones Medina

Raíz Program Organizer

Sheyla serves as the Raíz Program Organizer for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan

Megan serves as the Vice President of Operations at PPAM, where she orchestrates seamless operations and ensures adherence to schedules for reporting, financials, and day to day business with the team.

Megan Zapinski

Vice President of Operations

Megan serves as the Vice President of Operations at PPAM, where she orchestrates seamless operations and ensures adherence to schedules for reporting, financials, and day to day business with the team.

Melina serves as the Director of Government Relations for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan

Melina Brann

Director of Government Relations

Melina serves as the Director of Government Relations for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan

Aaliyah serves as the Patient and Health Center Advocacy Program Organizer.

Aaliyah Abdul-Mutakallim

Patient and Health Center Advocacy Program Organizer

Aaliyah serves as the Patient and Health Center Advocacy Program Organizer.

Tenia serves as the Southeast Michigan Regional Community Organizer.

Tenia Denard

Southeast Michigan Regional Community Organizer

Tenia serves as the Southeast Michigan Regional Community Organizer.

Our Team

Join our Team

Interested in a career in reproductive rights advocacy?

Check out our current openings and apply to join our team.

Our Organizing Framework

Training and leadership development of our people: Organizers, patients and health center staff, action teams, campus groups, defenders, members, and other supporters operate under our Path to Power organizing model which emphasizes storytelling, issue cutting, power mapping, action, and progressing up the leadership ladder.

Working through a reproductive justice lens:  We recognize that the needs and interests of our communities are not limited to access to affordable health care including birth control and abortion, but that all people must be able to live full, healthy lives free of fear from poverty, discrimination, and violence.

Building a powerful network of Planned Parenthood supporters online and offline: 

Utilizing innovative approaches online and off, we provide supporters with the opportunity to engage with existing infrastructure where we have it, and to help to build it where we don’t.

Making progress through public policy: 

Strategically organizing to scale around legislative attacks and opportunities to help frame the debate, shift the balance of power, and win on issues that have an impact on our communities’ lives and livelihoods.

PPAM is made up of a 501(c)4 and a Super PAC that allow us to work on all levels of advocacy and activism in Michigan. This is a breakdown of our structure and which activities fall under the 501(c)4 or SuperPAC.

 

501(c)4: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan is a 501c4 nonprofit that works to protect and enhance the ability of the affiliates to deliver reproductive health care services by affecting policy makers through non-electoral lobbying activities. 

Direct LobbyingPPAM's 501(c)4 talks directly

to elected and other “lobbyable” officials about supporting or opposing specific legislation.

Grassroots Lobbying: PPAM's 501(c)4 encourages people to contact their representatives about supporting or opposing specific legislation.

Endorsements: PPAM's 501(c)4 issues endorsements of candidates. Through a questionnaire process that goes to candidates at the state, county and local level, candidates receive endorsements in both primary and general elections. PPAM does not endorse federal candidates. That is handled through the federal Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF).

Power Building: PPAM's 501(c)4 works in communities across Michigan to build our supporter base, recruit and train volunteers, activists and leaders, and hold elected officials accountable.

MI Planned Parenthood Votes SuperPAC: PPAM's SuperPAC is Independent Expenditure (IE) committee registered at the state and federal level that allows us to do express advocacy on behalf of endorsed candidates. IE work is done without coordination with candidates.

Our Structure

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