2021 Year In Review: Ode to Our Stalwart Supporters
As I sit down to reflect on Michigan Fertility Alliance’s accomplishments this year, I can’t help but dedicate this to the people and to the stories that make up the unique patchwork of our coalition. Our grassroots work on infertility and surrogacy reform in Michigan is fuelled purely by a passionate group of changemakers with an innate desire to educate, advocate, close the gap and expand options for the one in eight Michiganders suffering from the disease that is infertility.
Infertility is big. It’s messy. It’s hard to get one’s head around it, even for those going through it. Add in a lack of insurance coverage for infertility services coupled with an outdated state law that (mostly) prohibits access to in-state surrogacy as a viable treatment option —while complicating the process for those who can— and it gets even more Kafkaesque.
So, rather than get lost in the weeds of technical jargon and published papers, MFA spent much of 2021 focusing on how to make the reality of the situation more easily understandable. We felt deeply compelled to connect at a personal level. We did this by sharing the honest stories of infertility warriors and supporters who entrusted us with some of their most personal and raw heartaches. We shared stories of triumph, hope, sadness and truth. We deeply thank all those who found a safe haven with MFA; a place where your story was heard and understood.
By sharing deeply personal stories, MFA advocates were able to connect with 50 lawmakers during the first-ever Michigan Infertility Advocacy Day (MIAD) on September 22nd. We focused the discussions on the 1988 Surrogate Parenting Act and why better pro-family surrogacy legislation is essential and prudent. This day was put together by a focused leadership committee, a support team of student advocates from the University of Michigan’s Women’s and Gender Studies program, and over 100 advocates. The support we received from lawmakers was monumental. These meetings allowed us to establish strong working relationships with lawmakers in the Michigan House and Senate who have remained enthusiastic in advancing pro-family surrogacy reform. We are hopeful surrogacy reform legislative action will happen in 2022.
Other notable accomplishments of the year include:
Organizing a foundation of advocates to advance infertility awareness
Executing a letter-writing campaign to accompany MIAD with over 500 letters in support of surrogacy reform were sent to over 60 lawmakers
Establishing a supportive working relationship with Resolve: The National Infertility Association
Publishing weekly content-rich blogs that help educate and have garnered the attention of both national and international audiences
Assembling a driven and engaged leadership committee
Creating a student advocate team from the University of Michigan to support our coalition’s efforts
Working with an oral historian from the University of Michigan to document and record the stories from those impacted by Michigan’s crippling surrogacy laws
Sending a bi-weekly e-newsletter to keep advocates and followers informed, under the direction of our media consultant, Ginanne Brownell
Creating a robust social media strategy to expand awareness and education
For a fully volunteer-run coalition made up of working professionals with other life commitments, I am beyond proud of what we have accomplished this year. We are guided by the instinct to do what is right and don’t get discouraged when we have to pivot to accomplish our shared mission. We recognize this is a marathon not a sprint, and our years of suffering through infertility have conditioned us to endure. We are fighting for those who can’t, don’t know how, are too broken, too tired, or don’t yet know that infertility will be part of their journey.
To be honest, the past 365 days have taught me more than a lifetime of degrees and accolades. I referenced what I learned as a little girl growing up on a dirt road in mid-Michigan more than I did my professional years — be a good listener, be a supportive friend, don’t overcomplicate things, follow your gut, ask for help and do your best despite the sometimes uphill battle.
This past year I witnessed the potential of the human spirit, the importance of persistence, the power of continued perseverance, the ability to love strangers who share a similar journey and those who are trying to understand.
I speak for the entire MFA leadership committee when I say “I cherish you” — the doers, the advocates, the storytellers, the warriors — for making Michigan Fertility Alliance what it is. I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish in 2022.
With deep gratitude,
Stephanie Jones
Michigan Fertility Alliance founder