Informational sessions
The Women’s Fund dedication to education & raising awareness has lead us to hosting interactive information sessions focused on topics of particular concern to women in our community.
Our goal with each is to include expert panelists to provide the most current facts and data around these topics.
The most recent sessions we hosted focused on the following: navigating women's health care in a post-Roe environment, and opioid drug addiction and death. We know these issues are of concern to friends of the Women’s Fund and to the community.
Our goal with these sessions is to inform and educate our Board of Directors, our Committees, and the community about these issues.
Women’s Health cAre Session
Panelists:
Michelle Velasquez, Legal Director of Advocacy and Services for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin
Before joining PPAWI, Michelle was the co-founder and managing attorney at Civitas Law Group, Inc. a non-profit legal service provider in criminal, family, and immigration law. Michelle also previously practiced in the appellate division of the Wisconsin State Public Defender. Michelle is a Marquette University Law School graduate and received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Michelle serves on the board of the Milwaukee Turners, the Wisconsin Chapter of the ACLU and the steering committee of the National Lawyers Guild. Michelle.Velasquez@ppwi.org
Diane Welsh, Attorney
Attorney Diane Welsh is a partner at Pines Bach LLP, where she advises clients on a variety of matters, including health law, government law and elections law. Her clients include, among others, family planning clinics, physicians, and other health care providers. Prior to joining Pines Bach, Diane served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and as assistant attorney general at the Wisconsin Department of Justice. dwelsh@pinesbach.com
Kristin Lyerly, OBGYN – American College of Obstetrician–Gynecologists
Dr Kristin Lyerly is a specialist in general obstetrics and gynecology in Green Bay. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota, then returned to her home state of Wisconsin for medical school and residency training at the University of Wisconsin. She also received her Masters of Public Health from the UW, focusing on African American infant mortality in southeastern Wisconsin. She has practiced in Northeastern Wisconsin and Minneapolis, as well as rural regions of both Minnesota and Wisconsin. She is also a former candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly. She is deeply committed to ensuring that providers of obstetrical services throughout the state have the training and resources they need to ensure excellent outcomes for moms and babies across Wisconsin with a special focus on rural and underserved communities. She wears many hats within the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists including District VI Treasurer and Legislative Chair, OB/Gyn PAC Governing Board member, Wisconsin Covid-19 Vaccine Confidence Champion, and numerous other activities in support of mentorship and advocacy. Most recently, she is spearheading a local effort to organize and empower female physicians in Northeastern Wisconsin to effect positive culture change in the name of our patients, creating a community of progressive activists in the region to elect strong down ballot candidates and fight for fair maps, and supporting community well-being as an Executive Committee member with Wello.
opioid and substance abuse
Substance use is an ever growing concern in our community. We recently hosted an honest conversation on the subject.
This community discussion around Substance Use & Mental Health included a guest panel: Erin Rachael of https://loveloganfoundation.org, Dr. Eric Smiltneek, moderated by Jennifer Skolaski.
While sobering facts and statistics were shared, hope was also a part of the conversation. Stay tuned for more efforts we’ll be supporting in the community to raise awareness and support for this crisis.
