wyndi marie anderson
Wyndi Marie Anderson is a leading feminist and social justice advocate who has been working for the protection of human rights for over ten years. Her work for the rights of drug-addicted women has earned her national recognition as a leader in both the women’s rights and the drug policy reform movements. She has been profiled in national publications, such as Ms. magazine and Glamour, and she is frequently sought out for comment by members of both the United States and international press.
Prior to her work as an advocate for pregnant women, Ms. Anderson spent four years working in various social justice movements, including the labor rights movement, where she received her training as a grassroots organizer. From 1998 until 2007, her work focused primarily on securing legal rights and access to appropriate health care for drug-addicted pregnant and parenting women, as well as ensuring that all women have access to a full range of reproductive and drug treatment health care services. She currently works as a consultant on the women's project for the International Harm Reduction Program of the Open Society Institute where she is working to improve access for women drug users to harm reduction programs in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Indonesia. However, in her frequent speaking engagements around the country, Ms. Anderson emphasizes the interconnected nature of all social justice issues, an understanding that lies at the core of her political philosophy.
While Ms. Anderson's work is impressive, it is her personal story that is interwoven into her work that brings to life the reality of many of the issues she works on. Wyndi has been sober for over 20 years as well as actively confronting and struggling with mental illness. Wyndi reminds us that we can never make assumptions and that we must be strong enough to keep asking the questions and listen for the answers. Her willingness to share her struggles inspires a love and strength that is much needed in today's world.
When speaking to students, social justice workers, and the women who are affected by the discriminatory policies and social attitudes that she works to overturn, Ms. Anderson brings her personal experience, as well as the perspectives of a wide range of political and social thinkers to bear on the issues she puts forth for discussion. Drawing from the civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights, harm reduction, and labor movements, as well as from the works of Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, Angela Davis, Che Guevara, Pema Chadron, Paulo Freire, Parker Palmer, and Colman McCarthy, Ms. Anderson turns an average speaking engagement into an experiential “teach-in.” Audiences are engaged and challenged by her ability to meet people where they are and to offer them a non-judgmental path to a new level of critical thinking about American society.
For more speakers on abortion and reproductive justice, see: Amy Richards, Gloria Feldt, Loretta Ross, Katha Pollitt, Gloria Steinem, Jennifer Baumgardner, Third Wave Foundation
