Skip to main content

SPARK's History

SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW!, Inc. (SPARK), formerly Georgians for Choice (GfC), was founded in 1986 as a gathering place for pro-choice organizations in Atlanta to strategize around reproductive rights. Over 21 years, GfC grew into a coalition of 50 member organizations tackling issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, LGBTQ+ politics, racial justice and more.

As the coalition expanded, we recognized the need for a broader framework that addressed the complex realities of marginalized Georgians’ lives—realizing that “choice” alone didn’t encompass the struggles many faced. People were forced to choose between healthcare and food, jobs and childcare, or sexual health services and parental notification. We recognized that for many Georgians what was needed wasn’t just “choice,” but justice.

At the same time, the Reproductive Justice (RJ) framework, developed by Black women, began gaining national attention. It centered on “justice” instead of “choice”, linking reproductive health with immigrant rights, environmental justice and sexual violence. This shift in thinking resonated deeply with our mission.

With the support of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, we engaged in a strategic planning process, reassessing our vision, mission, and values, which led to a new name—SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW! (SPARK). This marked the transition from a “choice” framework to a broader Reproductive Justice framework, reflecting a shift toward multi-issue politics that embraces all aspects of who we are as a movement.

Founded in 2007 by two queer women of color, SPARK was created to be a space for young and queer, Black, people of color within the Reproductive Justice movement. Since then, SPARK’s strength as an organization has been in bringing racial justice and queer liberation frameworks to Reproductive Justice work, particularly for marginalized groups within our base—Black women, Queer, Trans, and Gender-Expansive folx—including Black sex workers, displaced and unhoused people, individuals living with HIV, those facing economic and systemic barriers, and others enduring multiple forms of oppression.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, SPARK’s work includes advocacy, leadership development, collective action, and creating transformative change. Through programs like LegislateTHIS!, Speak Justice Take Action, Trans Leadership Initiative, FYRE, and numerous Policy and Advocacy campaigns, we expand our impact regionally, with partnerships that extend our reach nationally.

Our work continues to prioritize the needs of those most impacted by reproductive injustice, and with the support of our community, we strive for long-term, transformative change.

Organization Description

Founded in 2007, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW (SPARK) builds and strengthens the power of our communities and a reproductive justice movement that centers Black Women and Queer & Trans young people of color  in Georgia and the South. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, we have fostered a dynamic, collaborative model of advocacy, leadership development, collective action, and discourse that creates change and impact for Black women and queer people’s struggles for reproductive justice. SPARK is a local-statewide organization, additionally through our programming, such as FYRE and SOI our work expands throughout the Southeast region. SPARK also has national partners which allows us to collaborate at a national level. Our active base consists primarily of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); Queer, trans, folx who live outside the gender binary; Black women (cis and trans); Black parents; young people that fall into the previous categories; and Black sex workers. This is reflected in those who participate in our community building and leadership development programs. Though our work is primarily in Georgia, through strategic partnerships and coalitions, we’ve been able to extend our reach throughout the South, touching individuals in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, and even as far as Texas.

SPARK was founded by two young queer women of color who wanted to make space in Reproductive Justice for younger people and queer people of color. SPARK focuses on queering Reproductive Justice and uplifting Trans and non-binary people. Our biggest strength as an organization has been our ability to bring a Racial justice and Queer Liberation framework and voice to the reproductive justice movement in Georgia and the southeast. We’ve been critical in creating queer people of color spaces and visibility within the movement as well as developing and supporting southern leadership that strengthens the RJ movement in Georgia. We believe that Queer & Trans youth of color living in the South often have a unique experience of reproductive violence that requires them to go beyond the traditional approach of reproductive issues (i.e. access to abortion and contraception) and to strive for something Transformational, that’s innovative and shifts culture and power for the long-term. We believe that Queer & Trans youth of color can and should provide leadership in identifying and confronting the gender and body oppression they are so often subjected to, and that our programs create opportunities for people and communities to recognize their individual and collective power, develop and apply a critical lens to reproductive justice efforts, and Transform a society to a culture in which our bodies, genders, and sexualities are celebrated, respected, and protected.

SPARK does much of our grassroots organizing and base-building work in communities that hold our most marginalized constituents. These communities include houseless and displaced LGBTQQ youth, people living with HIV, college students, those living under low SES conditions, uninsured, underinsured, undocumented residents, and those who are criminalized based on how they identify.  SPARK absolutely identifies as a Black-led Reproductive Justice organization that fights against the oppression of Queer and Trans people of color, Black women, femmes and women of color specifically. Our staff and board members’ identities represent our constituents so we can better understand the lived experiences of our base.