empowerment

Black Heart Association Hits The Road With Heart Health Initiative, Stopping At SXSW 2026

“Can I hug you? Thank you for doing this,” an impassioned young woman asks Black Heart Association co-founder Tara Robinson before approaching her with an embrace that is filled with […] The post Black Heart Association Hits The Road With Heart Health Initiative, Stopping At SXSW 2026 appeared first...

By Victoria Uwumarogie April 8, 2026 1 min read

Black Heart Association Hits The Road With Heart Health Initiative, Stopping At SXSW 2026

By Desiree Johnson ·

The post Black Heart Association Hits The Road With Heart Health Initiative, Stopping At SXSW 2026 appeared first on Essence.

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Her Choice covers reproductive rights because the national news cycle treats it as a soundbite. We treat it as a beat. Stories like the one you just read sit at the intersection of policy, lived experience, and public-record reporting that's too rarely connected.

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Every story on Her Choice is curated, fact-checked against the original publisher's reporting, and contextualized for our readers. We do not republish full articles — we link back to the source, summarize the key facts under fair use, and add the local or topical relevance that our audience needs. Our editorial standards and corrections policy are public: see herchoice.org/editorial-standards.

About Her Choice

Her Choice is published by Nexcom Media as part of the Nexcom Media Network. We launched in 2024 and have grown to cover reproductive rights, women's healthcare, abortion access, contraception. Our reporting is supported by display advertising, sponsorships, and reader donations — never by editorial pay-to-play. Read our ownership disclosures at herchoice.org/ownership.

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Recent reporting and curated coverage across every beat we cover.

Tulsi Gabbard is the latest woman to leave Trump’s Cabinet

Tulsi Gabbard, the nation’s chief intelligence official, is the latest woman to leave President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Gabbard is resigning to care for her husband, Abraham, who has been diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer” and “faces major challenges in the coming weeks and mont...

The 19thMay 22resilience

‘Ms. Book Club’ Miniseries: Four Must-Listen Conversations on Black Women, U.S. History and the Law

Our podcast platform Ms. Studios has launched a newly updated miniseries: Ms. Book Club , examining the last 250 years of U.S. history through a feminist lens and asking what the nation’s founding ideals have meant in practice for women, Black Americans and other historically marginalized communitie...

Ms. MagazineMay 22empowerment

Iowa Restricts Access to Abortion Pills, HPV Vaccines

Plus, a woman gives birth in a Brooklyn courtroom and veterans sue Trump administration over VA abortion ban. The post Iowa Restricts Access to Abortion Pills, HPV Vaccines appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupMay 22choice

A history of Supreme Court leaks

Last month, The New York Times published a major scoop : the inside story of the Supreme Court’s 2016 order blocking then-President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan, an environmental initiative intended to address climate change, on its interim docket.

SCOTUSblogMay 22politics

Balloon Pants Are The Elegant Trend Taking Over This Summer

If you’re looking for a way to elevate your summer wardrobe, the ultimate way to make your outfits pop is with the pants of the season. No, denim shorts are […] The post Balloon Pants Are The Elegant Trend Taking Over This Summer appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 22activism

What ‘Special Needs Mommy’ Influencers Get Wrong About Parenting Disabled Kids: Opinion

Oversharing about your child’s disability has become a lucrative trend on social media. For disability justice advocate Rebecca Cokley, these videos look an awful lot like a modern-day version of the old circus “freak show.

Rewire News GroupMay 22resilience

The Funniest Posts From Women This Week (May 16-22)

"Someone said millennials used to be at the club dressed for a leadership summit"

HuffPost WomenMay 22empowerment

Americans overwhelmingly oppose data centers. Women most of all.

As data centers rapidly emerge at unprecedented rates across the country, they are being met with increasing opposition — particularly from women, according to a recent Gallup poll. More than two-thirds of adults oppose the construction of the massive and costly complexes used to power artificial in...

The 19thMay 22politics

Beyond American Exceptionalism: What the Success of the Green Wave Can Teach U.S. Abortion Activists

While the idea of the U.S. as a bastion of moral superiority has always been a myth—evident, for example, in efforts to shield Jim Crow laws from scrutiny in the founding of the United Nations—the overturning of Roe v.

Ms. MagazineMay 21choice

Ms. Global: From Ukraine to Lebanon to Sudan, Women Are Bearing the Brunt of Escalating Global Conflict

Around the world, escalating armed conflict, political repression and humanitarian collapse are reshaping daily life for women and girls—often with devastating consequences. From drone warfare in Sudan, to internet blackouts in Iran, to attacks on healthcare infrastructure in Lebanon and Gaza, women...

Ms. MagazineMay 21global

Women’s Health Is a Democracy Issue—and a Midterm One

It is critically important to keep reproductive health and the chaos at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) front and center in the headlines. Why? Two words: midterm elections. Last week, within 48 hours of each other the Supreme Court issued an emergency stay pausing the Fifth Circuit’s attempt...

Ms. MagazineMay 21choice

Anti-trans amendment puts women’s history museum on pause

The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum has been years in the making — and now, transphobia is threatening to derail the whole thing. A bill to approve building the museum failed to pass on a 204-216 vote, after House Democrats voted in opposition.

The 19thMay 21politics

The Frisco Test: What Happened in One Texas Suburb Signals a National Shift

Earlier this month, an Indian slate ran for Frisco City Council and school board: Sreekanth Reddy, Vijay Karthik and others. Every one of them lost. As it turns out, in America, you can be the most educated demographic in America and still watch a sitting member of Congress call your religious tradi...

Ms. MagazineMay 21global

PRH Fellows Correct New HHS Site, Moms.gov

On Mother's Day, the Department of Health and Human Resources published moms.gov. We invited LTA Class of 2026 Fellows to call out the mis- and disinformation. The post PRH Fellows Correct New HHS Site, Moms.gov appeared first on Physicians for Reproductive Health .

Physicians for Reproductive HealthMay 21choice

The Trump Administration Wants More Trad Wives (Podcast)

Conservatives have launched a campaign to redefine motherhood in culture and the law. The post The Trump Administration Wants More Trad Wives (Podcast) appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupMay 21choice

Conservative Justices Resurrect the Comstock Act, Threatening Abortion Access Nationwide

On May 1, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the mailing of mifepristone, one of the most widely used abortion medications in the country, threatening access for patients already facing a shrinking number of clinics nationwide.

Ms. MagazineMay 21choice

Court puts off deciding whether to consider $5 million verdict against Trump – yet again

When the justices meet for their private conference on Thursday, there is one high-profile petition for review they will not consider, even though it has been fully briefed since late January: an appeal by President Donald Trump seeking review of the $5 million jury verdict entered against him in th...

SCOTUSblogMay 21activism

Moms.Gov and the Return of State-Sponsored Pronatalism

Moms.gov may present itself as a resource for “new and expecting mothers,” but its deeper message is unmistakable: motherhood as patriotic obligation, reproductive autonomy as suspect, and declining birth rates as a national crisis.

Ms. MagazineMay 21choice

Male Supremacism and Misogyny Was Central to the San Diego Mosque Shooting. Why Did So Much Coverage Miss It?

Despite the extensive misogyny in both shooters’ manifestos, much of the reporting on the San Diego mosque shooting overlooked how male supremacism intersected with xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and white supremacist ideology.

Ms. MagazineMay 21global

How Francesca Lake Weaves Culture Into Garments

It’s 2 PM London time when I hop on a video call with Francesca Lake. Even through the pixelated display, Lake has a distinctive air about her. Her hair is […] The post How Francesca Lake Weaves Culture Into Garments appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 21resilience

How we’re celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day

The 19th’s mission is to give women and LGBTQ+ people — specifically those excluded from the promise of the 19th Amendment by their gender, race, ethnicity, class or disability – the information they need to fully participate in our democracy.

The 19thMay 21global

Pap smears are designed to screen for cancer. Why are people afraid to get them?

What’s worse: A cold rod inserted briefly inside your vagina or cervical cancer? The former is a key part of a pap smear, the cancer screening recommended every 3 to 5 years for people with a cervix under the age of 65. Pap smears — which can be uncomfortable and even painful for some — […]

The 19thMay 21breakthroughs

May 21 Virtual Event: Tackling Patriarchy and Power (With Anna Malaika Tubbs, Aisha Becker-Burrowes and Danielle Robay)

The Feminist Majority Foundation and Ms. have partnered with Women's Foundation California to invite you to a national virtual conversation with Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs that turns our attention toward the system that has kept us from achieving true democracy for the last 250 years: patriarchy.

Ms. MagazineMay 20empowerment

Daubert dust-up and AEDPA angst

The Relist Watch column examines cert petitions that the Supreme Court has “relisted” for its upcoming conference. A short explanation of relists is available here . Since our last post, the Supreme Court has continued its one-in, one-out approach to the relist rolls.

SCOTUSblogMay 20activism

In The Chair With: GlossBoss J

“In The Chair” spotlights the incredible hairstylists and makeup artists in our community who are giving us major inspiration. Each week, they discuss their personal beauty and career journeys, what […] The post In The Chair With: GlossBoss J appeared first on Essence .

EssenceMay 20resilience

Why is successfully prosecuting sexual assault so difficult?

Six years ago, Jessica Mann took the stand for the first time in a New York City courtroom to publicly detail allegations that Harvey Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013. That trial resulted in Weinstein being convicted of raping Mann, as well as committing a criminal sex act again...

The 19thMay 20safety

The Dangerous Overlap Between Incel Culture and Trad Wife Politics

When people hear the words “incels” and “trad wives,” they might think of very different images. While “incels” are thought of as lonely, radicalized, or dangerous, “trad wives” might invoke associations with being soft, natural, or motherly.

National Women's Law CenterMay 20breakthroughs

States Already Enacting Harmful SAVE Act Policies, Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote

Congressional Republicans are once again prioritizing the SAVE Act, legislation that would force Americans to show documents like a passport or birth certificate to register to vote. The House has already passed yet another version of the bill, but so far it has stalled in the Senate.

Ms. MagazineMay 20politics

When she didn’t grow up seeing herself in books, she became the librarian she never had

In the lead-up to our country’s 250th anniversary, Errin Haines is writing a series of columns to contemplate the complicated expansion of our democracy. Subscribe to The Amendment newsletter. Cassie Owens Moore’s students used to say that her classroom felt like a library; she never hesitated to le...

The 19thMay 20resilience

Barney Frank, first member of Congress to come out as gay, dies at 86

Former Rep. Barney Frank, the most prominent out gay politician in the United States for over a decade, died Wednesday after entering home hospice care for congestive heart failure. At 86, the Massachusetts Democrat continued going on cable news and speaking with reporters, friends and former collea...

The 19thMay 20resilience

Justice Jackson criticizes the court

Plus, in the latest edition of Ask Amy, Amy explores how common it is for a justice to have argued a case before the Supreme Court before becoming a justice.

SCOTUSblogMay 20politics

Miscarriage Patients Have Fewer Treatment Options in States With Abortion Bans, Study Shows

The method of treatment for a miscarriage is the same two-drug regimen that is used to terminate a pregnancy before 12 weeks. The post Miscarriage Patients Have Fewer Treatment Options in States With Abortion Bans, Study Shows appeared first on Rewire News Group .

Rewire News GroupMay 20choice

R&B Rising: Mýa On ‘Retrospect,’ Staying Creative, And What Success Really Means

Mýa is back in the spotlight, and it’s for good reason. Although it’s been almost a decade since the release of her previous album, she’s maintained a consistent presence, culturally—whether […] The post R&B Rising: Mýa On ‘Retrospect,’ Staying Creative, And What Success Really Means appeared first ...

EssenceMay 20activism

Ken Paxton Wanted to Crack Down on Forum Shopping. Now Lawyers Say He’s Improperly Seeking Out Favorable Courts.

The post Ken Paxton Wanted to Crack Down on Forum Shopping. Now Lawyers Say He’s Improperly Seeking Out Favorable Courts. appeared first on ProPublica .

ProPublicaMay 20politics

This Gun Shop Stayed Open Despite Repeated Violations. Then a Cop Was Killed With One of Its Guns.

The post This Gun Shop Stayed Open Despite Repeated Violations. Then a Cop Was Killed With One of Its Guns. appeared first on ProPublica .

ProPublicaMay 20activism

South Africa: New Waves of Xenophobic Attacks

Click to expand Image An anti-immigration protest in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 29, 2026. © 2026 Themba Hadebe/AP Photo <p>(Johannesburg) – Vigilantes in South Africa have carried out violent xenophobic attacks targeting African and Asian foreign nationals in recent weeks, with little or i...

Human Rights WatchMay 20global

Keisha Lance Bottoms is Democrats’ pick in high-stakes Georgia governor’s race

Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Georgia, avoiding a runoff and setting up a chance to make history. Bottoms served as the mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and then led the White House’s public engagement efforts under President Joe Biden, who has backed her campai...

The 19thMay 20politics

Gaza: Israel Curbs Aid, Kills Civilians During Ceasefire

Click to expand Image Aid trucks enter the Kerem Abu Salem crossing in Khan Younis, Gaza, October 12, 2025. © 2025 Omar al-Qatta / AFP via Getty Images <p>(Beirut) – The humanitarian infrastructure sustaining life in Gaza remains in peril over six months after the ceasefire agreement in October 2025...

Human Rights WatchMay 20global

Jasmine Clark is poised to be the first Black woman Ph.D. scientist in Congress

LILBURN, GEORGIA — When state Rep. Jasmine Clark launched her campaign for Congress on a mission to enact generational change, she didn’t realize she could also make history. Now, she’s poised to become the first Black woman Ph.D.

The 19thMay 20politics

‘The South Belongs to Us’: Voices, Signs and Scenes From Montgomery’s Voting Rights Rally

On the morning of Saturday, May 16, in Selma, Alabama, activists and organizers gathered near the Edmund Pettus Bridge before traveling to Montgomery for the “All Roads Lead to the South” national day of action protesting attacks on voting rights and Black political representation across the South.

Ms. MagazineMay 19activism