PPGNY Response to Save PPGNY Open Letter
Contact: Jacquelyn Marrero, [email protected], 646-642-6682
For Immediate Release: June 24, 2020
New York – On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) and its advocacy and political entities, announced the departure of president & CEO Laura McQuade. In a letter sent to PPGNY staff, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s Board of Directors shared the following response to the Save PPGNY open letter and McQuade’s exit.
Many of you have raised your concerns, and the PPGNY Board of Directors is listening. We know that this has been a period of turmoil and pain and we are truly, deeply sorry. We know our challenges are complex and are deeper than what we can address in a letter, especially as we are hearing and processing more information. This is just the start of a conversation that is long overdue. We recognize that our actions--or inactions--have contributed to people’s hurt and frustration. We take responsibility for that, and for the work ahead.
Together with our Interim Leadership Team, we are committed to the well-being of our staff and supporting you in delivering quality sexual and reproductive health care. We don’t have all the answers right now. But as long as we are centered around our shared passion for and dedication to our mission, we are confident we will build a strong organization together. For starters, we know the board and management must prioritize transparency and communication at all levels. To that end, we wanted to share some initial steps we are taking.
1. We will form a search committee and then will launch a national search for a new CEO. We commit to a CEO search process that will consider the views of staff.
2. We are reaffirming our commitment to being an anti-racist organization. The board will continue working to ensure that our composition is more representative of the communities we serve. We will advance the work of our equity committee with even more urgency so that equity is woven into decision making at every level of the organization. And we will report out the work of this body quarterly.
3. We are committed to expanding access to reproductive health care through telehealth, mobile units and investments in our health centers.
4. We are committed to creating more opportunities between board and staff to share meaningful ways to problem solve and build this new organization together.
While this is a difficult moment for our new organization, it is also a necessary moment of growth for all of us. The past few months of this pandemic have highlighted that access to quality health care is a critical need – and a fragile right. The work you do every day is vital to the health and well-being of so many people across the region. We know for you to best serve our patients and expand access to care, we have to get this right. We look forward to beginning this new chapter, together.
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Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) is a leading provider, educator, and advocate of sexual and reproductive health care in New York State. PPGNY offers a wide range of services at its 30 locations across 65% of NYS - including gynecological care; birth control; cancer screenings; pregnancy testing; STI testing and treatment; HIV prevention, testing, and counseling; transgender hormone therapy; and vasectomy. PPGNY is also proud to provide abortion services to anyone who needs compassionate, non-judgmental care. PPGNY is a trusted source of medically accurate, evidence-based information that allows people to make informed decisions about their health and future. As a voice for reproductive freedom, PPGNY supports legislation and policies that ensure all New Yorkers have access to the full range of reproductive health services and education.