Bans compound threats to Black women including the Black maternal health crisis and barriers to economic stability Read the report WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 15, 2024 – Today, the National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF) and In Our Own Voice:...
Media Contacts
Amaya Smith
Amaya Smith is vice president for marketing and communications at the National Partnership for Women & Families. In that role she oversees strategic messaging as well as digital and earned communications around issues important to women and families. These issues include reproductive justice, women’s health care and workplace fairness. Smith works to ensure that stakeholders and the public understand that women’s health and reproductive freedom is inextricably entwined with economic justice. Before joining National Partnership she served as Communications Director and Strategic Advisor to the President, at the AFL-CIO. Prior to joining the AFL-CIO Smith served as a Press Secretary for the American Association for Justice (AAJ). She also served as the South Carolina Press Secretary for the Obama for America campaign during the 2008 Democratic primary.
Smith developed experience working with diverse media outlets and constituencies as a Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee, where she handled press for the women’s, African American, labor, faith, college and youth communities. She got her start in legislative advocacy working for former Congressman Albert R. Wynn, her local representative. She served as a Communications Director for Congressman Wynn for four years and built relationships with Capitol Hill and Washington reporters. Smith is a graduate of American University and is originally from Silver Spring, Md. Her passion for social justice and women’s health comes from a mom who is a retired registered nurse and an eternal activist.
Llenda Jackson-Leslie
Llenda Jackson-Leslie is a senior communications specialist at the National Partnership for Women & Families, where she works to showcase reproductive health and health care issues.
Prior to her work at the National Partnership, Llenda was a senior communications associate at McKinney & Associates, where she led campaigns on transformative justice, gender justice and health equity. Previously, she served as director of legislative communications for the American Civil Liberties Union where she managed communications initiatives to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act.
A native Detroiter, Llenda served as communications director for Michigan’s largest trial court and marketing director for the Detroit Branch NAACP before moving to Washington, D.C.
Gail Zuagar
Gail Zuagar is a senior communications specialist at the National Partnership for Women & Families, where she works to amplify the organization’s economic justice work to a range of audiences. Prior to joining the National Partnership, Gail developed a passion for combining communications with advocacy and outreach in previous roles at The Education Trust and the National Women’s Law Center.
Gail earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Temple University and her master’s degree in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their children.
For general inquiries, please email press@nationalpartnership.org.
Press Statements
State Abortion Bans Threaten Nearly Seven Million Black Women
Today, the National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF) and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda released a new analysis on the threats that nearly 7 million Black women face in the 26 states that have banned or are likely to ban abortion.
New Analysis Shows More Than Half of All Disabled Women Live Under State Abortion Bans
The devastating impact of abortion bans puts the health and safety of more than 3 million disabled women at risk, and especially endangers disabled women who are Black, American Indian/Alaska Native and veterans.
Biden Administration Strengthens Much Needed Protections Against Discrimination
The new requirements to implement Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will strengthen protections against discrimination in health care programs and activities.
National Partnership Commends Rule Finalizing Harassment Protections for Workers
"This guidance is a much-needed step in the right direction to better protect more workers from varying forms of harassment," said Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
NPWF Condemns Partisan Effort To Weaken Pregnant Worker Protections
"It's no coincidence that this organized, partisan effort is occurring in states that have some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, including substantial racial disparities that disproportionately harm Black women," said Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families.