Our Bodies, Our Mississippi is a member-led collaborative that educates and advocates for Mississippians to expand access to reproductive care.
We provide education, advocacy, and resources for organizational partners advancing reproductive justice and instill its principles into their work.
Mississippi is our home, and Mississippians are our community.
Our goal is to ensure reproductive freedom from the Delta to the Gulf.
What We Do
01.
Shared Strategies
Our Bodies, Our Mississippi convenes aligned organizations to create a collective strategy, exchange knowledge and resources, and amplify their impact.
02.
Education & Partnership
We work with community members to make sure they know about their reproductive care options. We also partner and build trust with the healthcare providers who are on the frontlines of care, as well as community leaders advocating for inclusive, holistic reproductive healthcare.
03.
Guidance
OBOM also provides guidance to member organizations on how to align our missions and work with reproductive justice values and principles.
04.
Community
By connecting volunteers and trained experts in reproductive justice, we are helping to build a strong base of Mississippians who know reproductive justice is and how to practice it in their day-to-day lives. That includes issue-based education for Mississippi voters and those impacted by laws and policies.
Our Vision
The lasting change we’re after.
Our Bodies, Our Mississippi imagines a Mississippi in which people, families, and communities of color can thrive because they have access to the full range of knowledge and healthcare they need to lead healthy lives.
Our Mission
How we plan to achieve it.
We are working toward a shared understanding of what it means to build safe and sustainable communities and strategizing with member organizations to advance reproductive justice in our state through education, stigma and harm reduction, and civic engagement.
Our Values
What we stand for.
Love
Freedom
Self
Determination
Trust
Courage
Community
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Our work was born out of, and is rooted in, loving people. We honor and value people in their fullness and complexity, and we want every Mississippian to be whole, happy, and healthy.
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Mississippi is the birthplace of so many freedom movements. We know that when we fight for the most exploited and vulnerable members of our community, we have the chance to improve conditions for everyone.
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Every person should have the chance to shape the course of their life, including their economic and educational opportunities, where they live, and whether and when to have children.
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Imagining a better life for all Mississippians takes courage and determination. We dare to push back against systems that have harmed us in service of a future in which everyone can access comprehensive healthcare, feel supported, and enjoy better outcomes for themselves and their families.
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We take care of us. We celebrate our resilient community by working to provide the education, safety, and care that we all deserve. Our work strives to create a better Mississippi for individuals and families.
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Our coalition is committed to building trust by leading with truth and accountability. We forge connections across generations, race, and gender to make our coalition more united because we are committed to freedom, dignity, and autonomy for all of us.
Our Partners
We connect and convene community-serving nonprofits and leaders across the state to help develop shared strategies and storytelling that amplify the impact of our members and protect the reproductive rights of all Mississippians.
Our Team
Tyler Harden
Executive Director
She/Her
Tyler is known for her ability to bridge strategy and care to mobilize communities and push for systemic change. Born and raised in Mississippi, Tyler brings a deep understanding of the state’s unique social and political landscape. She has led statewide coalitions, built cross-sector partnerships, and launched campaigns focused on restoring reproductive rights, expanding health access, and amplifying the voices of Black women and communities of color in the South.
Markeya Thomas
Communications Strategist
She/Her
Markeya Thomas is a results-driven communications strategist with over 10 years of experience driving organizational growth through strategic messaging, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership. She has managed multi-million-dollar campaigns, built high-performing teams, and secured top-tier media placements in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the LA Times.
Most recently, Thomas served as Senior Advisor/Managing Director of Black Engagement at Climate Power, where she led a $10M voter mobilization initiative targeting Black communities on climate policy. She built and directed a cross-functional team of 16 and launched comprehensive polling initiatives to inform data-driven messaging strategies.
Thomas brings expertise in crisis communications, narrative development, and cross-cultural engagement, with a proven track record of connecting the intersection of justice issues. Her work spans federal policy communications, community organizing, and coalition building across government, industry, and advocacy sectors.
A former television news anchor and reporter, Thomas began her career breaking major news stories while serving as the first Black female anchor in multiple markets. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Development and Public Relations from Wayne State College.
Based in Chicago, Thomas continues to build sustainable communications infrastructure for organizations working for justice.
Reproductive freedom, from the Delta to the Gulf.
