Students for Life of America (SFLA) began as a volunteer, student-led organization called American Collegians for Life in 1988. It grew steadily until 2006 when it launched as a full-time 501(c)3 organization, changed its name to Students for Life of America, and hired Kristan Hawkins as president. Thanks to an angel investor, the organization was able to grow rapidly with the mission to become the voice of the Pro-Life Generation.
What started out as a handful of full-time staff working with fewer than 100 pro-life student groups blossomed into a massive pro-life organization that now employs more than 90 part and full-time staff. Headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the Students for Life team has trained 202,000 young people to stand up for Life. They currently serve 1,400 pro-life student groups on middle, high school, college, university, medical, and law school campuses in all 50 states and they contribute $24 million in in-kind volunteer services to the women and families each year.
For the first several years, the organization focused on growing the number and quality of Students for Life groups; however, simply starting SFLA groups was not their mission – abolishing abortion was. Students for Life has grown up to become one of the leading pro-life advocacy organizations in the world, driving the narrative for the entire pro-life movement.
SFLA creates strategy, policy, and programming to equip those most targeted for abortion to change minds of their peers, transform communities by connecting women and families in crisis with non-violent support, and advocate for public policy that protects both mother and child from the predatory abortion industry. Students for Life has more conversations with those most targeted by the abortion industry than any other pro-life outreach in the world, reaching more than 2 million people across social media platforms each week and engaging in approximately 100,000 digital conversations per month.
Every day, thousands of lives are lost to abortion in the United States, with over 340,000 committed every year by Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion vendor. The abortion lobby has become more and more radical in their messaging and strategies; gone is the guise of “safe, legal, and rare” abortion. Planned Parenthood has a collection of celebrities, politicians, and other public figures supporting their work and promoting their services. With almost 80% of Planned Parenthood facilities located within five miles of a college campus, it is clear they are targeting young people to continue their predatory business.
Students for Life has been called to combat this anti-life culture. They resist the notion that women need abortion. They resist the abortion industry’s constant claim – circulating like a broken record – that women aren’t strong enough to embrace both their children and their education. And they resist the idea that women’s rights involve forcibly taking someone else’s away. Young people are the key to changing our current culture of death in the U.S., and we must invest in them now to abolish abortion. There are thousands of babies dying and women being wounded at the hands of the abortion industry daily. This violence, injustice, and inhumanity is what the Pro-Life Generation is fighting tirelessly to end.
Today, a pro-life advocate cannot go to a pro-life march or any other event without witnessing SLFA’s legacy of joyful, hopeful, young people proudly waving their signature black-and-white “I am the Pro-Life Generation” signs. What sets Students for Life apart from other organizations is their full-time Field Team who travel daily in their respective regions visiting campuses. When Regional Coordinators step onto a campus, they go beyond simply helping to establish a pro-life group. They create a lasting legacy that is transforming our nation toward a culture of life. Of course, forming, training and mobilizing Student for Life groups is still an integral part of their responsibilities.
Becoming a Students for Life group member provides the following benefits:
- Receive one-on-one mentorship from your local Regional Coordinator
- Access resources to participate in national pro-life events
- Join unique leadership development opportunities
- Participate in group competitions and scholarships
- Be in the know about community events
- Volunteer at local pregnancy resource centers
- Build a pro-life culture,
- Save lives
- Serve local women
- Change minds
- And so much more!
THE 5 PILLARS OF ACTIVISM
Once you’ve learned about abortion and realized you feel called to do something about it, you’re probably wondering how you can make a difference. There are MANY different ways you can take action to protect the preborn. Students for Life has adopted what they call
The 5 Pillars of Activism which help the Pro-Life Generation take a well-rounded, effective approach to abolishing abortion.
Educate Your Campus & Community – Effective education iss all about sharing what you know about abortion in a way that changes the hearts and minds of other students (or community members). This can be done using displays, speakers, tabling, flyers, and other outreach.
Engage in Politics – Public policy is another pillar Students for Life of America engages in by organizing lobby days, going to the Supreme Court to support or oppose life-related cases, and much more.
Support Moms in Need – Volunteers operate under an initiative called ‘Standing with You’s. This program is all about making sure that young women are empowered to embrace both their children and their education.
Reduce the Supply & Demand of Abortion – Industry impact deals directly with Planned Parenthood and the rest of the abortion industry. Part of making abortion unthinkable is educating and encouraging potential abortion customers that there are better options for them.
Respond to Abortion Events – Rapid response is a pillar that weaves its way through all the others. It’s about always being ready to jump into action when something pertaining to abortion is going on.
CONSIDER BECOMING A PRAYER TEAM MEMBER
If becoming a Students for Life group member, please consider joining the SFLA Prayer Team. One can never pray enough. Although SFLA is not a religiously affiliated organization, their staff believes in the power of prayer and appreciate the prayers of all supporters, regardless of creed. As a member of the SFLA Prayer Team, you will receive:
- Monthly emails with prayer requests from the SFLA team.
- A prayer magnet sent to your home as a reminder of their need for prayers
If you are interested in learning more about Students for Life activities here in Washington, please contact Sophia Di Piazza, Pacific Northwest Regional Coordinator. For important regional announcements, ways to get involved in upcoming Students for Life of America (SFLA) events and initiatives, information on some of their new resources, or to make a donation, please click HERE.
SFLA IS HIRING
Follow your calling to abolish abortion in and get paid to do so! SFLA has opportunities available in Washington, with incredible benefits and a competitive salary. Plus, you get to save lives! To apply, and to learn more, click HERE.
