Jon O'Brien and Silvia Henriquez

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Catholics for Choice, NLIRH

About Me

Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice (CFC), heads the leading prochoice organization that addresses sexual and reproductive rights from a standpoint of culture, faith, and morality. Through his leadership, O'Brien is committed to maintaining a visionary approach to reproductive health policy, focused on shaping and advancing the way people, especially opinion leaders and policy makers, think and feel about reproductive rights. With more than twenty years experience in the field, Mr. O'Brien is a leader in developing global strategy surrounding reproductive health and rights issues. He has worked on five continents with local advocates and activists on policy development, advocacy, and communications. Highly sought after for his expertise, O'Brien has increased communications and advocacy efficacy by working with partners around the world--including family planning associations, medical practitioners, prochoice advocates, nonprofit leaders and policy makers--to develop new ways to approach and discuss the abortion debate.

A life-long Catholic born and raised in the Republic of Ireland, Mr. O'Brien's initial involvement in reproductive rights was sparked by his reaction to the great injustices that women especially face as a result of the Catholic hierarchy's influence over public policy in the country. He began his professional career with the Irish Family Planning Association, where he worked on the front lines of reproductive health provision and was instrumental in developing the strategy that successfully engineered the downfall of Ireland's restrictive contraceptive laws. Before joining CFC over ten years ago, O'Brien also worked as program manager at the International Planned Parenthood Federation's European Bureau in London, overseeing the federation's work establishing family planning clinics in Eastern Europe during a time of immense political and social turmoil. O'Brien has been honored by the International Parliamentarians Conference on ICPD, recognized as a "Key to Choice" by Planned Parenthood Golden Gate, and received the Abby J. Leibman Pursuit of Justice Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Women's Law Center in 2007.

Silvia Henriquez is the Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.

Silvia Henriquez is primarily responsible for the overall management, fundraising and administration of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. In just three years, Silvia has positioned NLIRH as one the leading organizations working to advance the reproductive health and rights of Latinas. She has increased national visibility through the March for Women’s Lives, the National Latina Summit, developed national organizing and advocacy programs as well as tripled the funding base for the organization. Prior to her leadership position at NLIRH, Silvia has worked with various reproductive rights organizations. She was the National Campus Coordinator at the Feminist Majority Foundation, the Outreach Director at the National Abortion Federation and a Policy Analyst with the Latino Issues Forum.

Silvia currently sits on the Board of Directors of both the Reproductive Health Technologies Project and the Guttmacher Institute. She has also been recognized by the National Women’s Health Network at their 30th Anniversary as one of 30 activists working on behalf of women’s health. Silvia is also the recipient of the 2005 Young Professional Award from the American Public Health Association. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in International Affairs and a Master’s in Women’s Studies both from the George Washington University.