Wilder's Response to Dobbs v. Jackson

Dear Wilder Community,

On Friday, June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion that had been in place since 1973. The Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson gives authority to each state government to determine their own abortion rights and restrictions. Currently, 8 states ban or severely limit abortions, and the Supreme Court decision is expected to trigger bans or limitations in several more states in the following weeks. Minnesota is one of a few states in the upper Midwest where abortion rights are expected to remain intact following this ruling.

Research has shown that policies that restrict access to abortions have disproportionate negative effects on people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or as People of Color, as well as people experiencing poverty. This decision by the Supreme Court is a serious blow to health equity—one that will worsen the country’s already deep health disparities along racial, gender, and socioeconomic lines. For these reasons, and as an organization with a mission to support the well-being of all people in the Greater Saint Paul community, the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation opposes the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson. 

Our opposition to the Supreme Court’s decision does not change the fact that Wilder respects every person’s right to their individual opinions and perspectives about the issues we face as a country. This organization was founded over 100 years ago on the basis of supporting all people in Saint Paul without any form of prejudice, including religious, political and personal beliefs. We believe that listening to, and learning from, diverse perspectives and experiences is critical to bringing people together to make lasting, positive change. At the same time, we must speak out against decisions and policies that have been shown to deepen the disparities that Wilder is working to close.

We will continue to be a community health provider, a research institution, and an advocate for health equity. We remain committed to our vision of a Saint Paul community where all people and families have what they need to be healthy, stable, and prosperous. That future is only possible if we recognize the challenges before us—including systemic health inequities—and work across differences to create solutions.

Thank you for your partnership and support.

Signed,

Armando Camacho, President and CEO
Heather Britt, Executive Director, Wilder Research
Nona Ferguson, Vice President, Economic Stability and Aging Services
Jennie Hawkins, Vice President, Human Resources
Amy Huerta, Chief Financial Officer
Michelle Morehouse, Vice President, Advancement
Jennifer Thao, Vice President of Strategy
Pahoua Yang, Vice President, Community Mental Health and Wellness

Photo by Anna Sullivan on Unsplash