Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Anne, Co-founder of Green Wave Utah.
Hi Kelly-Anne , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Stephenie McKinnon and I (co-founders), went to a Women’s Rally in January 2024, where we heard Utah House Representative, Angela Romero, and writer, Darlene McDonald, speak. We were deeply moved by what they said, and as we left the rally, we both made a commitment to be active in advocating for bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.
We started by putting together a fundraiser to raise awareness and money to donate to Planned Parenthood. We made and sold green bandanas with a butterfly and a statement on them that said, “Stand For Freedom!”
The butterfly has long been known as a symbol for freedom, transformation, and perseverance, which we felt was fitting for a fundraiser that was to promote bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and freedom.
The color green was chosen because of the Green Wave Movement, which started in Argentina and spread through Latin America, where hundreds of thousands of people in multiple countries took to wearing a green bandana as a visible statement of standing on behalf of reproductive rights, including the right to abortion care. Several countries ultimately changed their laws to allow access to abortion and reproductive healthcare because of the Green Wave Movement.
As we were running the fundraiser, we realized that we still needed to do more. It was clear that we needed to build a Green Wave Movement here in Utah. Our vision was/is to be a catalyst for change by standing on behalf of our birthright to be in charge of our own bodies, life choices, reproductive choices, who we love, and our own health care decisions – including abortion.
From there, we learned how to use Instagram, started following various organizations that support reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, launched a website, and attended as many events (and introduced ourselves to as many people) as we could! We also attended several legislative hearings and committee meetings related to bills that could impact Trans, LGBTQ+, and reproductive rights, during the 2024 and 2025 Utah legislative sessions, and took a huge interest in learning how to build a community group that would have impact.
Every event we saw coming up, we’d reach out and ask if, and how, we could be involved. We’ve tabled at several local markets and rallies, handing out free reproductive resources, including Reproductive Wellness Kits from Utah Abortion Fund, and we’ve handed out free rally posters and buttons, with the themes of the events.
Last October, prior to the election, we organized a rally called, “We Have the Power!” and invited candidates who were running in the 2024 Election, to come speak on where they stood on the issues of bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. Speakers included Caroline Gleich, Representative Romero, Glenn Wright, Natalie Pinkney, Stacy Bernal, Angela Choberka, and more. Our intent with this was to help voters familiarize themselves with candidates they’d have the opportunity to vote for.
Our work had only just begun…
This was the jumping off point into working with other organizations that support the same causes we do.
Now we have an amazing and talented team of volunteers, are invited to speak and participate in local events and protests across our state, and many of our team have become precinct chairs or delegates, to make sure the folks voted in on a local level will work with us to support the rights that we stand for.
We’ve had incredible people support us along the way, like Jason Stevenson, Senior Director of Public Policy at PPAU; Darlene McDonald, writer and historian; Emily Potts, Owner of Sugar House Coffee; Jacey Thornton, Executive Director of Project Rainbow; Tenille Taggart, SLCo Democratic House District 25 Chair, local activist, and Recipient of the Democratic Believers Award; and the team at Utah Abortion Fund.
We are now known for being allies, and fierce, consistent advocates for many marginalized groups in our state, and we share information, education, and resources not just related to reproductive rights, but also the rights of those in the Trans and LGBTQ+ communities. As we’ve heard many people say, “Green Wave Utah is EVERYWHERE!!”
As part of our outreach and community support, we continue to give away free swag, and we have merch that people can pick up by donation, with net proceeds going to local organizations that depend on outside donations to keep their doors open, and that offer support and protection for these rights.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It really has been an incredible process. We’ve started off with a very clear intent, and have continued to serve that throughout the last 15 months. That keeps us steady and clear with our trajectory. We have also had learning, and wisdom-sharing, as a central pillar — where we believe that’s all part of building something that has impact.
We’ve been awe-stuck with how many amazing people there are, fighting the good fight every day.
We also built in solid accountability to each other and our team, which keeps us, and Green Wave Utah, in check. We know we have built what we have on the backs of those who have been advocating and working tirelessly on behalf of these rights for years. We hold them in high regard and bow to them often in the work we do. We also whole-heartedly believe we are stronger together, so we support and offer mentoring to those folks who are just starting out in advocacy work.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been a Spiritual Director for almost 25 years. This has allowed me to bring a certain body of skill with being able to move through the rise and fall of growth and the various stages– of impossibility, through to possibility– that building something goes through.
It also has been a part of my daily work to help people be, and express, who they are — amidst criticism, invalidation, family and social beliefs, pressures, and during times where they don’t feel seen and heard. This is also something that comes with advocating for the rights we do — as well as being able to hear what people share with us when they stop by to talk about their significant life experiences / beliefs specific to bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.
Through my work, I have earned a level of ability with being able to hold space and flourish within challenging and stressful times, which all of the rights that Green Wave Utah stands on behalf of, are experiencing right now.
Stephenie McKinnon, who co-founded Green Wave Utah with me, has worked in the healthcare industry for 28 years, and brings her earned insights from her work to this cause — where she’s seen first-hand why the educating and advocating that we’re doing in Green Wave Utah is so critically important, and why we must do everything we can to protect our rights to bodily autonomy and reproductive care, as well as protecting the health, visibility, privacy, and personal rights of all marginalized people in our state and country– because when one person or group loses their freedoms, we’re all impacted.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To keep showing up. To keep extending a hand. To not believe or to give a seat at our table to outside pressures or beliefs about how we should or need to be doing something, but to keep returning to the clear intent of why I/we are doing what we are.
And most of all – to not forget to include joy in the resistance, and to celebrate all the folks who keep showing up, keep taking steps, and keep contributing to ensuring our community knows they’re not alone as we move through these very challenging and unpredictable times.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.greenwaveutah.com
- Instagram: @greenwaveutah
- Facebook: Green Wave Utah
- Other: TikTok @greenwaveut / Bluesky @greenwaveutah
