about
repro tlc
Repro TLC (formerly Midwest Access Project) fills gaps nationwide in clinical training and education while mobilizing our network to advocate for more just and equitable sexual and reproductive care. We’ve spent the past 20 years expanding access to care by connecting providers to sexual and reproductive health training especially in the Midwest.
Repro TLC is filling critical gaps and fighting for reproductive freedom across the country. The acronym TLC stands for more than ‘tender loving care.’ It’s about Training, Liberation, and Community, and more — all grounded in Trust, Love, and Collaboration. As the organization expands, the meaning of TLC continues to grow to reflect the needs of those we serve.
Repro TLC improves access to comprehensive reproductive health care by training providers in abortion and miscarriage care, contraception, pregnancy options counseling, and beyond.
We envision a world where every person has access to a high-quality, patient-centered, interdisciplinary health care team in their community to support them through the full-spectrum of their sexual and reproductive health care needs.
Why Our Training Programs Are Necessary
Many medical and nursing programs do not provide adequate reproductive health education, often due to restrictive state laws, cultural norms, or religiously affiliated hospitals.
In 2024, approximately 40% of residency programs are restricted in their ability to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health training.
The educational gaps in reproductive health training, particularly in the Midwest and Southern United States, contribute to fewer skilled providers and reduced access to abortion, comprehensive pregnancy counseling, and preventative services.
Costs associated with clinical training — including travel, housing, licensing fees, and malpractice insurance — can exceed $5,000 for a month-long clinical rotation.
Lack of diversity in training and practice negatively impacts care. A 2020 study of Ryan residents found that marginalized racial identities were underrepresented in both educational opportunities as well as intention to provide, with 8.5% of residents being Black and 4.1% Latine.
In 2023, 18,870 patients traveled from out of state for abortion care, compared to 13,300 in 2020. Illinois experienced the largest increase, by far, in the number of patients traveling from out of state for abortion care (Guttmacher, 2023).
The Midwest has some of the lowest number of abortion clinics per population compared to other U.S. regions.
State abortion bans, anti-choice harassing litigation, and regulatory restrictions all contribute to clinic closures, lower patient volumes, reduced or eliminated clinic services, which all result in reduced training opportunities.
Care from the Heartland to the Nation
OUR TEAM
We are proud to work with a passionate team dedicated to expanding sexual and reproductive health care training and education.
Latona became Repro TLC’s Executive Director in September, 2023, bringing their experience as a Birth Doula, Registered Nurse, Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and birth justice advocate. In 2011, they co-founded Birthmark Doula Collective, Louisiana’s only birth-worker-owned cooperative. In 2017, they co-founded the New Orleans Breastfeeding Center, Louisiana’s first freestanding breastfeeding clinic. Latona is a natural instigator and loves collaboration for liberation. Some of their recent collaborative projects include a statewide network of lactation support circles for families of color, a community-led, queer pregnancy and parenting project, and a perinatal emergency preparedness training program. They have served on the Louisiana Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review, the New Orleans Maternal Child Health Coalition, and other reproductive health- related legislative commissions. Their reproductive justice impact has been featured in the New York Times Magazine, CBS’s 60 Minutes, and Yes! Magazine. Their writing has been published in The Nation, Rewire News Group, and Huffington Post. Latona is happiest when sitting outside next to fresh water, and reading an Afro-futuristic fantasy novel.
Latona Giwa
Executive Director
(she / they)
Thalia joined Repro TLC in February 2025. Thalia is a first generation Lebanese American and native New Yorker. Thalia earned her Bachelors of Science in Community Health from the State University of New York at Cortland College. Upon graduation, Thalia worked as Health Educator for Morris Heights School Based Health Center, where she assisted in implementation of the school based health centers throughout New York City Public Schools. Thalia then began her tenure with Planned Parenthood, totaling 8 years, bringing her to New Orleans, Louisiana in 2017. Thalia joined the Louisiana Department of Health – STD/HIV/HEP Program(SHHP) in 2021, as the Orleans Community Engagement Supervisor and then the Health Equity Supervisor. Thalia is certified by the State of New York and Louisiana as a Sexual Assault Crisis Counselor and Hospital Advocate. Thalia is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and a graduate of HIVE: Louisiana Reproductive Leadership Development Program, Cohort 2. Thalia is driven by equity and access, believing that public health can dramatically change people’s lives. Thalia is happiest cuddled up on her couch with her three dogs, Molly, Max and Bam Bam.
Thalia Nakouzi
Deputy Director of Programs & Culture
(she/her)
Ramey joined Repro TLC in November 2021. After completing her BA in Gender & Sexuality Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, she joined the reproductive health/abortion care community as a full-spectrum doula and a collective member of the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project. She currently has over a decade of experience in the field through direct patient care, clinic administration, and clinical training coordination. She is particularly passionate about systems management and quality improvement. Ramey is dedicated to the expansion of access to safe, individualized, compassionate reproductive health care, and committed to protecting the dignity of those who seek it. She currently lives in New Jersey with her partner and an overabundance of house plants.
Ramey Connelly
Director of Training Innovation
(she / her)
Alyssa Stenson (she/they) joined Repro TLC in 2022 as the Provider & Community Education Manager, where they design and lead inclusive and person-centered workshops, trainings, and curricula for all intersections of sexual and reproductive health advocates and providers. A proud abortion storyteller and advocate, Alyssa’s story has been featured in POPSUGAR and on Next Question with Katie Couric. Alyssa brings extensive experience in sexual and reproductive health education and abortion access, and is deeply committed to the core tenets of reproductive justice. Alyssa has completed fellowships with Collective Power for Reproductive Justice and Forward Promise, supporting youth organizers and advancing social justice leadership. They serve on several advisory boards, including the Chicago Abortion Fund Board, ICAN! Community Advisory Board, The Youth Sexpert Program Board, and the Period Movement Advisory Council. Alyssa is also a certified sexuality educator and abortion doula, passionate about uplifting queer, trans, and BIPOC voices in reproductive health spaces and decentering cisgender whiteness in abortion training. Alyssa holds a Master of Arts in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Sociology from Rutgers University–Newark. Outside of work, Alyssa enjoys reality TV, romance reading, and traveling.
Alyssa Stenson
Senior Manager of Provider & Community Education
(she / they)
Chante joined Repro TLC in April of 2025. She has a Bachelor's degree in Public Health and a minor in Social-Cultural Anthropology from American University, where she discovered her passion for social and reproductive justice. Chante has about 4 years of experience in sexual and reproductive health focused on health education and abortion care. In her free time, Chante loves to support and learn from community organizations in Washington, DC. In 2023, she participated in the PPMW Developing Leaders Program, and this past December, she wrote her first piece about "How to Get an Abortion in DC" with the 51st News, DC's new local paper. Chante continues to push for ways to expand education and access to reproductive health care.
Chante Yarbough
Individual Clinical Training Coordinator
(she/her)
Aisha is a proud third generation organizer and child of immigrants. Aisha brings over a decade of experience working in equity and accessibility across the non-profit, government, and private sectors. Prior to joining Repro TLC Aisha served as interim Executive Director at Trans Lifeline. Aisha has worked in community outreach roles for the Obama Administration, State Department, Bernie Sanders 2016 Presidential campaign, among other roles. In 2020, Aisha earned a masters degree in Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Chicago. Aisha is passionate about working in the body autonomy movement and is currently based in Chicago, IL. Aisha is a creative spirit who, as an artist themselves, dabbling in the medium of floristry, writing, and mixed media, loves exploring the connections between art and organizing.
Aisha
Provider Movement Building Manager
(they / them)
Jan (she/her) joined Repro TLC in February 2026. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology with a minor in Spanish. Her experience comes from over a decade of work in sexual health, specifically in HIV services and HIV prevention in the state of Louisiana. Jan initially started with the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program where she helped people with HIV access healthcare and services to attain viral suppression and improve overall health. She then moved into HIV Prevention, working for the state telehealth program that provides people access to HIV preventive services such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, and education and counseling. Through her work, Jan is passionate about promoting and helping provide access to healthcare as a core tenet in combating stigma, lack of education, and misinformation. With the knowledge that access saves lives, Jan prioritizes access expansion and capacity to underserved and marginalized communities to help improve overall public health. She is currently based in New Orleans, LA where she spends her free time building Lego sets and trying out new dessert shops whenever possible.
Jan Mandani
Individual Clinical Training Manager
(she/her)
No bio available.
Deputy Director of Development & Advocacy
No bio available.
Director of Strategic Communications
Communications Associate
No bio available.
Senior Manager of Operations
No bio available.
