Cecile Richards - MPSF Speaker Series

Nationally respected leader in the field of women’s health and reproductive rights, President of Planned Parenthood since 2006, actively leading the movement to build a healthier safer world for women and teens.

February 4 - 7, 2019

Cecile Richards

Cecile Richards

Cecile Richards is a nationally respected leader in the field of women’s health and reproductive rights.  As president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Ms. Richards leads a movement that has worked for nearly 100 years to build a healthier and safer world for women and teens. Every year, approximately 700 Planned Parenthood affiliate health centers nationwide provide health care services to nearly three million patients, and sex education to more than one million people. 

Planned Parenthood’s website — plannedparenthood.org — receives 47 million visits a year from individuals seeking health care services and education in both English and Spanish.

Since joining Planned Parenthood in 2006, Ms. Richards has expanded its advocacy for access to health care and ensured that Planned Parenthood played a pivotal role in shaping health care coverage and services for women under the Affordable Care Act.  In 2011, she led an unprecedented nationwide campaign to preserve access to Planned Parenthood preventive care through federal programs.  Under her leadership, the number of Planned Parenthood supporters has doubled, reaching seven million.

Before joining Planned Parenthood, Ms. Richards served as deputy chief of staff for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.  In 2004, she founded and served as president of America Votes, a coalition of 42 national grassroots organizations working to maximize registration, education, and voter participation.  She began her career organizing low-wage workers in the hotel, health care, and janitorial industries throughout California, Louisiana, and Texas.

Ms. Richards is a frequent speaker and commentator on issues related to women’s rights, reproductive health, and sex education, and is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.

Ms. Richards currently serves on the board of the Ford Foundation.  She and her husband, Kirk Adams, have three children and reside in New York City. Cecile announced in January 2018 that she will be stepping down as President of Planned Parenthood sometime this year.

"Wonderful series, stimulating, thought-provoking, each month an intellectual bonbon."
"I enjoy the lectures because they present a diverse group of subjects, ideas and information about what is happening in our world today."
"This series is extremely well run and organized in all respects. But the quality of speakers remains the key component to keep us coming back each year. We're looking for speakers that bring unique content that we won't necessarily obtain in our day to day following of news, events, and the world."
"I have been coming to the Speakers Series for years and truly appreciate the selection of speakers. The variety of topics selected is very good also. Thanks so much for all of the work you devote to the production, etc."
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