Maria Thomas is a William Wilberforce Fellow and a junior at Indiana University.  

Throughout my six years in high school and college, I’ve loved running a Students for Life of America (SFLA) group on my campus. The most engaging advocacy for life has to be through door-knocking and canvassing for the Campaign for Abortion Free Cities (AFC). It’s a fun “boot camp” for building my confidence and bravery to talk to my fellow Americans about the intrinsic value of Life.  

My first AFC campaign kicked off in 2021, so when I got the opportunity to begin my campaign at my college, Indiana University, this fall, I was so excited to bring my favorite type of outreach to my new pro-life group. 

In just one afternoon this November, we visited over 130 houses to spread awareness of our local Pregnancy Help Center (PHC) and warn about the dangers of Chemical Abortion Pills for both mother and preborn children. A couple of our team members, Michael and Nick, even had a forty-minute conversation with a woman who, though initially pro-abortion, ultimately admitted that the pro-life position to protect all life equally made more sense. What surprised me the most was how many students expressed that they were familiar with the adverse effects of Chemical Abortion Pills. However, only one in three knew about the life-affirming resources at our PHC. Even though we managed to spread awareness about these fantastic resource centers that care for moms and babies simultaneously, there’s still more work to be done.

I’m looking forward to driving our initiative even further this spring. 

Through AFC, we promote real, local resources through productive discussions with our neighbors. Many of them have never heard the pro-life position represented well—certainly not by young, passionate high school and college students. What we discuss in full meetings becomes concrete and makes it out of the four walls. Actions and words go hand in hand. 

But, most of all, I love to see the confidence that canvassing builds in all my group members as we advocate for life together, including myself. This spring, we anticipate doing big things for Life so that more children can have a chance at it.  

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