Allison Fournier, one of the National Leaders Collective’s leaders of the month, is a Students for Life of America Standing With You Fellow attending Bryan College in Dayton, TN. Learn more about Fournier’s activism below.  

I got involved in the pro-life movement for many different reasons. The number one reason is because of my belief and commitment in Christ, which comes with the cause of protecting the vulnerable and innocent.

Another reason is because I want babies to be given the same chance at life that I was. My parents became pregnant with me only a few months after having my sister at a time where their financial stress was rampant and there was no telling whether their life might fall apart if they had me. Armed with their commitment to Christ and belief in His plan, they had me with the help of their family and local support. If my parents weren’t Christians and hadn’t believed that my little life was worth keeping no matter the cost, I would not be here today.

I wish people could meet Christ the way He met me before I was even born, and I want women to know that they are stronger than society tells them they are. They have so many more options than abortion, which will only leave them hurt and grieving. I’ve been volunteering at Pregnancy Centers for about seven years, and the community has always been so warm and welcoming. I would like to extend that warmth to others that are in need of love and support. 

My experience as a pro-life leader was very sudden. I had been a part of the movement since I was 13, doing various volunteer work at my local Pregnancy Center. But I took a break when I moved to Tennessee for college. I didn’t even know my campus had a Students for Life group until my sophomore year. I went to one meeting, where I learned that the group consisted of a president and one other member. I asked how I could become her vice president, and she responded by appointing me to the position right there. We started working together right away! We drafted policies for campus support, participated in Spring and Fall Chalk Days, and created various presentations to spread the pro-life message on our campus.

I applied to the Standing With You fellowship because of my love for Pregnancy Centers and community support! I am a firm believer that our biggest strength is the people we surround ourselves with, and I want women to know that there is always a wonderful community ready to welcome them and their children with open arms. As Christians, we are called to give as Christ has given for us, and this is my favorite way of giving back to the people who need it the most. 

My top three efforts this month have been such a joy to work on! My strongest project was cleaning our local Pregnancy Center. For three months straight, another volunteer and I spent time every Monday cleaning the facility so the staff could focus on saving lives each week.

My second major project was hosting an SFLA tabling event. My regional manager, Rebekah Keith, joined me for the Chemical Abortion Hurts Tour, and together we had 76 conversations and collected 62 signatures for the “Clean Water for All Life Act” petition — more than doubling our goal in both areas.

My third highlight this month was a meaningful conversation with a few of my classmates about the negative side effects of hormonal birth control and the natural alternatives that avoid those harms. It was especially enlightening since one was currently using birth control and the other was not. Overall, this month has been absolutely fantastic!

One of our most impactful efforts this school year has been drafting policy changes that support pregnant students. Our local care center reached out to inform us that some of our college residents contacted them trying to acquire abortions. After going through our campus policy handbook, we realized it had a section about not having sex, but it had nothing at all about pregnancy. This was leading many students to assume the worst consequences if they became pregnant.

We drafted a policy that focused on clarifying the Title IX policies that protected pregnant students’ rights. After a long series of going through different channels, we received word that it would not only pass but also be implemented as soon as possible with the addition of a needs-based grant to support pregnant and parenting students continuing their education. The policy got signed into effect in December and was finalized within the following months, solidifying our campus’s pro-life atmosphere! 

My experience at NLC has been incredibly inspirational, and I am so excited to continue to attend tabling and other pro-life gatherings to further my experience and strengthen my ability to talk with others! It has been beyond helpful to be able to speak with like-minded individuals and expand my knowledge with their experiences and stories.