THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
JoAnne Fischer
“My previous life definitely prepared me for the women’s movement.”
Lifelong advocate to empower women and girls. Organizer of the Women’s Health Movement in Pennsylvania. National Board of Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia. NARAL. Philadelphia Parenting Associates. Delegate to the Woman’s Year Commission Conference, Houston 1977. First Executive Director at the Maternity Care Coalition, Greater Philadelphia. Founding board of Women’s Way and the Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center for Women. National Women’s Health Network. Women’s Agenda’s Health Task Force.
Interviewed by Judy Waxman, May 2021
Photo 1. With Japanese Girl Scouts prior to Girl Scout Roundup 1965; JoAnne Fischer closest to Liberty Bell. Photo 2. JoAnne Fischer with Helen Rodriguez Trias Our Bodies, Ourselves 10th Anniversary in NYC, 1979. Photo 3. JoAnne Fischer speaking for NWHN at 10th anniversary of Our Bodies, Ourselves 10th anniversary in NYC, 1979. Judy Norsigian and Paula Doress look on. Photo 4. JoAnne, still fighting.
More About JoAnne:
- JoAnne Fischer’s photo gallery of the Women’s Health Archives
- The White House honors JoAnne Fischer as a Champion of Change who is dedicated to improving access to health care, 2012
- JoAnne Fischer speaks at Philadelphia vigil, September 6, 2009
- Bryn Mawr Alumnae Profile: JoAnne Fischer, MSS ’73
- Select newspaper clippings 1977 – 1991
- Maternity Care Coalition website
- The National Women’s Health Network website
- Women’s Way website
- Archives
- Select Publications including efforts and honors
- JoAnne Fischer, White House Author
- JoAnne Fischer is retiring from Maternity Care Coalition, September 11, 2017
- JoAnne Fischer Testified at City Council, Executive Director, Joanne Fischer, Testified at Philadelphia City Council in Support of Universal Pre-K, May 4, 2016
- JoAnne Fischer marks 25 years of leading Maternity Care Coalition
- Area Advocates For Safe Childbirth Applaud Recent Grants, November 21, 2013
- 20 Years at Maternity Care Coalition: JoAnne Fischer, May 2009
- Pumping Up Protection: Enactment of Philadelphia’s Breastfeeding Accommodation Law
- American Women on the Move
- Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
- Women’s eNews’ Philadelphia Leadership Awards Celebrate Sisterly Love in PA, Honoring those who work to improve the lives of women.
- Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania
- Fischer v. Department of Pub. Welfare Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Argued April 18, 1985. Decided December 5, 1985.
- “Every Woman Deserves the Right to Choose” Event: Abortion Rights, March and Rally, Prints D 1170 – D 1172. JoAnne Fischer organized this effort with Jean Hunt In Support of Women’s Lives, a national counter demonstration at the National Right to Life meeting in Cherry Hill , New Jersey, July 17, 1982