Red River Women’s Clinic

Q&A

In this conversation, Clinic Director Tammi Kromenaker shares more about the clinic’s journey from Fargo to Moorhead and the crucial role that independent clinics play in advancing reproductive freedom in Minnesota and beyond.

Could you tell us a little bit about your work?

Red River Women’s Clinic was the only abortion provider in the state of North Dakota for more than 20 years. We moved to Moorhead in August of 2022, where we continue to provide the full spectrum of reproductive care: birth control, STI testing, walk-in pregnancy testing, and abortion care, both medication and in-clinic suction. Since the pandemic and the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization, we have really focused on abortion care, though we obviously still offer those other kinds of care. We primarily serve our region, but it is important to us to serve any person that finds their way to us. Our patients are at the center of all of our work and advocacy.

Why is this work important to take on in Minnesota?

Minnesota is leading the way in keeping abortion access available for patients from states that are restricting or banning abortion. South Dakota has already banned abortion, and North Dakota is trying its hardest. Minnesotans sent a message during this election year—to legislators, to the governor, to the attorney general—that they want Minnesota to lead the way in protecting abortion access. Without it, many patients in this region would have almost no access. But we know that even without access to abortion care in the state, people still need abortion care. People who are already vulnerable, people who have historically been marginalized by our health care systems–those people will be the first to lose care. Minnesota needs to be a leader and continue to fight for access to abortion, not only for Minnesotans, but for all people who can’t get care in the state where they live.

Why did you join the UnRestrict Minnesota coalition?

Coming from such a restrictive state to the state of Minnesota and seeing so many coalition partners from so many different organizations who represent so many different communities—it was a breath of fresh air. In North Dakota, we were one of just a few folks who would do advocacy or policy work. It’s so great to be joining others in the coalition, to listen, to learn, and not to have to lead the way.

I still remember where I was when Megan Peterson told me that there were 30 other coalition partners, ready and willing to work with and for each other. It was right before Judge Thomas Gilligan handed down his ruling in Doe v. Minnesota that lifted some of Minnesota’s abortion restrictions, and Shayla [Walker, executive director of UnRestrict coalition partner Our Justice] and Abena [Abraham, campaign director for UnRestrict Minnesota] had worked out this process for minors seeking abortion care to be seen by judges for judicial bypass. And I just remember feeling like “Oh, somebody else did this? We don’t have to do this legwork? We’re not alone in this?” And that’s when Megan said “Yeah, Tammi—there are so many people who are doing this with you and for you.”

I’m so looking forward to working with partners, rather than lifting everything on our own. To be able to be in partnership with other folks who are out front and loud about it, who are proud of what they do; it’s a contrast with our past experiences. Just knowing that there are other folks who are in the work with us is so refreshing, and it’s also a major relief that we don’t have to hold everything ourselves.

What is your vision for achieving full reproductive justice in Minnesota?

Anything I answer is always with patients first. We’re an independent abortion provider, and indies have always provided care in the places that are most hostile to abortion rights. Independent clinics provide abortion care further in pregnancy, both medication and in-clinic suction. And we will twist ourselves into a pretzel to make sure that we’re able to see a patient and get them the care they need. Independent clinics have always been on the frontlines of this fight. And coming from such a restrictive state and having so many barriers in that state that disproportionately affected Black people, Indigenous people, people of color…I have seen the devastating impact of restrictions.

Things are already completely different here: there’s so much less stigma, and so many fewer barriers in Minnesota. The honest answer is that we’ve been so under attack and so beleaguered for so long, we haven’t had the opportunity to dream. We don’t even know what that’s like. We’re now adjusting to a positive environment and a welcoming state where we’ve had the administration on every level welcome us with open arms, listen to us, and respond to us. It’s unbelievable. So what I can offer as a vision and as a dream is that we are ready to listen and learn and follow the lead of others and what they dream into being–and we will bring all the fight that we had in North Dakota to the work.

How can people get engaged with your work?

Again, we think about our patients first. We work closely with the ND WIN Fund, and donations to them directly benefit our patients. People can also join the escorting team at our clinic; we have a fantastic core team and we’re always adding people. Follow us on social media, or engage with us locally. One major collaboration is Plants for Patients. Plants for Patients is an organization that started at our clinic, and has since grown into its own 501(c)3. Each person that comes to our clinic is offered a note of support from a community member and the opportunity to bring a plant and a pot home with them. It is a pro-compassion program, which emphasizes that this is a community. People care about you. Locally in Fargo-Moorhead, people can make a pot or write a note of support; and for people who aren’t local, they can make a donation on the organization’s website.