Cobalt x DWBC

DWBC is proud of its deep partnership with Cobalt, Colorado’s premier abortion rights organization working to “secure unassailable reproductive autonomy and abortion access.”

In this partner spotlight, Dani Newsum, Cobalt’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, sends her gratitude and shares her vision for our partnership.

Cobalt has been a DWBC partner for six years and in 2024, Cobalt awarded DWBC its Outstanding Partner award. Dani Newsum, Cobalt’s Director of Strategic Partnerships says “we awarded DWBC our Partnership Award because the organization is just outstanding. We could not ask for more in an organizational nonprofit partner, and I can only hope that we are returning at least a little bit of the incredible favor that DWBC has granted us.”

The non-profit Cobalt Foundation develops and implements policy and conducts civic education and engagement to protect and expand abortion access. Cobalt Advocates is the successful 501(c)(4) political organization that focuses on policy, legislative action and candidate endorsements to elect pro-abortion rights legislators at the municipal, state and federal level. Importantly, the Cobalt Abortion Fund (https://cobaltaf.org) provides direct financial support to abortion-seekers. 

DWBC President Lisa Lesniak praises Cobalt for “fighting for and empowering women in all aspects. Their niche is reproductive healthcare access, while DWBC tries to be more holistic.” Lisa highlights that both DWBC and Cobalt take “a feminist approach to empowering women. We align as feminists to do work to empower women. We look for partners who are empowering women in education, engagement and election.” 

Cobalt was instrumental in getting voters to enshrine abortion access into Colorado’s constitution through Amendment 79. DWBC members carried petitions and helped secure the requisite number of signatures to get the amendment on the ballot. Dani Newsum highlighted that “giving voters the opportunity to enshrine abortion rights in the State constitution was one thing. Now it's on implementation. Our policy department will continue to be working on the nuts and bolts of implementing Amendment 79.” 

Cobalt strives to be courageous, unified, principled and rooted – values that are consistent with DWBC’s. Dani says “the Democratic Women of Boulder County have been a stellar, stellar partner.  Supporting our policy work has been just incredible, because it's not easy, and we are so very, very appreciative.” She reminds us, though, that the work is not done and DWBC’s partnership with Cobalt remains vital. “Vigilance is what we need,” particularly in protecting access to medication abortion. Opponents, she says, “will never let up on trying to outlaw Mifepristone, which is one of the two medications involved in medication abortion. So, just as Cobalt has to be vigilant, we would ask that the membership of the Democratic Women of Boulder County be vigilant, too, because that's where the threat is coming.”

Cobalt website: https://cobaltadvocates.org

Cobalt Abortion Fund: https://cobaltadvocates.org/cobalt-abortion-fund/

Cobalt Advocacy and Legislation arm = 501(c)(4)