For many years, Choices Women’s Medical Center has offered free-of-charge education classes in Reproductive Health for secondary school students and other organizations. One of our longest partners has been the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI) which has worked with underrepresented youth throughout NYC and the Tri-State area since 2005, inspiring, training and mentoring them to become leaders in creating positive social and economic change.
BALI is based on the principles and vision of Bella Abzug, a leading feminist and the first Jewish Congresswoman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1971-77). BALI was founded by Liz Abzug, one of her daughters and a feminist leader in her own right.
Waiting for turn to speak at a January 22nd rally with (from left) Bella Abzug, Dr. Vickie Alexander, Merle Hoffman, and Betty Maloney. Bryant Park, New York City, circa 1980s.
CHOICES Founder Merle Hoffman worked closely with Bella Abzug on a number of projects, including New York City’s first Women’s Health Forum in 1974. In 1986, Hoffman produced and hosted the first feminist TV show, MH On the Issues, a syndicated 30-minute cable TV show, and her first guest was then-Congresswoman Bella Abzug.
In her memoir, Intimate Wars, The Life and Times of the Woman Who Brought Abortion from the Back Alley to the Board Room, (Feminist Press 2012), Merle Hoffman describes how her concept of a Women’s Health Forum grew out of her awareness that women were the majority of health care consumers yet had little if any say in their health care treatment. Organizing a major conference for over 500 was a challenging and exciting project.
“We decided on a combination of heavy-hitting speakers and educational workshops to highlight the themes of women as medical consumers and decision makers within the family and society. New York City Mayor Abraham Beame was to be the keynote speaker…and I would moderate a panel that included Bella Abzug speaking on “Women as Leaders” and Barbara Enrenreich on the “Current Status of Women.” It would be a historic event, an entire conference on Women’s Health – a field that was hardly recognized.”
“First Bella spoke, in her ubiquitous hat, full throated and powerful, bringing the crowd to its feet. Here for the first time was the presence of a woman I wanted to emulate.”
Hoffman has always considered Bella Abzug as her first political mentor and political mother, and working with her daughter Liz and BALI continues her connection to her.
In 2015, Hoffman was presented with the “Bella” award by Liz Abzug, and met some of the young women who are BALI-trained and mentored here in NYC each year.
Most recently, Choices Women’s Medical Center partnered with BALI for the 2025 Leadership and Debate Training Program at Hunter College, helping train another two amazing classes of emerging youth leaders who despite having to overcome many challenging personal circumstances, are still among the most motivated, hard-working, and highest achievers we have ever met. Youth were given valuable, science-based information, and enjoyed the opportunity to express themselves as well as hone their civic engagement, leadership, and community-building skills.
From left: BALI student; Choices Founder Merle Hoffman; Liz Abzug, daughter of Bella Abzug and Founder of Bella Abzug Leadership Institute; other BALI students and leaders.