About Us

Get out the Pro-Life Message, Now is Our Time!

Kalamazoo Right to Life (KRTL) is your local Right to Life Affiliate, protecting the precious gift of human life from conception to natural death! Founded in 1969, we are the oldest existing Pro-Life group in Michigan. KRTL is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian, nonprofit organization in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, united with other affiliates to protect the precious gift of human life.

• Our primary goal is to Protect Life, through Education, Legislation and Political Actions. We are not affiliated with any political party, rather we support candidates who align with the values of protecting the life of the unborn and creating legislation to support the dignity of the unborn children, and the Right to Life for all individuals after birth until natural death.
• Kalamazoo Right to Life is a volunteer organization. All members play an integral part in restoring the protection of life. Our organization is wholly directed and staffed by unpaid volunteers. Each give their time, talents, and skills toward our successes in sustaining a strong Voice for Life. The Board members do not receive any compensation. KTRL funding supports the education of our members and community (aside from overhead expenses).

Pro-Life Goals

1. Get out the Pro-Life Message, Now is Our Time to Act!
2. Engage our membership. We want to hear from you, support your needs and hear your ideas.
3. Improve our communication outreach to our members through our website, blogs, newsletters and Facebook. Education is part of the foundation of all progress and growth, both as an individual and as a society.
4. Bring in new voices, new ideas and new volunteers for our committees, events, membership, volunteers and underwriters (contributors). It’s rewarding, important and saves lives.
5. Promoting a pro-life society by working within the political environment, effecting the outcomes of elections by endorsing pro-life candidates, and participating in political action committees.



Please consider the membership [pdf] and volunteer activities and check off the ways You are able and willing to help. Thank you!

Our History

In response to Roe v. Wade, local physician Dr. Joseph Kincaid, who had already established a “right to life committee” at his Catholic parish, founded Kalamazoo Right to Life in 1969. He was soon joined by two women, Dorothy Talanda and Virginia Ferrara. Membership grew beyond its Catholic base to include people from Reformed and Christian Reformed churches.

When abortion-rights lawmakers attempted to pass reform legislation between 1970 and 1972, Kalamazoo Right to Life’s leaders spoke in opposition, talking to civic or church groups. Reform bills failed during that time. However, in 1972 abortion-rights advocates secured enough signatures to place a referendum on the November 1972 ballot that would have legalized abortion up to the 20th week of pregnancy. To defeat Referendum “B”, KRTL joined a coalition of other pro-life groups called Voice of the Unborn.

Joe, Dorothy and Virginia spent the Fall of 1972 speaking at high schools, colleges and universities, churches, civic groups, and debated opponents over an 8-county region. Their hard efforts paid off when the referendum was defeated 61 to 39 percent. In 1973, Voice of the Unborn became Michigan Citizens for Life, with Joe and Dorothy as original founders. Dr. Kincaid became Vice-President, a position he held until 2014.

In 1979, Michigan Citizens for Life changed its name to Right to Life of Michigan (RLM). Over the years KRTL incorporated, started a newsletter, established a lending library of pro-life books and materials, opened an office, held garage sales and auctions, sold roses on Mother’s Day, started an oratory speech contest for high school students, held memorial events on the Roe v. Wade anniversary, and hosted dinners to raise money for the RLM Education Fund.

KRTL has campaigned for local pro-life candidates. We have participated in every petition drive launched by Right to Life of Michigan and its affiliated coalition. KRTL, in collaboration with our southwest Michigan affiliates, continues outreach to promote pro-life efforts locally, and supports this mission at the state level with RLM.

KRTL holds the distinction of being the oldest existing pro-life group in the state. Despite political challenges, our mission remains the same: to protect human life from conception to natural death because each life has a unique purpose, a mission and place in contributing to society.