2008 NAESM African American HIV leadership Conference in Oakland California, January 24-27, 2008 - The Ovahness Leadership Team along with Martha Chono-Helsley, Executive Director and Tyrone Carter, Manager of young Men’s Health Programs aimed at building the capacity of young men of color through HIV and health education advocacy attended the 2008 NAESM African American HIV leadership Conference in Oakland California, January 24-27, 2008. 
One team members announced, “This is my first time flying”. The group of young men where excited to present in the session entitled Community Mobilization and Awareness the Ovahness program and the award winning documentary ‘I’m Still Here: Becoming Legendary” which was very well received. The staff and young men where bombarded with question and compliments. The young men attended a variety of workshops focused on HIV Prevention and developing leadership skills. Those youth who attended were Stephan Daniels, Devaughn Sherman, Kyle Butler, Pierre Porter, Peter Singleton, Stacy Alford, Angelo Martinez, Enrique Hernandez and Chris Blades.
Unbeknown to Chrst Blades, REACH LA Outreach Coordinator and Ovahness Leadership Team member was nominated for his work. Christ Blades received and standing ovation when honored with this award “The Harold Philpot Award, outstanding community service, dedication, and contributions to remove HIV/AIDS from the African American MSM community.
Friends of REACH LA came out 325+ strong to “Gotta Skate 08″ at World on Wheels.
The event featured DJ Ben and Enyce Chanel hosting a wide range of folks from all over LA. A special performance by rapper Foxxjazell highlighted the night.
Youth under 24 got in free for speaking with REACH LA counselors about HIV risk reduction and many took advantage of the free HIV testing provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Members of the REACH LA G2G Leadership and Ovahness Leadership Teams produced the event. Special thanks go to Pretty Boy Enterprises and Foxxjazell for their promotion and support. Go to myspace.com/ovahness
to view more pictures of the event!
The staff of REACH LA hosted an evening of fun, food, shopping, singing and “voguing” at its annual holiday party. REACH LA “familia” from the G2G Leadership, Ovahness and Reel Ghetto Queer workshops stopped by through out the evening. Friends came out to support the Chiapas Women’s Collective by buying handmade belts, pocketbooks, bracelets, purses, tablecloths and clothes from Oakwood School students. Each year the Oakwood students travel to Chiapas and visit the many women who participate in the collective.
HIV YOUTH Coalition of LA County (HYLAC) held its annual conference at the El Camino Compton Community Educational Center on December 7th, 2007. REACH LA along with coalition members from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project, East LA Women’s Center, LA County Department of Epidemiology, Planned Parenthood-Pasadena, ALTAMED and El Camino College Compton Community Educational Center developed a unique conference opportunity that would work towards bridging the gaps between HIV prevention, reproductive healthcare, substance use, criminal justice, intimate partner violence, HIV testing and care and create an action plan for best practices and integration for young women of color, ages 12-24. Providers Addressing Young Women’s Health Disparities: A Call to Action brought together HIV service providers, reproductive justice advocates, mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse professionals, students and community leaders to develop a 5-step integration plan in five key reproductive justice areas – reproductive health services, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health and juvenile/adult incarceration. Conference attendees, led by volunteer HIV and/or issue area professionals, facilitated lively and proactive discussions for reducing infection rates among young women of color. Each issue area presented their recommendations to a panel consisting of representation from the LA County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, the City of Los Angeles, LA County Office of Women’s Health, Association of Planned Parenthood Leaders in Education, Office of the Speaker of the House Assemblyman Fabian Nunez, LA County Sheriff Office, LA Unified School District and the California Endowment. The report back plans presented will be compiled by the HIV Youth Coalition of LA County and disseminated to attendees at a later date.
The opening of the conference was highlighted by monologue performances by Diann Marchlewski & Maureen Piquette from the REACH LA Women’s Writing Workshop under the direction of Cathy Kay. G2G Leader Jasmin Harpe’s video about fears of seeking reproductive health care was also featured.
Ovahness Program Manager Tyrone Carter, Outreach Coordinator Chris Blades and G2G Young Women’s Program Manager Michelle Horton presented at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, GA on Dec. 3, 2007. The Ovahness program was presented with two other community-based HIV prevention projects from Alaska and Washington. The Ovahness presentation, which consisted of short clips from the documentary “I’m Still Here: Becoming Legendary,” was very well received. Program Manager Tyrone Carter reported that staffer Chris Blades, 21, was bombarded by questions from the audience about his role at REACH LA as a peer educator and the LA/House Ball scene, “the presentation was highlighted by the fact that Chris was featured as part of the documentary and as a community member. People were most curious about his role, being a youth and all. But Chris carried himself as a true professional, regardless of his age.”
LA’s Ovahness Young Men’s Program received a generous grant from the Macy’s Passport Fund on Nov. 29th. Larry Hashbarger, Director of Special Productions presented the check to Tyrone Carter, Manager of the Ovahness Program and Chris Blades, Outreach Coordinator at the Passport Check Presentation ceremony held at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
Project consultant Carla Gordon, Social Enterprise Coordinator Sean Milan Harris and Social Enterprise Assistant Frank Armenta attended a jump start social enterprise training day in San Francisco November 15-16, 2007. This training was designed to help Community Technology Foundation grantees with basics in social enterprise, designing a business plan, working with youth workers and product marketing.
Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, Ovahness Program Manager Tyrone Carter and Outreach Coordinator Chris Blades presented a program overview at the 2007 United States Conference on AIDS in Palm Springs. This was the first public presentation about the Ovahness Program since its inception in July 2006. The Ovahness team presented on the program design, retention of clients, social marketing components and program challenges as part of the LA County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy’s institute session called “Extreme Makeover – HIV Edition.”
LaDawn Best, G2G Leadership Coordinator represented REACH LA on the “Surviving and Thriving: Identity, Sexuality and the Media” panel moderated by media activist Jasmine Cannick. The panel featured representatives from Black AIDS Institute, APAIT, Bienestar and Homo A Go Go/Queer Arts in Action to examine and raise questions about health and wellness in the LGBT community. The panel was presented as part of the 2007 FUSION: The Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival.
One team members announced, “This is my first time flying”. The group of young men where excited to present in the session entitled Community Mobilization and Awareness the Ovahness program and the award winning documentary ‘I’m Still Here: Becoming Legendary” which was very well received. The staff and young men where bombarded with question and compliments. The young men attended a variety of workshops focused on HIV Prevention and developing leadership skills. Those youth who attended were Stephan Daniels, Devaughn Sherman, Kyle Butler, Pierre Porter, Peter Singleton, Stacy Alford, Angelo Martinez, Enrique Hernandez and Chris Blades.
Unbeknown to Chrst Blades, REACH LA Outreach Coordinator and Ovahness Leadership Team member was nominated for his work. Christ Blades received and standing ovation when honored with this award “The Harold Philpot Award, outstanding community service, dedication, and contributions to remove HIV/AIDS from the African American MSM community.
