REACH LA will be hosting it’s annual holiday party this coming Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 from 6pm-9pm, at the RLA office @ 1400 E. Olympic Blvd. Suite 240, downtown LA, 90021. The party is open to leadership members, volunteers, friends and colleagues. This year we will salute REACH LA’s youth leadership in a special ceremony beginning at 7:30pm. Please RSVP by Monday, 12/15 by emailing reachla@earthlink.net or calling 213-622-1650 x100.
G2G’s Young Women’s Health Manager Michelle Horton is leaving REACH LA to work full-time in the mental health field. While working full-time at REACH LA, Michelle obtained her Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy from CSU Dominguez Hills in June. She has been working part-time on obtaining her clinical hours for licensing with Pacific Clinics, where she has been offered a full-time position. Michelle has been with REACH LA since June 2006 when she was hired to as the Administrative Manager of the Sexual Health Education by Youth (SHEY) program. In 2007, she transitioned into the Manager of Young Women’s Health programs where she oversaw the G2G Workshop and Counseling program. During this time it is estimated that she worked with close to 500+ young women through workshops and one-on-one risk reduction counseling. Her dedication to her work has help REACH LA provide quality service throughout east and south LA. REACH LA wants to convey our fondest wishes Michelle as she continues on her journey. She will be missed!
Girl2Girl’s own Vanessa Castellano was selected by KABC Channel 7 news to be this week’s “Cool Kid” for her work with Watts Healthcare Teen Clinic and REACH LA’s Girl2Girl program. Vanessa was nominated by her sister for her dedication to educating young women about sexual health. KABC reporter Danny Romero visited REACH LA to interview Vanessa and executive director Martha Chono-Helsley. Romero said that the segment would air on 12/4/08 between 4pm-5pm and again on Sunday. 
Vanessa came to REACH LA with a background in reproductive health education. Her sister and brother both work for Watts Healthcare and she had been volunteering at health fairs with them for a few years. This year she joined the Girl2Girl program and enrolled herself in the newly launched RLA Peer Advocate training program. Both a dedicated reproductive health educator and activist, Vanessa helped to produce the “Sex In My City: No Options” poetry slam and completed the RLA Peer Advocate program by passing the California Family Health Council’s Clinic Workers exam and got 20 youth tested for HIV!