REACH LA NEWS

REACH LA’s Greg Wilson graduated from the CDC/ASPH Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership in Atlanta on Friday, September 25. After nine months of intensive program development, organizational assessment and program intervention planning, it was time to present to a community panel consisting of leadership from the Centers for Disease Control, HIV/AIDS program leaders, activists and peers. Greg proudly presented a fund development plan he developed for REACH LA that would help to sustain program activity and make the organization less dependent on government funding. The presentation showed the ways REACH LA searches for “unrestricted” funding that would allow for creative outreach efforts that provided the means for HIV prevention intervention, development of community relations and provided sponsorship opportunities that contributed to program activities. Greg Wilson is the Ovahness Men’s Leadership Coordinator at REACH LA. Congratulations Greg on this great accomplishment!

Did you know that sharing needles with others when tattooing or piercing can put you at risk for HIV? That is what 50 REACH LA volunteers learned this week when training for Macy’s Passport Fashion Inform, a fashion show fundraiser that raises millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS prevention organizations. For it’s efforts in the HIV field, REACH LA has been chosen to be a beneficiary of this year’s event. The 50 trained volunteers will run REACH LA’s HIV prevention education games at a pre-show reception for 1,300 Los Angeles youth. No tickets are sold for this special event where LA youth are treated to a million dollar runway show complete with top musical acts and celebrities. Volunteers consist of REACH LA’s Ovahness and G2G Leadership teams, RLA Peer Health Advocates, alumni, Pitzer College and Oakwood High School Students. Thanks to all the volunteers for their loyal dedication and support of REACH LA.