Harry McAnulty, a student from the University of Ulster in Belfast, Northern Ireland, recently completed a 4 week residency at REACH LA. Harry became interested in REACH LA when he met Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, who was on work placement in Belfast as part of the Global XChange program. The Rainbow Project, an organization that serves gay and bisexual men of Northern Ireland, became the back drop for the meeting. The two found that they had a great deal in common. Both were HIV prevention education specialists who worked with gay and bisexual young men in their respected countries. Harry was responsible for Rainbow Project’s gay men’s HIV education and testing program that works in collaboration with the Royal Hospital in Belfast. His experience with HIV testing led to many deep conversations about the differences in practice, types of resources available and how REACH LA developed social marketing events around testing. As a student of Community Studies, he was intrigued with how REACH LA works with the local health departments, medical service providers and other community based organizations. So an invitation was extended to Harry to come to Los Angeles to learn about HIV prevention efforts in the US. He arrived in Los Angeles on June 4th and was able to visit with many of LA’s best HIV prevention resources including Mario Perez and Sophia Rumanes from the Los Angeles County Public Heath, Office of AIDS Programs and Policies; Stephen Simons and Ricky Rosales from the LA City AIDS Coordinator’s Office, the CHLA Connect to Protect Coalition and theREACH LA Ovahness Leadership. He also had a great time observing the HIV prevention outreach efforts at LA Pride and San Francisco Pride during his tenure. He returned home at the end of the month. He will be missed and we are sure that he is ready to make some bold advances in HIV prevention efforts that will forever change Northern Ireland.
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm. Saturday/Sunday: Appointments available for group testing. Please call or text message to make sure an HIV testing counselor is available. Walk-ins are welcome.
REACH LA is recruiting 20 new youth Peer Health Advocate Volunteers! We are looking for youth – especially young gay men & young women from South Los Angeles area, ages16-24, interested in helping peers at-risk for HIV, STIs and pregnancy access counseling and testing services!
If you are the one that friends come to ask about sex, HIV, sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy – we want YOU!
Give your friends the correct sexual health information and help navigate them to youth friendly health resources!
Peer Health Advocate Volunteers can earn up to $800 by completing PHA program!
Peer Health Advocates must attend daily trainings from 1pm-5pm at REACH LA beginning June 28-July 9th, 2010. PHAs will be trained in HIV/AIDS, STI and pregnancy prevention in order to prepare for the California Family Health Council Clinic Worker Exam.
* All PHAs must pass the California Family Health Council Clinic Worker Exam or already be certified in HIV Counseling and Testing Basic 1 & 2. Exam date to be announced.
* Once training and exams are complete, PHA volunteers are eligible to earn $25 for each linked referral to REACH LA’s HIV testing services.
* PHA volunteers will help staff REACH LA events like the Ovahness Ball, Macy’s Passport and other fun events.
Please email reachla@earthlink.net for an application. Return application to REACH LA by Friday, June 18 by email or fax (213) 622-0976. Contact Martha at 213-622-1650 x100 for more information.
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm. Saturday/Sunday: Appointments available for group testing. Please call or text message to make sure an HIV testing counselor is available. Walk-ins are welcome.
REACH LA Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley returned from a unique multi-country exchange program called Global XChange, sponsored by the British Council and Volunteer Services Overseas. Martha and REACH LA was selected to be one of four organizations representing Los Angeles who focus on youth development. In total, 25 individuals from Los Angeles, Rwanda, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Paris and Belfast participated in work placement and best practice sharing opportunities in Durban, South Africa and Belfast, Northern Ireland over two three-week stays. “The opportunity to meet and share our work with so many diverse people was amazing. We shared life stories - our Rwandan teammates had lost entire families to genocide, the Sierra Leone team live in the aftermath of tribal disputes and uncertain economic future and our South African and Belfast teammates shared their experiences with huge cultural shifts like apartheid and “the Troubles” - the experience really showed me how insular we are here in America,” said Chono-Helsley, “but we have common elements as well. There was a sense of hopelessness among the young people - no jobs, limited or no education, and poverty were common among each community. As a learning experience, the exchange of shared practice and personal experience gave our GX team a global perspective about social issues effecting youth but it didn’t provide the time to brainstorm together about how to overcome these globally. We needed more time for deeper conversations.” During the Global XChange placement, participants lived with host families and worked for local programs, organizations and agencies. Martha worked for INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu Townships), an agency of the Municipality of Durban that works on urban renewal. She spent a week conducting assessments of INK funded projects throughout the townships of Inanda and KwaMashu where she visited an AIDS Hospice/Orphanage, an arts/media program site that ran it’s own radio station, a cottage industry project, a local health clinic, a youth peer-led sexual health education program and neighborhood AIDS resource support team. “The amount of resources and support needed in these communities is immense. Especially in the area of HIV/AIDS and care. The medications are available however people lack the resources to even feed themselves.” While on placement in Belfast, Martha worked with The Rainbow Project, the only gay/bisexual men’s resource center in Northern Ireland. The organization serves all of Northern Ireland and provides LGBT awareness training, mental health counseling services, crisis hotline, hate crime advocacy and HIV/AIDS prevention outreach. She helped develop the LGBT - Northern Ireland Resource on-line network during her brief tenure. Although the schedule was intense, there was time to take a 1-day trip to a game reserve outside of Durban, swim in the Indian Ocean, hit the local pubs in Belfast and take in an Belfast/African jam session along the way. “The best part was making these great friends along the way” said Chono-Helsley. Martha was accompanied by Los Angeles team members Andres Rivera (Street Poets), Jill Gurr (Create Now) and Mary Agulian (LA’s Best).
Unite’ was the theme for REACH L.A.’s 2010 “Unity of Community” Fashion Show, and by the end of the night, the production crew, host, audience, models, and REACH L.A organization were united for one imperative cause – to raise HIV/AIDS awareness among minority youth. As the guests arrived, an array of appetizing refreshments and champagne were served in the VIP area where guests were given a “goody” bag filled with a designer hat, purse and program provided by Macys. As the lights dimmed, REACH LA’s own Greg Wilson took the stage and shared with the audience the imminent danger of not knowing your HIV/AIDS status, and the real reason for the fashion show – to raise HIV/AIDS awareness.
The music began, the lights dimmed, and the models began working the couture “Red HIV/AIDS Ribbon” shaped runway. The models all wore designer exclusive, unique, colorful, trendy pieces as the music pulsated through the audience. The amazing event was hosted by the exuberant, alluring diva Jazzmun, who kept the audience laughing out of their seats with her wit and charm the entire show. Gia Allure contributed a musical rendition of “Blur” by Britney Spears and Mother Michel’le Allure brought the house down with her interpretation of “Russian Roulette” by Rhianna. Floyd McLucas’s Fem J designs, Fuddie Fashions and Evan Wilson’s Croqui Couture presented their own “red ribbon” inspired pieces to bring more awareness to the cause. The show’s grand finale featured the New York-based Vogue Evolution, featuring Dashaun Williams, Devon Webster, Malechi Williams, Leiomy Maldonado and Jorel Rios. Vogue Evolution is the first openly gay dance crew to ever compete on the “America’s Best Dance Crew” stage. The crew’s performance brought the down the house as Leiomy leaped from the stage into the center of the red ribbon runway landing a room thumping dip with grace, style and “bam.”
The man who conceptualized this spectacular event took the stage – the talented “fashionista” Sean Milan. Sean Milan effortlessly worked the runway; and gracefully thanked the audience as the show concluded.
REACH LA wants to thank all of the performers, designers, clothing and hair stylists, models, and Ovahness Leaders for volunteering your time and talent to this event. REACH LA especially wants to thank Macys for their generous support and inspiration.
REACH L.A’s 2010 “Unity of Community” Fashion Show was an astounding success. The venue was filled love, creativity, unity, and the eagerness to spread and raise HIV/AIDS awareness. Let’s see what else Sean Milan has up his sleeve for his next major production.
Monday, March 22 at 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM
The Arena
6655 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles CA
Did you know that even though African Americans make up only 13% of the US population, they account for about half (49%) of the people who get HIV and AIDS. And it is our goal as the Ovahness Young Men’s Leadership team here at REACH LA, along with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, in 2010 to not only raise awareness, but to get as many young people tested and into care as possible.
Unite will be a exciting night of the “Fabulous” and the “Fashionable.”A “coming together” of sorts between those who are either affected or infected by HIV/AIDS. The event was conceived and will be produced by LA’s very own Sean Milan. The evening will start off with an opening VIP reception followed by a fashion show consisting of three segments. Hosted by the legendary Jazzmun, performances by Michell’e Allure, Gia Allure, and a special performance by “Vogue Evolution” from MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew.”
Admission: VIP-$50 (Free for youth ages 18-24 who get an HIV test @ REACH LA prior to event or adult who brings a youth to REACH LA to get an HIV test prior to event)
General-$10
Please call the REACH LA HIV Testing Hotlinefor an appointment-213-572-7819
For more info please contact the event’s producers:
Sean Milan
Social Enterprise Event Coordinator forREACH LA
Office: 213-622-1650 x103
Email:seanmilansphone@yahoo.com
Greg Wilson
Manager of Young Men’s Health and Leadership
Office:213-622-1650 x108
Email:acquajaye@yahoo.com
Volunteers headed to N. Hollywood on Saturday, February 20, 2010 to facilitate HIV prevention games at the annual Oakwood School “Glove Affair” dance. The event draws youth from private schools through out Southern California who learn about HIV through REACH LA developed games like “Tongue Billiards” and “Condom Races.” Youth also learn about HIV transmission through needle sharing while REACH LA volunteers apply temporary tattoos. The activity that really gets youth thinking is REACH LA’s Fortune Telling booths where participants learn of their future through customized fortune telling cards. “The youth get really spooked when they learn about themselves and how they might be putting themselves at risk,” says REACH LA Ovahness Program Manager Greg Wilson, “the experience opens the door for the opportunity to talk about HIV prevention and risk taking which could save their lives.” REACH LA volunteers in attendance were Devaughn Sherman, Josh Wilson, Tim Ochoa, David Johnson, Michael Robeson, Malcolm Harper, Shawn Douglas, De’Shawn Jennings, Manuel White and REACH LA staff Carla Gordon, Greg Wilson, Sean Harris and Danielle Wondra.
REACH LA’s Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley has been selected to attend the British Council and VSO’s Global Xchange program in Durban, South Africa from January 17 to February 6 and in Belfast, Northern Ireland from March 7 to 27.
Global XChange is a UK program comparable to the United States’ Peace Corps program. Typically, Global XChange matches small groups of UK volunteers with peers from one other country. The bilateral teams spend several weeks or months on a volunteer project in the UK in addition to time spent on a project in the home country of the other participants.
The upcoming program marks two firsts: Global XChange’s first multilateral team and the first project in which Americans will participate. In Durban and Belfast, Martha will join four other Los Angeles community activists and peers from the UK, France, South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda to observe local organizations, exchange best practices, and explore cross-cultural approaches to serving at-risk youth.
“I am incredibly honored to represent Los Angeles and the United States in this once in a lifetime experience. I am very excited to meet our program partners and work on strategies that will bring hope and inspiration to youth all over the world.”
The Durban and Belfast exchanges will be followed by a youth exchange. Between June and December, groups of 18-24 year-olds from each country will live and volunteer for three months in Durban followed by three months in Belfast. The American participants will be nominated by the five LA nonprofits.
“I am delighted to launch Global Xchange in the United States,” said British Council USA Director Sharon Memis. “We are inspired by the individuals selected for Global XChange from Los Angeles; they all do exemplary work with LA youth. We look forward to seeing the results of their time abroad, and to seeing the new international partnerships that emerge from the exchanges.”
To follow the journey of the Multilateral Community XChange participants by reading the daily blog.
