REACH LA has received generous grants from The Collin Higgins Foundation and The National AIDS Fund to support the prevention outreach efforts and leadership development of the OVAHNESS Young Men’s Health and Leadership programs. “This funding comes at a critical time when public service funds are being cut and agencies are closing their doors,” said Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “we are extremely grateful for their support.”
Wednesday, January 28 @ 7:30-9:00pm - RLA Leadership presents an evening with Justin Early, author of StreetChild: An Unpaved Passage
Friday, February 20 @ 10pm-1:30am - RLA’s Fire & Ice Skate Party @ World on Wheels
Saturday, February 21 Oakwood School Glove Affair
Saturday, July 25 OVAHNESS 4
REACH LA’s Greg Wilson, Assistant Manager of the Ovahness Young Men’s Health Program was selected to participate in the 2009 class of the CDC/ASPH’s Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership. “It is a great honor for Greg to be accepted into this program,” says Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “his selection indicates that the CDC is making an investment in our work by selecting both Tyrone and Greg to be a part of such a prestigious program.” Tyrone Carter, Manager of the Ovahness Young Men’s Health Program recently graduated in September 2008 from the Leadership program. According to Carter, the Institute program was quite challanging but provided the opportunity to learn from the best HIV prevention people in the U.S. The CDC/ASPH’s Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership program includes 4 intensive week long sessions that cover topics of program development, best practice implementation, program evaluation, epidemology, and organization leadership.
REACH LA was selected to be a beneficiary of Macy’s Passport Fund. On September 26, REACH LA staff,G2G and Ovahness leadership teams and volunteers headed out to Barker Hanger in Santa Monica to participate in Macy’s Passport: Fashion Inform night. The REACH LA team facilitated activities that taught youth about HIV/AIDS, STDs and risk reduction. Armed with “rub-on” tattoos, REACH LA discussed how HIV can be transmitted thru sharing needles.
Others manned the “Fishing for Answers” game, where youth threw pingpong balls into brightly colored fish bowls that identified either a HIV, STD, pregnancy prevention, or substance abuse questions. REACH LA Volunteers from Oakwood School proudly ran the popular “Tongue Billards” game that helped players learn the importance and ease of barrier use. All game winners were awarded with “Macy’s Bucks” that were redeemable for a variety of prizes. All of REACH LA’s volunteers were rewarded with the opportunity to see the Macy’s Passport fashion show complete with fashions by Ed Hardy- Christian Audigier, Ben Sherman, Levi and Calvin Klein. REACH LA rode in style to and from the event in the Power 106FM provided their “party bus.” (more…)
REACH LA’s OVAHNESS Team took Ft. Lauderdale by storm by attending the United States Conference on AIDS from September 17-21, 2008. The OVAHNESS Team was selected to facilitate “Using Youth Leaders to Strengthen Your Program” roundtable on September 19. The session was a standing room only success with the OVAHNESS Leaders providing insight into why they are involved with REACH LA, volunteerism, strategies for engagement, and how agencies and organizations can retain youth leadership. Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley provided the organizational/agency insight by sharing how youth engagement has increased organizational capacity to reach new youth, “Once they come to REACH LA and meet the staff and volunteers, we got them. We work really hard to create a “youth friendly” environment in which to work and learn.” Frank Armenta, 20, REACH LA’s home-grown graphic designer and HIV Counseling and Testing counselor shared his story of coming in to the organization through the media arts program, “REACH took an interest in me - they encouraged and trained me in social marketing and enterprise in order to reach out to others.” Devaughn Sherman, Kyle Butler, Stacy Alford, Chris Blades, Ivanie Murphy , Greg Wilson and Tyrone Carter rounded out the team. The OVAHNESS Team also attended many of the workshop presentations and helped run the REACH LA Booth in the exhibition hall. Social Enterprise Manager Sean Milan Harris said “This is the most OVAHNESS merchandise we’ve sold to date. Having the OVAHNESS Team there in the booth gives the buyer the opportunity to see where their money goes.” More pictures to come…
The Ovahness Leadership Team facilitated the workshop “You Think You Know But You Have No Idea” at the Black Gay Men’s Health Conference at the Gay and Lesbian Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza on August 9, 2008. The group was led by Ovahness Assistant Manager Greg Wilson and Outreach Coordinator Chris Blades. The Ovahness Leadership Team faciliated a group discussion on key issues that are specific to young Black gay men. Participants were led through self-reflection exercises to engage in a deeper discussion about barriers of stigma and negative self worth. Participants learned how the Ovahness Team works on ways to overcome barriers while building self-esteeme and a positive community outcome.
REACH LA’s Tyrone Carter was honored at the Black Men’s Health Conference on August 9th at the Gay & Lesbian Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The conference and the award was presented by In The Meantime Men’s Group. Tyrone was honored for his commitment to combating HIV in the LA community. Tyrone is the Manager of the Ovahness Program which provides HIV prevention education and risk reduction counseling. One of his largest contributions has been the formation of the Ovahness Young Men’s Leadership team which provides leadership training in HIV advocacy, community moblization and peer education. Tyrone has worked closely with the sub-committess of the LA County HIV Prevention Planning Committee in the area of HIV Counseling and Testing, serves as member of the African American Crystal Meth Task Force and a variety of youth advisory boards. Currently Tyrone is a scholar of the CDC’s AIDS Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership.
Battling Scarecrows… “Stephanie Mills Dorothy” vs. “Diana Ross Dorothy” were some of the battles that took place at OVAHNESS Ball 3 - Welcome to the Emerald City.” The festive green glow was highlighted by the yellow runway where 450 youth gathered to see the hottest voguing, twisting and posing on the westcoast. Jack Mizarhi shared the commentating with Enyce Chanel who encouraged all to just “ease on down, ease on down the road.” LA favorite DJ Ben provided the beats. Representatives LA, Oakland, Atlanta, and New York battled for $1,000 in prize money. REACH LA staff and volunteers provided one-on-one risk reduction counseling to 65 youth throughout the night while AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Bienestar and LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s POW program provided free HIV testing and STD screenings until midnight. Ovahness Program Manager Tyrone Carter said “WOW, this night was a great success! The Ovahness Leadership team should be proud - all their hard work in marketing and promoting really paid off. They did a great job in planning this thing and bringing all the elements together.” (more…)
This Saturday night get ready to channel your inner Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow at the OVAHNESS Ball 3 - Welcome to the Emerald City. Saturday, July 26, 2008 at GAM Art Center - 4975 W. Pico Blvd. LA 90019.$20 before 11pm, $25 after. All youth under age 24 are eligible for complete refund before 11pm just talk with a REACH LA volunteer to learn how. All proceed will go to the OVAHNESS Young Men’s Health Program to continue its work in HIV/AIDS prevention education and leadership development.Doors open at 9pm. Free HIV Testing from 9pm-midnight will be provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Bienestar and LA Gay and Lesbian Center. Ball will begin at 10pm and conclude at 1am. Tables for the event are still available for $50 by contacting Sean Milan Infinity at 213-622-1650 x103. Go to myspace.com/ovahness for event details.
Last night over 75 youth came to the Pre O3 Party held at the offices of REACH LA. Staff and volunteer counselors met one-on-one with 61 youth to discuss sexual health, risky behavior and benefits of HIV testing. Twenty youth took advantage of the free HIV counseling and testing services provided by Bienestar. As youth waited for their risk reduction session, they ate chinese food and pizza, watched movie “The Wiz”, got re-aquainted with REACH LA staff, and hung out with their friends. “Everytime we do this event I get to catch up with all the kids & house parents who have been a part of the REACH LA family” boasts Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “We have a great time checking in with each other.”
The evening also marked the debut of REACH LA’s Peer Health Advocates Devaughn Sherman, Justin Yoshida and Stacy Alford, newly trained and certified community youth who work within their social networks to get sexually active youth to test for HIV. (more…)
REACH LA has received generous grants from The Collin Higgins Foundation and The National AIDS Fund to support the prevention outreach efforts and leadership development of the OVAHNESS Young Men’s Health and Leadership programs. “This funding comes at a critical time when public service funds are being cut and agencies are closing their doors,” said Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “we are extremely grateful for their support.”
