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 bids a fond farewell to Kafi Battersby after ten years of dedicated service and support. Kafi began her journey at RLA as an assistant in the computer lab in 2001. She quickly moved into a peer health educator position where she eventually became the program manager for the HIV prevention programs. During her tenure she provided risk reduction counseling to thousands of young women at sexual risk, hundreds of young gay men, volunteers and staff members. Kafi was instrumental in developing the Peer Health Advocates and G2G Leaders, “she was the role model that all of the leadership and current health programs were based upon,” according to Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “Kafi’s dedication to REACH LA programs, staff and to her clients will be her legacy.” On behalf of REACH LA’s Board of Directors, Management Staff, Leaders, Peer Health Advocates, clients, and volunteers we wish Kafi all the best in her future endeavors.
It is truly amazing to look at all the work that REACH LA accomplished in 2009: 25 young men attended the Ovahness Men’s Retreat; 200 women and men attended the Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day conference, 300 youth attended the Fire & Ice Skate Party, Legends from West Coast helped us produce six Ovahness Academy Workshops; 25 RLA volunteers ran HIV, STD prevention games at Oakwood’s Glove Affair Dance; three G2G representatives attended Reproductive Freedom Day in Sacramento; two G2G Leaders went to the western region reproductive justice advocacy training with Choice USA; one G2G Leader went to Washington DC for public policy training; one staff person graduated from the HIV Prevention Leadership Institute in Atlanta; three Ovahness Leaders went to NAESM Conference in Atlanta; one staff attended US Conference on AIDS in San Francisco; one staff went to SisterSong Membership Meeting in Washington DC and educated legislators on healthcare reform; 400 people attended the Ovahness Ball 4: L’Acte Finale; staff trained 50 volunteers to run RLA HIV prevention games for 1,300 LA area youth at Macy’s Passport Fashion Inform Night; staff and leaders raised $600 by walking in 2009 AIDS Walk LA; one G2G Leader went to Swaziland with Project Africa; one Ovahness Leader was awarded the Colin Higgins Courage Award; one Ovahness Leader received the Millennium Scholarship for college; staff provided HIV testing and counseling to about 50 people since beginning in July; staff trained 20 peer health advocates who then took over 200 friends and family members to HIV testing; 60 young men and resource volunteers attended the Ovahness Summit to develop personal goals for self and community improvement; six college interns helped develop video projects with RLA Leaders for the newly developed RLA YouTube channel (Ovahness TV); and close to 60 people attended the RLA holiday party where 4 Ovahness Leaders were promoted, two volunteers were acknowledged and 2 individuals and one coalition group were celebrated. One staff member was honored by In the Meantime; another was honored by Connect to Protect Coalition; 4 staff members became certified HIV Testing Counselors; one staff member completed Phemobotomy 1 licensing. One staff member completed graduate school, another complete his BA from CSUDH. And although REACH LA went from 9 staff members to 3 full-time staff at the end of July 2009, RLA continued to produce new projects, events and community resources with help from its many loyal friends, leaders and peer health advocates! Congratulations everyone on all the accomplishments - we made it to 2010 and REACH LA is moving ahead. The Board, Staff, Leaders and volunteers would like to thank our generous supporters who have helped our organization this past year. We are optimistic that better times are ahead.
Through the pouring rain, these dedicated young men made it to the first Ovahness Summit held at Plummer Park last Saturday. The Summit successfully brought together 50 young men of color to attend a series of roundtable discussions aimed at self empowerment, priority setting and health. Under the direction of Greg Wilson, the event was the brain child of the Ovahness Leaders, who in the last 9 months planned, trained and facilitated all of the roundtable discussions. Resources people from Childrens Hospital Division of Adolescent Medicine - Young United Men, HIV Youth Testing Collaborative and 3P Programs, AIDS Project Los Angeles, AmMassi Center and REACH LA were available to provide information not only about their programs, but were resources on spirituality, social service navigation, housing and transitional living and education. In addition to FREE HIV testing, LA County STD Program provided free screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. To cap off the day the Ovahness Leaders chose Justin Reed Early, author of the autobiographical book “Street Child: An Unpaved Passage” to provide a closing keynote address. The event was sponsored by a grant from the Colin Higgins Foundation. More pictures to come.
