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.
Calling all REACH LA Alumni Peer Health Educators and G2G Leaders!!
REACH LA’s Girl2Girl Program
FRIENDRAISER & REUNION BRUNCH
We are going through a lot of changes here at REACH LA and we need your help to get the word out about what we are up to.
This event will be a great opportunity to network and combine forces with a variety of women and/or just check in with old friends. Brunch will be served during an open conversion about REACH LA’s latest efforts to make change and how you can help!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
11 AM - 1 PM
@ REACH LA
1400 E Olympic Blvd. Suite #240
Los Angeles, Ca 90021
Please RSVP via e-mail: Kafi_REACHLA@earthlink.net or 213-622-1650 x101.
G2G Leader Jasmine Smith, REACH LA Peer Health Educator Alexis Blades and Kafi Battersby Manager of Young Women’s Health Programs attended the annual “Reproductive Freedom Day” on March 24, 2009 at the Sacramento Convention Center. The REACH LA representatives participated in mini-workshops on reproductive justice issues and advocacy, defeating Proposition 8 and community organizing. The California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom arranges legislative visits with state representatives in order to educate them on issues that effect reproductive rights and healthcare for women and girls. During the closing session, Kafi Battersby participated in a panel on Youth and Reproductive Justice. “It was particularly powerful to have Jasmine there to meet our allies and to represent the youth perspective,” said Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “because this experiences brings the political and policy pieces into the bigger picture of reproductive health. Our allies, legislators and peers need a face and a story to understand what we are all there to protect and improve. Jasmine, Alexis and Kafi represent all of the issues - from consumer, frontline worker, advocate and educator. They bring a unique package of experience to this event.”
G2G Leaders Melissa Walker and Vanessa Castellano travelled to Tuscon, AZ for the western regional leadership training sponsored by Choice USA. The Leaders were two of 25 young women from throughout the western states who gathered to learn about reproductive rights and advocacy for young women. “The three day training was intense,” said Vanessa Castellano, “we worked the whole time. The best part was meeting the other girls.”
Women & Girl’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was celebrated with a teach in , resource fair and free HIV testing on Friday, March 13, 2009 at the El Camino College Compton Community Educational Center. Around 150 women and girls took part in a variety of workshops, including topics such as the global and local issues on HIV, sex and sexuality from a cultural perspective, race and gender identity, prostitution, partner abuse, female anatomy, birth control, emergency contraception and self- esteem. Voluteer presenters from Black Women for Wellness, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, YWCA GLA Sexual Assault Crisis Services, Women’s Leadership Project, Pacific Institute for Women’s Health and Charles Drew University generously donated their time and expertise to educate others at the event. 
In resource square, AIDS Research Alliance, Black Women for Wellness, National Council on Alchol and Drug Dependence. Planned Parenthood LA, South Bay Family Healthcare, Tarzana Treatment Center-Long Beach, Women Alive, Women at Risk and YWCA of Greater Los Angeles provided resource information to the event attendees. (more…)
REACH LA Presents
Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Event@ El Camino College Compton Community Educational Center (formerly Compton College)
1111 Artesia Blvd, Student Lounge
Compton, CA 90221
Friday, March 13, 2009
Noon-7pm
REACH LA and the G2G Leadership Program will be hosting this all-day event featuring a series of HIV & Health workshops, resource fair, films, HIV counseling and testing for women and girls this Friday at El Camino College Compton Community Educational Center (Compton College Campus). The workshops for women, from noon-3pm, range from Global to Local issues and HIV, Sex and Sexuality from a cultural perspective, sex for hire, partner abuse and HIV. Later in the afternoon, from 4pm -7pm, there will be express workshops geared towards youth, ages 12-24, with an emphasis on basic HIV 101, female anatomy, Birth Control, Self-Esteem and Sexual Bartering – understanding Boundaries. From 12 noon-6pm in the Student Lounge will be the health resource fair and “Quick Counseling,” a service manned by local HIV/AIDS prevention specialist to provide one-on-one consultations about HIV/AIDS, testing and risk reduction. From 3pm-4pm in the Student Lounge, the local YMCA will have a women’s self defense demonstration and REACH LA will facilitate a variety of HIV/STD games for prizes. Free HIV Testing and STD screening will be available by AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the Drew Mobile HIV/STD Testing Unit. This event was funded in part by a grant from HHS and the Office of Women’s Health, the Liberty Hill Foundation/Pobladores Fund and the James Irvine Foundation.
For more information contact Kafi Battersby at 213-622-1650 x102.
The Girl2Girl Leadership Program received a grant of $15,000 from the Women’s Foundation of California and a $2,500 grant from the National Office of Women’s Health to continue the development and support of young women’s leadership. A surprise grant of $5,000 from the Marlborough Student Charitable Fund will also be used to support the effort of this year’s Leadership team. This year G2G will plan and host an HIV Awareness for Women & Girls Day event on March 13th at El Camino College Compton Community Educational Center and work to link up a statewide communications network among young women’s advocacy groups through the internet.
REACH LA’s Holiday Party celebrated the achievements of nine youth from the Ovahness and G2G Leadership programs. Francisco Armenta, Devaughn Sherman, Kyle Butler, Stacy Alford, Peter Singleton, Angelo Martinez, Chris Blades, Vanessa Castellano and Lorena Mendoza were promoted to the 2nd year Leadership tier where they will assume the roles as mentors and facilitators of the remaining and new leaders for 2009. Through out the past year these youth show exemplary efforts in their abilities to educate, motivate and mobilize other youth, adults and community leaders with their knowledge and representation of REACH LA. Members participated and presented at local and national conferences, met with political and health leaders on issues of HIV/AIDS, youth leadership development and reproductive health, worked on social marketing and political campaigns and participated in coalition and collaborative efforts with agencies and organizations. REACH LA acknowledged two milestones - Chris Blades completing his BS degree from CSU Dominguez Hills and the departure of Manager of Young Women’s Health Programs Michelle Horton. REACH LA would like to thank all of the very special people who came out to celebrate with us. 
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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!
Click here to see the video on-line…
