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…
The G2G Leaders rocked the house with their brand of public education about reproductive justice and Proposition 4. KPFK-FM radio show host, Kali Alexander, was the evening’s mistress of ceremony. Sixteen poets and writers stepped up to the mic to share their views about reproductive rights, heathcare, empowerment and relationships. The evening’s key note speakers included Crystal Crawford and Liliana Perez brought the personal and political aspects of reproductive justice to light. (more…)
The Girl2Girl Leadership team was selected to attend this year’s Women’s Conference in Long Beach on October 22, 2008. The annual event is hosted by First Lady Maria Shriver who put together and extraordinary event featuring guest speakers Jennifer Lopez, Warren Buffet, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Condoleezza Rice, Indra Nooyi, Bono and many others. The G2G Leaders were selected to attend by the Minerva Leadership Program for their dedication to young women’s health and wellness. Each year the Minerva Leadership Program invites 500 young women from across the state to participate in the conference. Sheyna Williams, Terrevia Shirley, Melissa Walker, Lorena Mendoza, Vanessa Castellanos, Kadijah Toliver, G2G alumni Emily Helsley, Alexis Blades and RLA staff Kafi Battersby, Michelle Horton and Martha Chono-Helsley were in attendance. G2G Leaders wish to thank the Women’s Foundation of California for their support.
The G2G Leadership Team were featured on KPFK’s “Some of Us Are Brave” produced by Kali Alexander on September 18, 2008. G2G Leaders were there to talk about Proposition 4, its history and possible impact if passed this November. Producer Kali Alexander worked with RLA event coordinator Alexis Blades to provide the G2G Leadership team with the opportunity to bring issues surrounding Proposition 4 to light, particularly since the majority of G2G Leaders are minors and unable to vote. Vanessa Castellanos, 17, Terrevia Shirley, 17, Jareeia Burdette, 17, Jareeka Burdette, 17, Alexis Blades and G2G Coordinator Kafi Battersby participated in the 30 minute interview show. Click here to and go to “Some of Us Are Brave” 9/18/08 podcast to hear the show.
Help REACH LA’s Girl2Girl Leadership Team deliver Reproductive Justice to our community through powerful words and performance.
The Girl2Girl Leadership Team plans to educate the community about reproductive justice and Proposition 4 through our “Sex In My City: No Options” event on Oct 24th, 2008 at Lucy Florence Cultural Center, 3351 W. 43rd Street, Leimert Park, 90008.
We are looking for writers and performers to participate in this unique event.
Topics of interest:
What is Reproductive Justice?
What Reproductive Justice means to you?
Reproductive Justice and your Community.
How you feel about Proposition 4?
How will Proposition 4 affect you and or your community?
Open auditions for a performance slot for the Oct. 24th event will be held on October 10th 2008 @ 7pm.at 5th Street Dick’s Coffee House, 4305 Degnan Blvd. LA. Please contact Alexis or Kafi to make an audition appointment.
This is a volunteer opportunity to show case your talent and you will receive a gift for your participation.
If you are interested in being a part of this memorable event please contact
Alexis or Kafi at 213-622-1650 ext. 102
to make an audition appointment.
Come and be a part of change.
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…)
The G2G Young Women’s Leadership is hosting an event to educate young voters about Proposition 4. The event is called “Sex In My City: No Options,” and is slated for Friday, October 24th at the Lucy Florence Cultural Center, 3351 W. 43rd Street, in Leimert Park, from 7pm-9:00pm. “Sex In My City: No Options” will feature original poetry and performance commentary about sex, youth, sexuality and access to reproductive health care. The G2G Leaders wanted to produce an event that spoke to their peers and young voters about reproductive justice and Proposition 4 - also known as the “Child and Teen Safety and Stop Predators Act: Sarah’s Law.” REACH LA has always been an advocate for minors whose reproductive health and wellness are at risk due to lack of access. Proposition 4 would ban abortions for minors until 48 hours after the physician has notified a parental or an adult relative other than the parent about the intended abortion. Should a minor patient fear physical, sexual or emotional abuse from a parent, the proposed law would allow for an “adult relative” be informed and physicans must report allegations of abuse by the parent to law enforcement or Child Protective Services. Should a minor wish to bypass the parental notification, she would have to navigate the court system to gain a waiver. “It is important that we speak up about what Proposition 4 will require” advocates Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “The proposition would impose the physicans report abuse and send young girls to navigate the court system. How many young girls will go to court? We will be looking at at more teen pregnancy and worse - young girls in desperate situations who may seek illegal and unsafe abortions.” The G2G Leaders worked to defeat Proposition 73 and 85 by launching internet bulletins and emails to peers and social networks.
Reproductive Freedom Day 2008 was an extraordinary experience! The subject matter at hand was to request the state legislatures to resend their decision on the medi-cal budget cut. 
Six Girl 2 Girl leaders were expose to influential women of our reproductive justice struggle such as: Assembly Speaker Elect Karen Bass, California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom Belle Taylor-McGhee, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice Executive Director Rocio Cordoba and EMERJ Executive Director Eveleen Shen. G2G was properly instructed on the methods of how to visit a legislature, and what to expect during their visits. The young ladies were educated, motivated, and empowered to do something they lacked experience within but are now eager for the next challenge. G2G Leaders who attended were Jareeka Burdette, 16, Jareeia Burdette, 16, Diamond Stokes, 15, Wyceaceia Randolph, 18, Vanessa Castellar, 16, Lorena Mendoza, 16, REACH LA’s Sr. Peer Health Educator Kafi Battersby and G2G Leadership Coordinator Tara Perry.
REACH LA is proud to announce it’s newest addition - Tara Perry and Greg Wilson! Tara is the new G2G Leadership Coordinator. She most recently completed the G2G Leadership program in November 2007 and looks forward to leading the next leadership class. Tara will be recruiting 15 young women to participate in the 2008 Leadership class and coordinating 5 statewide roundtables that bring together regional youth leaders and local policy and civic leaders to discuss reproductive justice issues. Greg Wilson comes to REACH LA with an extensive background in HIV prevention and leadership. He joins the staff as the Assistant Manager of the OVAHNESS Young Men’s Health program.
The Girl 2 Girl Sexual/Reproductive Health Leadership program is seeking fierce young women of color, ages 14-24, to work on sexual and reproductive health issues. The 10 month program seeks those young women interested in educating their peers, community and policy makers about relevant issues that are a barrier for pregnancy prevention, STI and HIV testing and treatment and other wellness issues. Contact Tara Perry at 213-622-1650 x102 for an application. Deadline for submission is February 28th.
