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.
Did you know that sharing needles with others when tattooing or piercing can put you at risk for HIV? That is what 50 REACH LA volunteers learned this week when training for Macy’s Passport Fashion Inform, a fashion show fundraiser that raises millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS prevention organizations. For it’s efforts in the HIV field, REACH LA has been chosen to be a beneficiary of this year’s event. The 50 trained volunteers will run REACH LA’s HIV prevention education games at a pre-show reception for 1,300 Los Angeles youth. No tickets are sold for this special event where LA youth are treated to a million dollar runway show complete with top musical acts and celebrities. Volunteers consist of REACH LA’s Ovahness and G2G Leadership teams, RLA Peer Health Advocates, alumni, Pitzer College and Oakwood High School Students. Thanks to all the volunteers for their loyal dedication and support of REACH LA.
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.”
Maurice Burnett, MSW, Assistant Professor of Counseling at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College came to the joint Ovahness and G2G Leadership meeting on March 18 to discuss pathways to higher education. Mr. Burnett shared his own pathway to higher education and how his Master’s Degree in Social Work helps him with his current job as a counselor. “I think the most valuable piece of the presentation was his encouragement of learning a trade and using that means to support the pursuit of higher education. Our youth need to see other options of how to obtain their goals,” said Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “the pathway to higher education is filled with many potholes - cost to attend, books, bad school experiences can be hard to overcome. Obtaining a certificate in a trade or vocation can lead to new and exciting paths that can ultimately provide the financial and confidence needed to move on to an AA, BA and beyond.”
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 staff, leaders from the Ovahness Team , G2G Leadership and volunteers educated 150 youth at this year’s Oakwood School HIV/AIDS fundraiser, “The Glove Affair.” The REACH LA youth manned HIV/AIDS prevention games like “Tongue Billiards,” “Condom Races,” “Fishing for Answers” and “Sexopoly.” Volunteer Tim Ochoa conducted Fortune Telling all evening while Warren High School volunteers Jair Mayorga, Emily Helsley, Diego Avalos and Alec Foskerino educated attendees about clean needles and tattooing. Many thanks go to the tireless efforts of our Leadership team members Lance, Darrin, Kayla, Desiree, Rosa, Jasmine, Melle, Shannon, Melissa, Vanessa & friend.
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.
Justin Early author of Street Child: An Unpaved Passage made a huge impression on the OVAHNESS and G2G Leaders when he made a guest appearance at the first REACH LA Book Club night on 1/28/09. OVAHNESS Leaders Kyle Baker and Robert Howell hosted a lively discussion between Justin Early and the audience. Justin read a powerful chapter as part of the presentation as the audience read along with their own well worn copies. Many of youth admitted that this was the first book that they had read cover to cover since high school.
