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.
REACH LA and GetYourTens.com co-hosted a video screening and reception at The Village - Ed Gould Plaza. This was the first Los Angeles screening of the award winning documentary “I’m Still Here: Becoming Legendary” since it took the Audience Choice Documentary Award at FUSION Film Festival in December 2006. Produced by Tryone Carter and Gina Lamb, “I’m Still Here: Becoming Legendary” focuses on the creative spirit and the desire for self preservation within the L.A. Ball Community. There were 50 people in attendance including many youth and house parents featured in the film. Che’la Demuir Chanel from the Waiting to Exhale program welcomed everyone to the screening and gave the audience an overview about the services and program offerings at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center. RLA Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley rallied the crowd around the upcoming OVAHNESS 3 Ball on July 26th. Outreach Coordinator Chris Blades provided insight into how he became involved at REACH LA as a volunteer. 
Tyrone Carter spoke more in depth about Ovahness program and how youth can become involved. After the screening, the Ovahness and Girl2Girl Leadership provided one-on-one risk reduction counseling to all youth in attendance. Those youth who participated in the counseling session received a certificate for a free admission ticket to the Ovahness 3 Ball in July. REACH LA volunteers, alumni and leadership members conducted sexual health, STD and HIV prevention games in the courtyard. Everyone feasted on hot dogs, churros, popcorn and nachos while kicking back and enjoying the day. Many thanks go to the LA Gay and Lesbian Center staff for providing free HIV/STD testing and their generous hospitality!
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.
Friends of REACH LA came out 325+ strong to “Gotta Skate 08″ at World on Wheels.
The event featured DJ Ben and Enyce Chanel hosting a wide range of folks from all over LA. A special performance by rapper Foxxjazell highlighted the night.
Youth under 24 got in free for speaking with REACH LA counselors about HIV risk reduction and many took advantage of the free HIV testing provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Members of the REACH LA G2G Leadership and Ovahness Leadership Teams produced the event. Special thanks go to Pretty Boy Enterprises and Foxxjazell for their promotion and support. Go to myspace.com/ovahness
to view more pictures of the event!
The staff of REACH LA hosted an evening of fun, food, shopping, singing and “voguing” at its annual holiday party. REACH LA “familia” from the G2G Leadership, Ovahness and Reel Ghetto Queer workshops stopped by through out the evening. Friends came out to support the Chiapas Women’s Collective by buying handmade belts, pocketbooks, bracelets, purses, tablecloths and clothes from Oakwood School students. Each year the Oakwood students travel to Chiapas and visit the many women who participate in the collective.
HIV YOUTH Coalition of LA County (HYLAC) held its annual conference at the El Camino Compton Community Educational Center on December 7th, 2007. REACH LA along with coalition members from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project, East LA Women’s Center, LA County Department of Epidemiology, Planned Parenthood-Pasadena, ALTAMED and El Camino College Compton Community Educational Center developed a unique conference opportunity that would work towards bridging the gaps between HIV prevention, reproductive healthcare, substance use, criminal justice, intimate partner violence, HIV testing and care and create an action plan for best practices and integration for young women of color, ages 12-24. Providers Addressing Young Women’s Health Disparities: A Call to Action brought together HIV service providers, reproductive justice advocates, mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse professionals, students and community leaders to develop a 5-step integration plan in five key reproductive justice areas – reproductive health services, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health and juvenile/adult incarceration. Conference attendees, led by volunteer HIV and/or issue area professionals, facilitated lively and proactive discussions for reducing infection rates among young women of color. Each issue area presented their recommendations to a panel consisting of representation from the LA County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, the City of Los Angeles, LA County Office of Women’s Health, Association of Planned Parenthood Leaders in Education, Office of the Speaker of the House Assemblyman Fabian Nunez, LA County Sheriff Office, LA Unified School District and the California Endowment. The report back plans presented will be compiled by the HIV Youth Coalition of LA County and disseminated to attendees at a later date.
The opening of the conference was highlighted by monologue performances by Diann Marchlewski & Maureen Piquette from the REACH LA Women’s Writing Workshop under the direction of Cathy Kay. G2G Leader Jasmin Harpe’s video about fears of seeking reproductive health care was also featured.
