Last night over 75 youth came to the Pre O3 Party held at the offices of REACH LA. Staff and volunteer counselors met one-on-one with 61 youth to discuss sexual health, risky behavior and benefits of HIV testing. 
Twenty youth took advantage of the free HIV counseling and testing services provided by Bienestar. As youth waited for their risk reduction session, they ate chinese food and pizza, watched movie “The Wiz”, got re-aquainted with REACH LA staff, and hung out with their friends. “Everytime we do this event I get to catch up with all the kids & house parents who have been a part of the REACH LA family” boasts Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “We have a great time checking in with each other.”
The evening also marked the debut of REACH LA’s Peer Health Advocates Devaughn Sherman, Justin Yoshida and Stacy Alford, newly trained and certified community youth who work within their social networks to get sexually active youth to test for HIV. (more…)
Learn more about “The Wiz” and get a free ticket to this Saturday’s OVAHNESS Ball 3 - Welcome to the Emerald City!!! All gay/bi young men, ages 16-24, are invited to meet with REACH LA’s awesome counseling staff to learn more about REACH LA’s programs, HIV/STD risk reduction and earn a free ticket to a fabulous event. Free HIV counseling and testing will be provided by Bienestar beginning at 5pm-9pm. There will be lots of food, fun and giveaways throughout the evening. The Legendary Mother Sean Milan Infinity will be on hand to answer all your Ball category questions and to offer advice on how to “bring it to the runway.” For more information contact Tyrone at 213-622-1650 x104 or Greg at x109.
Get ready to channel your inner Dorothy, Lion, Scarecrow and Tinman as REACH LA’s OVAHANESS Ball 3 - Welcome to the Emerald City comes to the G.A.M. Art Center on July 26, 2008. According to the Ovahness planning committee, this is not a tribute to the 1940’s “Wizard of OZ” but more of an updated version of “The Wiz.” So get ready to “ease on down” the runway in glamorous haute couture with adorned in feathers, beads and rhinestones as REACH LA prepares to bring it bigger, brighter and more fabulous than ever before!
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!
A free showing of “I’m Still Here: Becoming Legendary” has been slated for Sunday, April 20th at The Village @ Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, LA 90038. REACH LA and getyourtens.com are jointly presenting the award-winning documentary that showcases the spirit and creativity exisiting in the Los Angeles House and Ball scene and to talk about the issues of self preservation concerning the African American LGBT youth community. A unique reception following the screening will provide refreshments, free HIV testing and one-on-one counseling. Youth, 24 and under, are eligible for a free ticket to REACH LA’s OVAHNESS 3 Ball. For more information contact Tyrone at 213.622.1650 x104. HIV testing is provided by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center mobile unit. Special thanks to “Waiting to Xhale” program and our friends at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center for all their help and support!
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!
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.
Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, Ovahness Program Manager Tyrone Carter and Outreach Coordinator Chris Blades presented a program overview at the 2007 United States Conference on AIDS in Palm Springs. This was the first public presentation about the Ovahness Program since its inception in July 2006. The Ovahness team presented on the program design, retention of clients, social marketing components and program challenges as part of the LA County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy’s institute session called “Extreme Makeover – HIV Edition.”
Team REACH LA completed another successful fundraising effort as part of AIDS Walk 2007. This year’s walk was tough – Santa Ana’s had hit Southern California making it unbearably hot! But our team pressed forward. Team REACH LA consisted of Michelle Horton, Alexis Blades, Jamar Blades, Emily Helsley, Jair Mayorga, Kevin Garcia, Jeff & Martha Chono-Helsley. Major shout out to REACH LA volunteer Armond Anderson-Bell, who after having gastric bypass surgery and dropping over 100 pounds, completed his first Los Angeles AIDS Walk! The team raised $5,600! (more…)
Twenty youth took advantage of the free HIV counseling and testing services provided by Bienestar. As youth waited for their risk reduction session, they ate chinese food and pizza, watched movie “The Wiz”, got re-aquainted with REACH LA staff, and hung out with their friends. “Everytime we do this event I get to catch up with all the kids & house parents who have been a part of the REACH LA family” boasts Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “We have a great time checking in with each other.” 
