REACH LA NEWS

REACH LA’s OVAHNESS Team took Ft. Lauderdale by storm by attending the United States Conference on AIDS from September 17-21, 2008. The OVAHNESS Team was selected to facilitate “Using Youth Leaders to Strengthen Your Program” roundtable on September 19. The session was a standing room only success with the OVAHNESS Leaders providing insight into why they are involved with REACH LA, volunteerism, strategies for engagement, and how agencies and organizations can retain youth leadership. Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley provided the organizational/agency insight by sharing how youth engagement has increased organizational capacity to reach new youth, “Once they come to REACH LA and meet the staff and volunteers, we got them. We work really hard to create a “youth friendly” environment in which to work and learn.” Frank Armenta, 20, REACH LA’s home-grown graphic designer and HIV Counseling and Testing counselor shared his story of coming in to the organization through the media arts program, “REACH took an interest in me - they encouraged and trained me in social marketing and enterprise in order to reach out to others.” Devaughn Sherman, Kyle Butler, Stacy Alford, Chris Blades, Ivanie Murphy , Greg Wilson and Tyrone Carter rounded out the team. The OVAHNESS Team also attended many of the workshop presentations and helped run the REACH LA Booth in the exhibition hall. Social Enterprise Manager Sean Milan Harris said “This is the most OVAHNESS merchandise we’ve sold to date. Having the OVAHNESS Team there in the booth gives the buyer the opportunity to see where their money goes.” More pictures to come…

The Ovahness Leadership Team facilitated the workshop “You Think You Know But You Have No Idea” at the Black Gay Men’s Health Conference at the Gay and Lesbian Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza on August 9, 2008. The group was led by Ovahness Assistant Manager Greg Wilson and Outreach Coordinator Chris Blades. The Ovahness Leadership Team faciliated a group discussion on key issues that are specific to young Black gay men. Participants were led through self-reflection exercises to engage in a deeper discussion about barriers of stigma and negative self worth. Participants learned how the Ovahness Team works on ways to overcome barriers while building self-esteeme and a positive community outcome.

REACH LA’s Tyrone Carter was honored at the Black Men’s Health Conference on August 9th at the Gay & Lesbian Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The conference and the award was presented by In The Meantime Men’s Group. Tyrone was honored for his commitment to combating HIV in the LA community. Tyrone is the Manager of the Ovahness Program which provides HIV prevention education and risk reduction counseling. One of his largest contributions has been the formation of the Ovahness Young Men’s Leadership team which provides leadership training in HIV advocacy, community moblization and peer education. Tyrone has worked closely with the sub-committess of the LA County HIV Prevention Planning Committee in the area of HIV Counseling and Testing, serves as member of the African American Crystal Meth Task Force and a variety of youth advisory boards. Currently Tyrone is a scholar of the CDC’s AIDS Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership.

Battling Scarecrows… “Stephanie Mills Dorothy” vs. “Diana Ross Dorothy” were some of the battles that took place at OVAHNESS Ball 3 - Welcome to the Emerald City.” The festive green glow was highlighted by the yellow runway where 450 youth gathered to see the hottest voguing, twisting and posing on the westcoast. Jack Mizarhi shared the commentating with Enyce Chanel who encouraged all to just “ease on down, ease on down the road.” LA favorite DJ Ben provided the beats. Representatives LA, Oakland, Atlanta, and New York battled for $1,000 in prize money. REACH LA staff and volunteers provided one-on-one risk reduction counseling to 65 youth throughout the night while AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Bienestar and LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s POW program provided free HIV testing and STD screenings until midnight. Ovahness Program Manager Tyrone Carter said “WOW, this night was a great success! The Ovahness Leadership team should be proud - all their hard work in marketing and promoting really paid off. They did a great job in planning this thing and bringing all the elements together.” (more…)

This Saturday night get ready to channel your inner Dorothy, Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow at the OVAHNESS Ball 3 - Welcome to the Emerald City. Saturday, July 26, 2008 at GAM Art Center - 4975 W. Pico Blvd. LA 90019.$20 before 11pm, $25 after. All youth under age 24 are eligible for complete refund before 11pm just talk with a REACH LA volunteer to learn how. All proceed will go to the OVAHNESS Young Men’s Health Program to continue its work in HIV/AIDS prevention education and leadership development. Doors open at 9pm. Free HIV Testing from 9pm-midnight will be provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Bienestar and LA Gay and Lesbian Center. Ball will begin at 10pm and conclude at 1am. Tables for the event are still available for $50 by contacting Sean Milan Infinity at 213-622-1650 x103. Go to myspace.com/ovahness for event details.

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.

REACH LA’s Social Enterprise program launched it’s first line called OVAHNESS products. OVAHNESS products were produced and designed to initially promote the OVAHNESS Young Men’s Health Program. The overwhelming response to both the image and cause helped launch the “double bottom line” concept of social enterprise for REACH LA’s newest program - one that brings attention to a social cause like HIV/AIDS then puts the money generated from the sales back into REACH LA’s programs. That is why 100% of the net profit from sales will go back into the OVAHNESS Young Men’s Health Program whose goal is to promote sexual health and wellness through self-preservation, education and perserverance. HIV/AIDS rates of infection among young gay and bisexual men of color are increasingly higher than any another other group in the US. As the rates rise, the OVAHNESS Leadership works to provide HIV and STD prevention education to other youth, encourages and advocates for HIV testing and works to develop systems and resources that can move youth toward self sufficiency. To view OVAHNESS products go to www.reach.la/products (Continued below…)

Model: Enrique Hernandez, 21 - member of REACH LA OVAHNESS Team

This first endeavor drew from the “home grown” talents at REACH LA. Sean Milan began volunteering at REACH LA in 2006. He had a vision of helping REACH LA develop a fashion line utilizing the creative talents of REACH LA program participants. Sean and Director of Development Carla Gordon began brainstorming ideas how to develop and eventually launch this concept. REACH LA received a small grant from the Northern California grantmakers to begin research and development followed by a generous donation of silk screeninging equipment that helped to develop many of the early prototype items. The team enlisted the graphic design and photography skills of Francisco Armenta, 19, who started at REACH LA as a participant in the summer Arts Portfolio in 2004. It was in that program where he successfully designed his first social marketing card for a REACH LA campaign called “Be-An-Ally,” that educated students about AB537, an anti-discrimination and anti-harrassment legislation geared at protecting LBGTQ youth in public schools. Today Sean and Frank comprise the design team for the Social Enterprise program. The OVAHNESS Leadership Team helps to promote the OVAHNESS product line by flyering at events (like LA Pride), working at the REACH LA booth at NAESM and HPLS Conferences and wearing the OVAHNESS gear “with pride.” “The clothing provides a great way to meet people and to talk to them about our program,” says Outreach Coordinator Chris Blades. The team hopes to launch a Girl2Girl line of products in early 2009 that will help to support the programming and educational effort of the G2G Young Women’s Health Program.

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!