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.
REACH LA is proud to announce that Francisco (Frank) Armenta, 20, REACH LA’s own Ovahness Leader, has received the 2009 Courage Award by the Colin Higgins Foundation. Frank is one of three national winners who will be honored at the Trevor Project Gala in New York City on June 29, 2009.
Battling homophobia on a daily basis in East Los Angeles, Frank was routinely called a “faggot” throughout high school. After being kicked out of class by a teacher for “gay” artwork on his binder, Frank called a parent-teacher meeting, only to learn that his Mexican-Catholic family would not stand up for him due to their embarrassment that he was gay. This experience fueled him to become an activist, spanning from collaborating with the GSA to design a new web-based campaign, ”Be An Ally”, to support gay youth at his predominantly Latino high school, to becoming the youngest certified HIV Counselor and Tester in LA county. Through his activism to increase youth HIV testing, Frank has been able to provide invaluable recommendations to key policy makers on best practices for treating queer youth of color during the testing process. Currently, Frank works at REACH LA as a Social Enterprise Assistant and Peer Health Counselor, and continues to fuse his passion for graphic art design with his activism by creating all the electronic and print media for the Ovahness program serving queer young men of color. He also helps support other community LGBT youth groups such as Connect to Protect by creating original designs for their marketing materials and media campaigns.
Ana Lopez, REACH LA’s former Outreach Coordinator, also received the Courage Award honor in 2006.
LBGTQ YOUTH VIDEOS @ MEDIA STUDIES SPRING SCREENING
WEDNESDAY MAY 6th at 6:00PM
BROAD PERFORMANCE SPACE
PITZER COLLEGE • 1050 N. MILLS AVE • CLAREMONT • 91711
MEDIA ARTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE PRESENTS
Student lead media in community projects
The Pretty Boy Empire - Video Letters to ObamaThese video letters were created at the first ever Gay Youth of Color Inaugural Ball in Los Angeles - featuring LGBT Hip Hop artists, including Melange Lavonne, Deadlee, and Last Offense
MASJ student: Rebecca Nachison
Pretty Boy Empire - Project Adviser: Maurice Lopez
(aka the Pretty Boy King of Hollywood)
Unheard Voices of Transgender Youth
A series of short videos by transgender youth of color about issues of self-esteem, spirituality, social stigma and “clocking”. Produced in collaboration with Children’s Hospital Transgender Youth Program.
MASJ Students: Ivana Horvat and Hannah Fox
CHLA Project Adviser: Bamby Salcedo
Participants: The CHLA Transgender Youth Risk Reduction Program.
The REACH for OVAHNESS Talk Show
Two episodes of a new talk show made for and by young black gay men about issues that are important to this community.
MASJ students: Paul Bergman and Jacqueline Legazcue
REACH LA Project Advisers: Tyrone Carter, Greg Wilson, Chris Blades, and Kafi Battersby.
Community Guests/Show Hosts: The Young Men’s Ovahness Leadership Team from REACH LA - Kyle Butler, Stephan Daniels, Devaughn Sherman, and Robert Howell
ALSO AT THIS EVENT - REACH LA’s YOUNG MEN’S OVAHNESS LEADERSHIP TEAM will be selling cool t-shirts and canvas bags designed in-house by the REACH LA Social Enterprise Team to raise money for their youth HIV prevention program.
For more information about this event contact:
Gina Lamb lambgina@yahoo.com
LEARN FROM LA’S BEST!! This Saturday from 3:30pm-6:pm!
Ovahness Academy: Elements of Vogue
Saturday, April 25, 2009 .
Learn how to master the 5 elements of Vogue Fem w/Of the Year’s Enyce Chanel, Stacy Chanel, and Joey Mizrahi.
Hollywood Dance Center, 817 Highland Avenue, Hollywood, 90038
(between Santa Monica and Melrose)
For more information contact Chris at 213-622-1650 x108
The Alliance for CA Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation recently awarded RLA with a grant for $6,500 to launch the OVAHNESS Ball Performance Project, a series of workshops on the history, artistry and cultural traditions of “House/Ball” performance. “One evening REACH LA hosted a movie night featuring the film “How Do I Look,” a 2006 documentary by Wolfgang Busch about the NY House and Ball scene and the office was packed with house kids,” says Executive Director Martha Chono-Helsley, “a woman began to tell her story about how she was the one credited for creating “Stars, Statements & Legends,” - a favorite part at the beginning of every ball by all, and the kids had no connection or respect for this woman for this major contribution to ball culture. That was when we realized that there was a disconnect between the artistry and tradition and the current scene.” The REACH LA produced film “I’m Still Here: Becoming Legendary” whose intense vogue performances caught the attention of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts who after attending the Ovahness 3 Ball, encouraged REACH LA to apply. Staff and Ovahness Leaders developed a unique proposal to intertwine the Westcoast history and tradition of Ball performance with hands-on training and coaching by “Legendary” masters in Old Way/New Way; Vogue Performance; European and American Runway and Performance Commentary. The workshops are schedule to begin in late February. Check back to this site for workshops dates and times. Contact: Chris Blades at 213-622-1650 x108 for more information.
MY RECORDED LIFE: QUEER YOUTH LOS ANGELES @ OUTFEST
six compelling new works from the REACH LA queer youth video production program
SATURDAY JULY 12 2008 12 NOON
at the REDCAT Theater
Walt Disney Concert Hall
631 W. Second Street, LA 90012
PRODUCED BY REACH LA
This year’s LGBTQ youth video production program features seven exciting young video-makers working in six different video genres to tell their unique stories of being young and queer in Southern California. Ranging from experimental performance to edgy narrative drama, diaristic expose to a mock-u-mentary fashioned with dolls. All of these videos are united by a need to render visible these close to the bone stories that ask us to look through the lens to the often hidden spectrum of LGBTQ youth.
For more information contact
Gina Lamb 213.622.1650 ex 107 (more…)
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.
The REACH LA LGBTQ Youth Video Production Program is pleased to present the premiere screening of “The Pretty Boy King of Hollywood” a new documentary by Maurice Lopez a.k.a. The Pretty Boy King. This video will take you on a tour of LGBT youth events (with a pretty boy twist) throughout Southern California - guided by, our always engaging and entertaining host, The Pretty Boy King! The screening will take place on Saturday Dec 1st at 6:30 pm at the Egyptian Theater 6712 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028. This event is part of FUSION: THE LOS ANGELES LGBT PEOPLE OF COLOR FILM FESTIVAL taking place Nov 30 – Dec 2 at the Egyptian Theater. All YOUTH 21 and under GET IN FREE – so no excuses - come for the great independent films and videos, music and spoken word, activist panels, and of course the parties!
FOR MORE INFO GO TO:
www.myspace.com/prettyboyempire
FOR TICKETS AND FUSION FESTIVAL INFO GO TO:
www.outfest.org
The REACH LA LGBT Youth Video Production program is funded by the Durfee Foundation Gay and Lesbian Fund of the Liberty Hill Foundation
