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February 2007 update on new publications, actions you can take, and more!
Advocates for Youth's e-News Update
This Month
February 14th is National Condom Day!
Celebrate the condom! February 14th (more widely known as Valentine's Day), is National Condom Day. This day is observed to raise awareness and education people about condoms.
To read more about condoms, please visit:
And don't forget enter our Rights. Respect. Responsibility. Condom Contest for a chance to win $500!!!
Take Action
Take Positive Action for Responsible Television (Take P.A.R.T.) to support accurate sexual health information and positive images on television.
This month, we recognize the hit series, Grey's Anatomy. The February 1, 2007 episode "Wishin' and Hopin'" was about a young girl who wanted to know if she could be pregnant without having sex for the first time.
This storyline encourages youth-adult communication about sexual behavior and provides information about the risks of having sex, especially at a young age. We need your help to encourage responsible television! Send a letter in support of Grey's Anatomy today!
Say What?!
Homeless Shelter Forces GLBTQ Youth to Wear Orange Jumpsuits
Experts believe that hundreds of thousands of GLBTQ youth may be homeless, and at risk for mental health disorders, drug abuse, risky sexual behaviors, and other dangerous situations. When these young people seek the help of the shelter system, they often face isolation, discrimination, harassment, and even violence. One shelter in Michigan even forced youth who were suspected of being GLBTQ to wear orange jumpsuits, so shelter staff and residents would know their orientation.
Read an article from The Advocate about homeless GLBTQ youth here:
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid41569.asp
Read the full National Gay and Lesbian Task Force report "An Epidemic of Homelessness" here:
http://thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/HomelessYouth.pdf
In The Spotlight
Patrice, 21, is a peer educator with Advocates for Youth’s MySistahs Online Peer Education Program
I am an activist and a peer educator because I feel that there are not enough voices for causes that affect young people and minority communities. I know very personally because I am an African American out lesbian. I also want to make myself available as a resource to those who have face barriers for receiving information, who would like to network with fellow activists, or just need someone to talk to.
This work can be challenging. My attempts to provide information and resources may not be successful, but I rest better at night knowing that I tried to help. I find it rewarding when I can even a small difference. I love it when strangers thank me for the work that I am doing...a thank you goes a long way. I'm happy that I can help people.
In addition to being an online peer educator with MySistahs.org, I'm involved in numerous other activities. I volunteer at a home for AIDS patients not far from my campus. I am the chair of a diversity committee, and by the end of January, I will be a certified National Coalition Building Institute trainer. But just as important as my structured activities is simply spreading the word among my peers: whenever I'm with friends, I talk about HIV prevention and safer sex and make sure they know I am always for condoms and information.
I have three more semesters before graduating. During those three semesters, I plan on improving my GPA and getting more involved with new organizations. Upon graduation, I plan on attending graduate school for my master's and eventually doctorate in Epidemiology. I would like either to help combat epidemics abroad, or work for the Centers for Disease Control.
What in the World
Finding Hope in Kenya: Growing Up With HIV
Naina Dhingra, Advocates for Youth Director of International Policy traveled to Kenya in December, and had this to report:
The drive is one you don't forget: a terrible pot-holed road from town usually filled with bumper to bumper traffic. But the destination is well worth the price. Karen, a wealthy Nairobi suburb of mizungus (Swahili for "white people") , is usually not a destination for those working in international development. Kangemi and Kibera, the slums of Nairobi, are more up our alley. But tucked away in Karen is an inspiring program called Nyumbani. Nyumbani, which means "home" in Swahili, is a home for HIV+ children who have been orphaned or abandoned.
To read the full story, please visit:
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/01/17/finding-hope-in-kenya-growing-up-with-hiv
Read All About It
Science and Success: Supplement I
Additional Sex Education and Other Programs That Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV & Sexually Transmitted Infections
This supplement to Advocates' 2003 publication identifies five more programs that rigorous evaluation has proven effective. No longer available. Please visit the second edition of Science and Success (2008).
On the Town
One Voice Summit Essay Contest
When: CONTEST DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 20, 2007 at 5pm
What: Advocates for Youth, Population Connection, SIECUS and the Sierra Club are very pleased to announce an essay contest for youth advocates to win a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the second annual One Voice: Reproductive Health and Population Summit.
We invite youth advocates ages 16-24, to tell us in an essay of no more than 500 words about the potential roles youth can play in advocating for a world where all people have access to sexual and reproductive health services and a healthy environment, and how you will bring your experience from the training in Washington, D.C. back to your school, campus, and/or community in order to create change and further dialogue on these issues. The organizers will fly the winning contestants to Washington, D.C. for the One Voice Summit taking place April 20-April 23, 2007. Accommodations and meals are also included.
For more information, please e-mail submissions@advocatesforyouth.org.
National Young Women's Leadership Conference - Campus to Congress
When: Saturday, March 24, 2007 and Sunday, March 25, 2007
Where: Washington DC
*Women's Equality Summit & Congressional Day of Action
Monday, March 26, 2007 and Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Get more information here - http://feministcampus.org/leadership/default.asp.
Choice USA's Generation-to-Generation Celebration
When: Wednesday, May 23rd
Where: Washington, DC further location TBA
Also-Nominate a young leader here http://www.choiceusa.org/involved/2007_g2gc.php!
Hope Spreads Faster than AIDS - New interactive mapping project
What: The Global Fund, with its partners Friends of the Global Fight and the United Nations Foundation, has launched a new interactive mapping project to support the "Hope Spreads Faster than AIDS" campaign.
Visit http://www.hopespreads.org today and help show the world that "Hope Spreads Faster than AIDS".
Grants for Student Groups engaged in pro-choice work!
What: Do you need some extra funding for an exciting program related to spirituality and reproductive justice? If so, apply for a Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom (SYRF) programmatic grant today!
Visit http://www.syrf.org/getinvolved/programgrants.php for more information.
You can help Advocates for Youth with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/donatetoday.htm
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