YOACAP Newsletter Issue 2 by YOACAP

Educating Youth, Saving Lives YOUTH OUTREACH ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROGRAM

******** Affiliated to the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition

YOACAP newsletter

In this issue… November 2004

Editorial

Issue 2

2 Summer Program at YOACAP

The Sound of Silence

You’re BUSTED!

Outreach takes a new turn

Developing Life Skills in Youth

… And more! Our services include... Interactive Workshops Drama Presentations Case Management Free STD/HIV Testing and Counseling Anti-Tobacco Youth Programs Counseling sessions for women infected by HIV/AIDS

Call (215) 851-1836 for more information

AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR YOUTH By Latasha Stone This summer was yet another successful year for YOACAP’s Summer Work Program With the help of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition (GPUAC), YOACAP helped to employ youth throughout the city for a six week period. In addition to the employment experience, young people were also able to build their academic skills as well as become actively involved in their communities through service learning projects. This year, youth created a documentary which described issues they struggle with each day. The documentary included real-life testimonies from youth and adults. Youth were filmed as they conducted surveys and gathered research for their project. The documentary, titled “The Plight of the Urban Youth,” was entered into the Annual Work Ready Summer Competition. Even though “The Plight of the Urban Youth” did not win, the youth felt proud of their efforts and confident that they made a difference. The students also received voter education training which prepared them to take an active role in the upcoming presidential election. Young people attended the NAACP Conference held at the Convention Center in July. They learned how to register young adults and strategies to inform other young people about the importance of exercising their right to vote. Overall, this summer at YOACAP was a great learning experience. Students learned about themselves, their abilities, and the potential they have to make a difference in the urban society.

Some moments of YOACAP’s Summer Program 2004. Above, far left: Former Project Coordinator, Tinea Little, and Unit Leader Ebony Joyner, developers of the project.

YOACAP newsletter

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EDITORIAL

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

By Tiffany Brown

Vote or Die. Choose or Lose. Rock the Vote. Voting is Power. These are just a few of the slogans that were used to encourage youth participation in the election. Another presidential election has passed and YOACAP continued its work with the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) to register, engage and mobilize youth voters. Touted as the most important election this century, YOACAP’s staff recruited volunteers for this effort and hosted or participated in events that encourage youth turnout in general for the election, but specifically in Ward 47, around Ridge Avenue, between Girard and Cecil B. Moore Avenues. Activities included attending the Tom Joyner Morning Show in Philadelphia and the Power 99’s Powerhouse, targeting area churches, leafleting the community, and phone banking. In addition, on Election Day, YOACAP volunteers collaborated with Power 99 FM and other organizations to encourage youth and young adults to get out to vote by conducting all day radio interviews from various polling locations.

Because of the efforts of YOACAP and many other community basedorganizations (CBOs), the unofficially voter turnout in Philadelphia and throughout the country was the highest it has been in decades. YOACAP volunteers worked extremely hard across the city to increase the voter turnout, particularly in the 47 Ward, Divisions 7, 8, and 9. The unofficial average increase within the three divisions was approximately 26%. Now that the election has past and we have made a choice, YOACAP is continuing its voter education campaign, which mainly instructs voters to stay involved after the election. YOACAP is encouraging voters to hold both local and national politicians and leaders accountable to the needs and concerns of the people who dared to believe and participate in the process.

RAISING THEIR VOICES At least 20.9 million Americans under the age of 30 voted in 2004, an increase of 4.6 million over 2000, and the turnout rate among these voters rose from about 42.3% to 51.6%, a sharp rise of 9.3 percentage points, according to final national exit polls and an early tally of votes cast. Youth voter turnout was especially high in the contested battleground states. (CIRCLE Release on Youth Vote, Nov 3,

Women affected by AIDS

THE SOUND OF SILENCE

FYI

By Tiffany Brown

Every other Tuesday, YOACAP staff conduct a support group for women infected by HIV/AIDS.

As the AIDS Walk and USCA conference occurred, I ask the same question I have been asking myself for the last few weeks: When will my voice be heard? Not exactly my voice, but the voices of women who look like me. I am talking about the women that make up the statistics compiled by the city and state Health Departments and the federal Center of Disease Control. Yet, I do not see them. I do not hear them. I became an AIDS advocate because of a young FACT: hemophiliac girl. She did For people diagnosed with not deserve to have AIDS. AIDS since 1994, African And there are others like Americans had the poorest survival rates of all racial and her -women who are ethnic groups, with 55% straight and never used surviving after 9 years comdrugs. But I do not see or pared to 61% of Hispanics, hear them sharing their 64% of Whites, and 69% of story, talking about life Asian/ Pacific Islanders. and its bounty, about their (CDC 2002 Fact Sheet) struggle or pain. I can barely hear lesbian women or former substance abusing women raising their voice about the epidemic and its affect on their lives. Well, now I am making a call for all women who are infected with HIV to share their story with others. I am begging for such a call because, how can we ever know that

Courtesy of All About Care Organization

HIV is actually us, all of us, if we do not see the faces, do not hear the voices? How do we prevent an epidemic if we do not know that it can affect someone like us?My friend “Maime” used to be one of these voices until earlier this year, when she passed away. I am sure she was not the typical woman thought to be infected by AIDS. She was a wife, mother, community member. She held memberships on boards of organizations, running support groups, speaking to teens and community members about the dangers of unprotected sex. I know she had friends who were also affected by AIDS, young and old, and who are looking for a place to go, a space to share. Now that she is not here, where are they going? Who are they talking to? How many of her friends are being silenced because no other voice is being heard leading the way to say it is safe to speak their truth into existence? What number will be acceptable before we make the call to shatter silence and provide safe places to share their stories, hopes and fears? The slogan used to be silence equals death. I am here to say, it still does.

YOACAP newsletter Our People VIRGINIA RIVERODESCAILLEAUX Our Editor

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Our People HOWARD J. GILLIAM Program Coordinator

It has been almost three years since Virginia joined the YOACAP family. Born in Peru, she graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communications, major in Journalism, at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. After working for more than five years as a writer and reporter for diverse national media in Peru’s capital, Lima, she moved to Philadelphia in 2002 with her husband, Dr. Bruno Casanova. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Liberal Arts, at the University of Pennsylvania. Although Virginia –or VA, as she is known by staff and volunteers- has demonstrated to be a vital part of YOACAP by her tireless work and dedication as Executive Assistant and Newsletter Editor, she also finds time to work as the Deputy Editor of Sur Press Magazine, a bilingual on-line publication based in London, UK, dedicated to Latin American issues.

Howard Gilliam Jr. is our newest member to join the YOACAP team. He was born in Philadelphia, PA, and holds a B.A. in Mass Communications Radio Television, with a minor in Theater, from Shaw University Raleigh NC. Howard is also a noble member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. His professional background includes being the director, cameraman and non-linear editor or URBAN EXPRESSIONS, a billboard music video show that aired over a decade on WGTW TV 48. Howard also owns his own video production company, which does weddings, music videos, and religious television programming that airs on Trinity Broadcast Network WGTW TV 48. Certainly, Howard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to YOACAP. Already in development is a DVD about smoking geared towards today’s youth, a drama play, and the YOACAP television show.

Media Campaign

Tobacco Prevention

YOU ARE BUSTED! By Lynne G. Anderson Philadelphia BUSTED! Adult Facilitator That was the message in two anti-smoking public service announcements seen this past summer on Comcast Cablevision. When local YOACAP teens created the ad campaign, their purpose was to show how tobacco companies manipulate teens into buying tobacco products. The 30-second ads began airing in August 2004. In the first ad, a teen and his mother face the truth about the deadly ingredients in cigarettes. In the second ad, local teens turn the tables on “Big Tobacco” in an explosive game of dodge ball. Members of Philadelphia BUSTED! wrote and starred in both ads. BUSTED! is the Pennsylvania youth anti-tobacco movement. Philadelphia BUSTED! is the local chapter sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health Tobacco Control Program. Six Philadelphia BUSTED! members collaborated on writing the popular ads. Scriptwriters Matthew Hamilton, Khalil Lewis, Antoinette Ruffin, Harlan L. Shaw, Erica Stewart, and Ashley M. Taylor represented The Attic Youth Center and YOACAP. Philadelphia BUSTED! needs everyone’s help to win the fight against Big Tobacco. Join today and let the tobacco companies know that they cannot manipulate you, your family, or your friends anymore. For more information, call Fred Burnette at 215-851-1960.

Some scenes of both commercials, “Concerned Mother” and “Dodge Ball”.

HIV OUTREACH TAKES A NEW TURN By Shawn White, MHS YOACAP’s media campaign continued during October. Information posters advertising free HIV testing were placed on North Broad Street from Girard Avenue to Dauphin Street, on 5th Street between Girard and Thompson, and along Thompson Street from 5th Street to 11th Street. The posters are printed in English and Spanish. The telephone number for the AIDS information hotYOACAP line is prominently disvolunteer putting up a played on the posters. HIV testing The number is utilized to poster. locate HIV testing locations in neighborhoods or sites that are closest to them. YOACAP has identified that many individuals are interested in HIV testing; however, many do not know how to find HIV testing sites. YOACAP staff continues to work in the early evenings and at night to provide on-site HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing in specific zip codes throughout the city. The University of Pennsylvania and the City’s Health Department are key partners in this effort. YOACAP expects to continue this effort of increasing HIV awareness in South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, and Hunting Park areas of the city HIV is serious and the stigma attached to the virus makes it difficult to manage. However, if you or someone you know is interested in getting tested, please call the AIDS information hotline at (215) 985-2437 to locate the THANK YOU! testing site YOACAP would like to acknowledge a nearest to gracious grant from the Children – Large you. Grants of The Philadelphia Foundation and the Union Benevolent Association.

YOUTH OUTREACH ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROGRAM ******

1207 Chestnut Street, 3rd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: (215) 851-1836 Fax: (215) 851-1878

Linda Burnette President & CEO

Duerward Beale Executive Director

Virginia Rivero-Descailleaux Editor In Chief Collaborators:

Lynn Anderson, BUSTED! Facilitator Tiffany Brown, Counselor Lorraine McGirt, Social Services Consultant Ebony Joyner, Unit Leader Latasha Stone, Peer Educator Shawn White, Unit Leader

PROJECT BUILD: DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS IN YOUTH By Ebony Joyner, MHS Welcome to Project Build, an ongoing, youth development program that operates on a 14-week program cycle, for Haddington and Southeast Philadelphia middle and high school youth. Young people who have participated in Project Build are vivacious, creative, outspoken, and an overall delight to work with. YOACAP has worked hard to create an environment for Project Build’s young people to freely express themselves without being judged. Certainly, such an approach has demonstrated to be a success: the program has embraced 66 youth so far, since it started two years ago. Throughout the 14-week period, Project Build youth participate in small learning communities focused on drama/theatre arts, video production, and job readiProject Build participants ness. In preparation for a program closing ceremony, the last participating group of Project Build worked as a team to create a 12-minute video highlighting new learning, talents, and future hopes and dreams. Parents, friends, school teachers, and other mentors had the opportunity to watch the video as part of the closing ceremony, allowing them to join in the celebration of the growth and maturity of Project Build’s youth. It is YOACAP’s belief that young people can excel if they

GPUAC’S ANNUAL BREAKFAST Kudos to Sharmain Matlock-Turner, GPUAC’s President, for a successful 6th Annual Breakfast, celebrating GPUAC’s 35th year of service. The event took place in the Crystal Tea Room, at the Wanamaker Building, on Friday, Sharmain Matlock-Turner November 19, 2004. The breakfast was attended by philanthropists, business and community leaders, and agencies affiliated with GPUAC. This year, the Ernest E. Jones Community Leadership Award was bestowed to Marciene Mattleman, founder and Executive Director of four non-profit initiatives; followed by the Edward G. Rendell “Doer” Award, presented to Ray Desiderio, Senior Vice President of Community Development at PNC Bank. are in a supportive environment and provided the right tools. Utilizing the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets approach, YOACAP –through Project Build- has been able to assist young people to acquire the skills necessary to make a healthy and successful transition to adulthood. YOACAP would like to thank all of the youth and their parents for helping us continue to reach and teach the young people of the future. Celebrating the end of cycle