Advocating for Young People
Love Heals believes that young people have a right to accurate, nonjudgmental and culturally relevant HIV/AIDS information. We defend that right vehemently by participating in press interviews, panel discussions and community forums. We are a founding member of the Sex Education Alliance of New York City (SEANYC) (Go to SEANYC). And we serve as a founding steering committee member of the Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition. (Go to Coalition)
Learn more about any of Love Heals' advocacy efforts, or get involved, by contacting Sonia Gonzalez, Deputy Director, at 212-529-7935 or sonia@loveheals.org
Playing a leading role in the Sex Education Alliance
The New York AIDS Coalition convenes the Sex Education Alliance of New York City (SEANYC). This body works to ensure that all NYC public school students receive age-appropriate HIV/AIDS education, and that all schools are in compliance with state and city mandates. (Go to Mandate page)
SEANYC advocates for periodic outside evaluations, updated curricula, teacher training, oversight mechanisms and adequate funding in order to support this goal. Government officials, community-based organizations, young people and parents are all involved in this effort.
While HIV/AIDS education is deemed the top priority, SEANYC recognizes that comprehensive sexuality education and health education are integral to overall health and well-being. HIV/AIDS lessons should ideally be taught within the context of a comprehensive sexuality and health education program because both are integral to the long term success of HIV/AIDS prevention among youth.
Other members of the SEANYC include:
* Manhattan Borough President's Office
* Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US
* New York Civil Liberties Union
* Planned Parenthood of New York City
* The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community
Center
To learn more about the SEANYC visit www.nyaidscoalition.org
(top)
Dedicated to the Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition
In response to the steadily increasing HIV rates among young black and Latina women in NYC, Love Heals co-founded The Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition in January of 2006. The coalition seeks to build partnerships between and among individuals and organizations that serve and empower adolescents.
The Coalition is made up of 18 organizations (and counting) that provide HIV/AIDS services to young women of color throughout the five boroughs.
Love Heals serves on the steering committee along with the Family Center; the Young People's Project at the Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS (APICHA); the Teens Educating About Community Health (TEACH) Program at Red Hook Community Justice Center; the Health and Education Alternatives for Teens (HEAT) Program; and the Family, Adolescent and Children's Experience at SUNY (FACES) Program at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn.
We're pleased to report that The Coalition has engaged
Community Resource Exchange to assist in the development of the infrastructure necessary to sustain our work into the future.
(top)
"Love Heals plays an integral part in the empowerment
of young people. Not only do we advocate for youth's rights to HIV and sexuality information, we also create advocates by encouraging young people to share the information learned with their friends and with the adults in their lives."
- Inacent Saunders,
Love Heals Speakers
Bureau member
Make A Difference:
- Spread The Word
- Write To Your Representative
- Speak Your Mind
- Fight Apathy
- Observe World AIDS Day
- Make HIV An Issue In Class