HOTGIRLS 2009 UPDATE

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Helping Our Teen Girls In Real Life Situations, Inc. (HOTGIRLS)® had another exciting and busy year working to improve the health and lives of young women and girls. Despite a significant loss of funding in 2009 due to nonprofit foundation budget cuts and the economic downturn, we have worked diligently to address HIV/AIDS, violence against women and girls, and other important issues that disproportionately impact youth of color. As 2009 comes to a close, we are proud to share a few of our highlights and accomplishments from the past year.

WORLD AIDS DAY: DECEMBER 1, 2009

To recognize World AIDS Day and spread awareness about the disproportionate impact of HIV/ AIDS on the black community, our S.I.S.T.A. peer leaders (formerly known as the Young Women’s Leadership Council) and members of the Advocates for Youth Campus Organizing Team distributed 500 condoms and statistics concerning the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls of African descent in the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa to students in the Atlanta University Center.

Read more about the S.I.S.T.A. peer leadership program.

DAY OF SILENCE IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

In recognition of the National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, S.I.S.T.A. peer leaders implemented a Day of Silence on the campus of Spelman College. Our members wore purple ribbons (the symbol of domestic violence awareness), remained silent for an entire school day, and disseminated information and resources about violence against women and girls to more than 500 college students in the Atlanta University Center, while encouraging students to wear ribbons in support of our cause.

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Our dedicated S.I.S.T.A. peer leaders have played an integral role in organizing workshops for the Atlanta University Center community. In 2009, we reached approximately 1,000 youth, parents, and educators through our workshops, summits, and presentations at schools, colleges and universities, conferences, and community-based organizations.

In April, S.I.S.T.A. peer leaders reached 60 male and female college students with “Between the Sheets”, a workshop focusing on HIV/AIDS, sexuality and gender-based violence. At the workshop, students’ concerns and questions about HIV/AIDS, sexuality, and dating abuse were addressed by Dr. Carla Stokes, Joye Lowman, M.D. and a guest speaker from Sister Love, Inc.

Above: Dr. Carla leads a workshop at an Atlanta high school

I AM WORTH IT! CAMPAIGN

The “I Am Worth It” campaign provides a platform for young women and girls to affirm their worth and promote positive images of black women and girls by creating their own media that challenges the status quo. In 2009, we conducted workshops at schools and community-based organizations that inspired young women and girls to speak out through social media and public education about representations in the media that sexualize women and girls and support the culture of domestic violence, street harassment, and teen dating abuse.

NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS DAY

We distributed information about HIV/AIDS and encouraged youth to get tested at the Black AIDS Day community event at Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta in February. 

6TH ANNUAL YOUTH SUMMIT

In May, the HOTGIRLS Teen Advisory Board and S.I.S.T.A. peer leaders organized our 6th annual summit in conjunction with our I Am Worth It! campaign. The summit inspired approximately 20 young women and girls to believe in and celebrate their self-worth, make healthy choices in their lives, and promote positive images of black women and girls.

Dr. Carla Stokes and the S.I.S.T.A. peer leaders presented and discussed issues facing teen girls today. We engaged in a discussion about gender stereotypes, street harassment, and representations of black women and girls in the media after viewing a clip from Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes, a documentary by award-winning filmmaker Byron Hurt that examines sexism, violence, and homophobia in hip hop culture. Dr. Carla led a thought-provoking workshop on teen dating abuse and healthy relationships. We also had a lot of fun while acting out role-play scenarios and brainstorming solutions to teen cyberbullying. All of the workshops encouraged the participants to build healthy self-esteem and self-worth and recognize and dismantle stereotypes about black women and girls.

We would like to thank HOTGIRLS intern Yasin Parker and all of the HOTGIRLS volunteers and supporters who contributed to making the I Am Worth It! summit a success!