One of the Youth Board's most recent projects is "Girl Talk," a health education video produced by People Using Media to do Prevention (PUMP), an organization that provides HIV education through video production and trainings. Set in a very informal, conversational style, the video features six young women from the Youth Board and mimics a conversation that might occur among any group of girlfriends. Katia Perea, PUMP outreach worker, facilitates a dialogue that touches on a number of issues that come up growing up a female of color in New York City - sexual identity, basic health facts, waiting until you're ready to have sex, learning that not everyone who has HIV "looks sick." As Sujeidy Marte, one of the youth featured in the video explained, "We really wanted to get these messages out to a big audience, and hearing us talk about this stuff makes other people more comfortable."

"Girl Talk," could not come at a more critical time. HIV/AIDS disporportionately affects young women of color throughout the United States - according to the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention, despite comprising 26% of the US female population between 13 and 24, black women and Latinas account for roughly 77% of all reported HIV infections in that age group.

The video has already made quite an impression. Justine Cuesta, social worker with Metropolitan Hospital, notes that the video is a true reflection of its target audience. She explains,"not only is the subject matter clear and straight forward, but it's engaging; youth watching see themselves in the video."

Youth Board members incorporate the video into outreach and presentations. It is also available to our community partners for their own use. To obtain a copy, please contact us.

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Contact

Maggie Janes
646.619.6693
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