Four F’s of Youth Activism: Connecting Youth to the Reproductive Justice Movement Through Campaigns

ACT for Women and Girls Erin Garner-Ford, Co-Director of ACT for Women and Girls Robyn Flores, Co-Director of ACT for Women and Girls Carmen Ibarra, FLA Alumni and ACT Bilingual Community Organizer Sarah Marquez, FLA Alumni and ACT Project Coordinator Nicole Harrell, Current FLA member, Peer Education Outreach Team member Jessica Mendoza, FLA Alumni, Peer Education Outreach Team Member

ACT for Women and Girls Our mission is to engage women of all ages in leadership opportunities that will promote social justice and personal change. Through the Female Leadership Academy women actively participate in shaping the future of their communities and bring the voice of feminism to the fore front in policy and leadership. Through the Central Valley Alliance for Women and Justice a regional partnership of social justice advocates improves mobilization around social justice issues important to women in our area.

History ACT began from a Listening Circle in Visalia hosted by The Women’s Foundation of California in February Steering Committee Grant funding Struggled with decision to become our own 501c3. Partnerships have been critical to our growth AND after 3 years of working out of our homes, ACT has an office along with a teen clinic.

Feminism Focus Friendship Frustration The Four F’s Opportunities & Challenges

FEMINISM Setting the Stage for Activism Internalizing and Identifying Reproductive Justice “When I first started the FLA, I felt like I found home. It just seemed like there was no one in Visalia that felt the same way I did. To most of my family, friends, and some of the people at school I was just some “radical thinker,” when all I was after was really just equality… I still do not understand how this is radical, but what I do understand is that I and others around me have the power to create change and raise awareness on issues that are important to us.” “When I first started the FLA, I felt like I found home. It just seemed like there was no one in Visalia that felt the same way I did. To most of my family, friends, and some of the people at school I was just some “radical thinker,” when all I was after was really just equality… I still do not understand how this is radical, but what I do understand is that I and others around me have the power to create change and raise awareness on issues that are important to us.” –Isela Gonzalez, Class of ’08 –Isela Gonzalez, Class of ’08 “When I first started the FLA, I felt like I found home. It just seemed like there was no one in Visalia that felt the same way I did. To most of my family, friends, and some of the people at school I was just some “radical thinker,” when all I was after was really just equality… I still do not understand how this is radical, but what I do understand is that I and others around me have the power to create change and raise awareness on issues that are important to us.” “When I first started the FLA, I felt like I found home. It just seemed like there was no one in Visalia that felt the same way I did. To most of my family, friends, and some of the people at school I was just some “radical thinker,” when all I was after was really just equality… I still do not understand how this is radical, but what I do understand is that I and others around me have the power to create change and raise awareness on issues that are important to us.” –Isela Gonzalez, Class of ’08 –Isela Gonzalez, Class of ’08

FOCUS Leadership ~ Why Youth? Why Women? Skill Building “Through the experience and activities of this program I’ve learned valuable skills and knowledge which I feel will lead me to be the woman I always dreamed of being; strong, confident and independent-minded and at the same time aware of the world; it’s flaws but more than anything it’s possibilities.” –Adriana Orozco, Class of 2007 & 2008 “Through the experience and activities of this program I’ve learned valuable skills and knowledge which I feel will lead me to be the woman I always dreamed of being; strong, confident and independent-minded and at the same time aware of the world; it’s flaws but more than anything it’s possibilities.” –Adriana Orozco, Class of 2007 & 2008

FRIENDSHIP Working with a Team Networking with Local, State and National Organizations “On first impression, I couldn’t find a single thing in common. Soon enough I began to recognize that even though I didn’t always share a common sexual orientation, ethnicity, or race didn’t mean we didn’t share common views.” –Korri Faria, Class of 2008 “On first impression, I couldn’t find a single thing in common. Soon enough I began to recognize that even though I didn’t always share a common sexual orientation, ethnicity, or race didn’t mean we didn’t share common views.” –Korri Faria, Class of 2008

FRUSTRATION Reality Communication Management Living in a Conservative Area “My fellow FLA sisters and I have shared tears, laughter, frustrations, and even irritation with one another. But our bonding glues is the respect we have for each other, the passion that ignites us, and the vision of a better world we all desperately share.” -Jay Fox, Class of ‘10 “My fellow FLA sisters and I have shared tears, laughter, frustrations, and even irritation with one another. But our bonding glues is the respect we have for each other, the passion that ignites us, and the vision of a better world we all desperately share.” -Jay Fox, Class of ‘10

Comprehensive Sex Education Carmen Ibarra

Comprehensive Sex Education Research Indentify key people Approach decision makers(supporter) Strategize how to present data Present to the School Board of Education Celebrate!!!

Pharmacy Access Project Jessica Mendoza

Pharmacy Access Project Pacific Institute for Women’s Health Training Selecting Pharmacies Interviews with Pharmacies PIHW losses funding Follow up with Pharmacies Report Card A work in progress

Peer Education Nicole Harrell

Peer Education Training Volunteers, Outreach, Educators Safe Sex Kit events Practice! Have fun!

Get ACTive!

“Don’t Let a Hot Date” Sarah Marquez

“Don’t Let a Hot Date Turn Into a Due Date” Strategies Editorial Flyers Safe Sex Kits Social Networking Sites Skills used Negotiation Gathering Resources Community Responses

Contact Us! ACT for Women and Girls 211 N. Stevenson Visalia, CA Office #(559) Robyn Flores Erin Garner-Ford Sarah Marquez Carmen Ibarra