Reach Program
United Roots Radical Education And Community HIV/AIDs (R.E.A.C.H.) Prevention Program for Young Women of Color supports and empowers marginalized youth in socially innovative ways through Personal Development, Creative Arts Education, Career And Workforce Mentorship, and Civic Engagement. We engage women and non-binary people of color ages 16-25 to participate in an eight-part series designed to help curtail the HIV/AIDs epidemic among young Black and brown women in Oakland, CA. The program aims to reduce transmission risk by providing comprehensive prevention education and creating spaces for culturally appropriate conversations to address HIV-related misconceptions, stigma, and discrimination. As transitional-age women of color are among the most disproportionately affected by this virus, our R.E.A.C.H. program supports participants in building skills necessary to form healthy relationships and make informed decisions about sexual activity.
The R.E.A.C.H. sessions will include the following topics and activities:
Sacred Healing Circle workshops sessions
These sessions will offer participants a new framework for sustainability and transformative practices that promote healing. Participants will receive support from trained care managers and culturally competent health practitioners as they unpack their traumatic emotional and sexual experiences.
Sankofa workshops sessions
These sessions will focus on the cross-sectionality of Oakland youth-centered trauma and the influences within participants’ cultures that can support them in healing and preventing HIV/AIDS transmission. United Roots will facilitate this deep socioemotional work.
Yoni Healing workshops sessions
These sessions will explore the healing aspects of yoga, sensual liberation, and womb based wellness rituals.
Throughout the R.E.A.C.H program, our mental health staff will be on hand to offer referral services to participants displaying high-risk behavior or otherwise in need of additional mental health support.
At the conclusion of the program cohort cycle, participants will have the opportunity to become R.E.A.C.H. navigators, serving as peer mentors to support our continued programming efforts in preventing HIV/AIDS in young women of color.