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 2003.

• 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’sOpportunities & 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.” –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

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

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

Comprehensive Sex EducationCarmen 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 ProjectJessica 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 EducationNicole 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 Girls211 N. Stevenson Visalia, CA 93291www.actforwomenandgirls.org Office #(559) 738-8763

Robyn FloresRobyn@actforwomenandgirls.orgErin Garner-FordErin@actforwomenandgirls.orgSarah MarquezSarah@actforwomenandgirls.orgCarmen IbarraCarmen@actforwomenandgirls.org