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We’re Moving!

11/05/2012
It's Me Again, News
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Hey all! Just a quick update about where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing (writing, interviewing, editing, revamping the blog a bit).

So, I started this blog back in 2009 when I finally got tired of waiting for the “right time” to really start my magazine. The blog was supposed to work as a complement of sorts- I wanted to write about the issues that teen girls in NYC faced, of course, and highlight parts of the stories that I wasn’t able to include in the print edition because of space, but I also wanted to write about local events, contests, opportunities, resources,  including local/national/global news stories about other teens.

It was very good practice and reading over past blog posts, I think I did a decent job even if I was a bit broad in scope. Along the way, I got a bit frustrated with the lack of traffic, feedback, comments, and (of course) success, so I took a few breaks here and there. But no matter how frustrated I got (at one point, I was even considering shuttering the print magazine), I realized that there is nothing else in this world that I want to do more than the work I am doing now with this blog and magazine. So I always ended up back where I started.

Earlier this year, I started a new blog, http://www.girls-like-us.com, because I wanted to expand my coverage to include the awesome things girls were doing who didn’t happen to live in NY, but, predictably, running two (somewhat similar) blogs at the same time was time consuming and draining. So, I recently combined the two blogs into one. The main blog is going to be  at the http://www.girls-like-us.com location, but I have transferred all of the homegirlnyc.com posts there as well, and you can find a link to Homegirl NYC in the menu bar of the new blog. This way, I can center my focus on “the awesomeness of all girls,” while still focusing regionally on the Homegirl NYC audience. I hope you all will join me over there, read up on some of the newer blog posts and “like” our Facebook page. I have a really great interview with Olympic Boxing Gold Medalist Claressa Shields coming up soon and I’m really looking forward I can’t wait to see what’s next for us.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Why Teen Girls Should Care About the Presidential Debate

10/16/2012
Around the Way Girls, inspiration, Local, Motivation, National, New Jersey, News, Politics
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Woman Moderator Petition

NJ Girls Elena Tsemberis, Emma Axelrod and Sammi Siegel start a petition for change | http://www.huffingtonpost.com

If you aren’t old enough to vote, you may not care about the next election. You should, but sometimes it’s hard to get excited about something that affects you so greatly and yet, you have no say in. I would, however, urge all of you to share your opinions and thoughts about the election with the adults  in your family and in your lives who are old enough to vote. Who knows? Your opinion may change (or help someone else figure out) the way they think and plan to vote.

So, while you may not watch the next presidential debate (I watched the first one with my 14-year-old nephew, so who knows), here’s one thing you should know about/reason why you should care ~ there will be a woman moderating the debate, thanks, in part, to three New Jersey high school students who petitioned for there to be one.

Basics- so the presidential debate has the two candidates (President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney) face off in a live televised discussion about the issues/where they stand/what their plan is for America. They are basically trying to convince those people who are undecided that they are the best person for the job and get the people who’ve already decided excited about showing up at the polls on November 6th. The debate is moderated by a journalist who puts on his/her impartiality fairness hat and tries to ask the questions that the American public wants to know and keep them each from talking over each other and going over their allotted response time. This happens to varying degrees of success.

The first debate, earlier this month, was moderated by Jim Lehrer and, if you’re interested, you can google what most people thought of it. (Basically, the president lamed out, Romney did his thing and the moderator didn’t moderate). The vice-presidential debate, held last week, was much better and an actual debate. (Vice President Biden got all in Congressman Paul Ryan’s specifics, Ryan made some pointed jabs and the moderator ~ O.G. journalist Martha Raddatz  ~ held it down.

The debate tonight is going to be the final presidential debate, where the president and Mitt Romney face off again. And it’s really important for both to do well. The point of all of this that may matter to you is that CNN reporter Candy Crowley is moderating it ~ this is he first time a woman has done so in 20 years and is partly due to the petition started by Emma Axelrod, Elena Tsemberis and Sammi Siegel. After learning in their high school civics class that the last woman to moderate a presidential debate was in 1992 (!), they stated a petition at change.org. The petition was a huge success, garnered over 118,000 signatures and lots of support from public figures for their call for a woman moderator. And, well, they got their wish.

“It’s important for teenage girls to see women with political power,” Elena Tsemberis told MassLive.com. “The more we only see men in positions of authority, the more girls teach themselves to believe we’re not as worthy or important or capable as men.” Source

Side note: If you have an issue you’re really passionate about, you might want to consider starting a change.org petition. Some of them really take off and who knows, once people know what you’re fighting for/against, additional help may come pouring in.

Emergency Contraception in High Schools: Is It Always a Good Idea to Have a Plan B?

09/26/2012
Health, Local, News, Teen Pregnancy
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Plan B One-Step Emergency Contraception

In Case of Emergency | Plan B | http://www.planbonestep.com

So, in high school, a few things are clear. One is that there are kids having sex. Two is that there are kids not having sex. Three is that there are kids (in both of those groups) who don’t know what the hell they are doing. This is also true for college, btw.

We all make mistakes and decisions that aren’t always the best or safest for us, emotionally or physically. But for those in the having sex crew (or the everything but crew) some of those decisions can lead to STDs, HIV, or pregnancy. Condoms are the safest (cheapest, and easiest to get) bet for protecting as much as you can against all three, but there’s nothing wrong with having a backup  (the pill) or a back up to the back up, if you can afford it.

Unwanted diseases, well, you just get stuck with those. Some you can cure, others, not so much. Unwanted pregnancies, well, there you have some options. And the NYC Department of Education is trying to make one of those options more accessible.T

Word on the curb is that some New York City Public School students will now be able to get Plan B at their schools. Plan B is emergency contraception, a pill that you can take after having unprotected sex, or after whatever protection you used didn’t work, or after you’re raped,  to try to stop a pregnancy from occurring. It’s like back up to the back up. The trick is you have to take it within 72 hours (but the sooner the better) and it doesn’t always work.

The program is starting in 13 high schools and everyone seems to have an opinion. Some people are pissy because they say this encourages teens to have irresponsible (i.e. unprotected) sex; some people are supportive because they say teens need options and greater access,  and some don’t really feel a way about it, they just think it’s practical.

No one asked me my opinion, but am I for it? Hell yes. Am I a parent? Hell no. Does my opinion matter? Probably not, but I’ll share it anyway. Look, everything has pros and cons, but my opinion basically comes down to this- what is best for the young women this program is intended to serve? Greater Access. The end.

If you have any questions about what Plan B is, how it works and where you can get it. Here are some quick answers to help you get informed.

Girl Positive: Hydeia Broadbent Shares What Life is like Living with AIDS

05/18/2011
Global, Health, My Story, National
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Today is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. What does that mean, exactly? Well, scientists are still trying to find a vaccine to stop the spread of HIV. And they want to make people aware of what they’ve done, what they’re doing, and that they are still optimistic that they will find a vaccine. You may or may not be interested in the details, but take away the important (and simple) lesson- if you chose to have sex, protect yourself. Ok, it may not always be easy to do, but your life is worth it.

In the first issue of Homegirl NYC, international AIDS activist Hydeia Broadent, who was born with HIV and had full-blown AIDS by age three, shares her story. Here’s an excerpt:

Hydeia Broadbent on the cover of Poz magazine. Photo courtesy of the magazine.

“I am 26 years old. I take 3 HIV/AIDS medications a day and I go to the doctor every three to six months, more if I am feeling ill. I went to college but I had to stop going because I was sick and needed to rest. It is possible for someone living with HIV/AIDS to have a relationship but partners have to be educated on how to stay safe. I am dating someone I have known since high school. We plan on getting married after he is done with school. At one point I was madly in love with someone who was ashamed of letting people know I had full-blown AIDS, which hurt and sometimes brought me down. From that I learned I needed to date a man who was sure of who he was and able to handle people if they said negative things. I can have children without passing HIV onto them but I’m not sure if I will take that risk. I try to stay positive because there are people who are no longer here with us, and I don’t want to walk around depressed when I have a heartbeat. So I try not to think about death. I look at it like everything that lives and breathes will die—I could get hit by a car. I try not to think about it ‘til that day comes. Yes, it’s always there in the back of my mind but it does not affect my everyday outlook.

Hydeia B. in 2009, by Robert John Kley. Photo courtesy of Hydeia.

I am an HIV/AIDS activist. I travel all over the country and the world, speaking at colleges, health conferences and youth events about HIV/AIDS. People think they can tell when someone has HIV/AIDS–they have an image in their minds of maybe of a gay man or an IV drug user, as if those are the only people at risk. I am here to say that image is so wrong! Take me as an example and wipe that right out of your mind. Please remember your health is your responsibility, no one else’s! If you are in a relationship, go with your partner to get tested. If you can’t go together, is this really the person you should be sleeping with? It’s 2010 and we need to understand you can die from having sex! Yes, sex is a beautiful thing and I am not telling anyone not to have sex, but I am tell you to be safe and educate yourself. Getting tested is free and so are condoms in different heath centers or free clinics in every city. All you have to do is Google locations or look them up in the phonebook. We all need to do our part, this is our problem!”

Today is HIV vaccine awareness day… spread the word. To find a testing site near you, visit www.hivtest.org.

Connect with Hydeia online through email (Hydeiabroadbent@gmail.com) or on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/hydeiabroadbent. Check out the rest of what Hydeia had to say in the magazine, available now. 

17 and (Not really) Pregnant: Stereotypes, Rumors and Statistics

05/07/2011
Latino, National, Teen Pregnancy
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In the first issue of Homegirl NYC, Khalya Hopkins shares her story of being 15 and pregnant. She was dealing with a lot at the time—a boyfriend in jail for committing a gang-related crime, threats against her safety, finding out she had chlamydia, and dealing with neighborhood gossip. She says, “that summer was rough. I was the talk of the neighborhood, called every negative thing you can think of. My friends’ parents did want them to hang out with me because they thought I was a bad influence. It hurt.” But she made it through the hard times and now, at 24, she’s a successful teacher. What happened to her happened ten years ago, but have things changed all that much?

Question. How do pregnant girls get treated at your school? What do people say about them behind their backs? That they’re fast? Irresponsible? Statistics? Ruining their lives? What do you say? Or, what have you had said about you?

Gabby Rodriguez talks Stereotypes, Rumors and Statistics. Photo courtesy of Seattle Weekly.

Well, one teen wanted to find out for herself, so she posed as a pregnant teen. Gaby Rodriguez, 17, walked around with a fake belly for six months for her senior project “Stereotypes, Rumors and Statistics.” A straight-A student, Gaby wasn’t spared any of the usual gossip so she wrote down what people said about her and talked about how it made her feel during an assembly where she revealed her ruse. Gaby hoped that what she learned would help other girls (especially other Latinas who statistically have a high rate of teen pregnancy) fight stereotypes. Seems extreme, but do you think she made her point?

Chicago Girl Goes from the Projects to Yale…then Back Again.

04/02/2011
College, Giving Back, inspiration, My Story, National, News
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By now we all know that life isn’t fair. And that it doesn’t spread it’s unfairness around evenly—some people get too much, while others never seem to get enough. So what do you do when it seems like life keeps picking on you? Whatever it takes to change your circumstances.

 

Timeica E. Bethel talks about the long journey from the projects to Yale. Image courtesy of msnbc.com.

Meet Timeica Bethel, a college senior who grew up rough. Her drug-adicted mother abandoned her when she was three and sent Timeica (and her three siblings) to live with their grandmother in the LeClair Courts public housing projects in Chicago. Timeica loved to read, excelled in school, got a scholarship to private high school and went to Yale University, where she’s now a senior. She graduates in May and plans to go back home and teach the kids who are now live where she’s from that anything’s possible. Check out her interview with msnbc and see what she has to say for herself.

And I’m not trying to get all “where there’s a will there’s a way” preachy on you, but don’t let people kill your dreams.

-arcynta

Rihanna Speaks Out About Dating Violence

11/07/2009
Dating Violence, My Story, News, pop culture, Self-Esteem, Staying Safe, TV
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On Friday night, Rihanna spoke to Diane Sawyer on 20/20 about dating violence and her relationship with Chris Brown. This was her first time speaking out about “the incident” (let’s call is what it is- the night Chris Brown battered her) publicly. It wouldn’t be a stretch to call it a “publicity stunt” for her new album (because, let’s face it, the timing is certainly no coincidence) but the fact that she is speaking out about it publicly remains a powerful thing. I stand by that. So, if you missed it, catch the full interview here-

and here,

and here,

Ladies, dating violence is very real and it is very serious. It can happen (and it does happen) to anybody. Speaking out about what it is, who and how it affects us helps take away the stigma. If you are being abused or know a woman (or man) who is, understand that the shame is not yours, nor is the blame. Get help, and sometimes it helps to speak on it.

White House Mentoring Program for Teen Girls

11/07/2009
Giving Back, Making a Difference, National, News, Politics
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A few days ago, it was announced that First Lady Michelle Obama is starting a mentoring program for 20 high schools girls in the DC area. The goal of the program is to teach the girls “life skills,” expose them into the inner workings of government, and pair them up with some of the most powerful women in government. “Second Lady Jill Biden, White House advisor Valerie Jarrett, Social Secretary Desiree Rogers, and several members of the first lady’s staff and the senior staff in the West Wing will serve as mentors.”

obama-mentor-program-300x199

According to the article, “the 20 protégées, who are sophomores and juniors, were chosen by principals at area high schools and include young women from military families.”

The program will last for a year and “will include financial literacy training and exposure to different career paths, as well as possible field trips with the first lady, advisors said.”

Score another one for The White House! I LOVE this! I’ve been saying for YEARS that D.C. government needed to create a mentoring program for girls in the area, but maybe now, someone will listen. I love the this is being done, but everyone (not just those at the top levels of government) need to get involved and give back. My only hope is that the girls selected will be ones who can really benefit the most from this type of exposure. Don’t get me wrong, any young woman would benefit (I know I would and I’ve been out of high school for a minute), but I know that at my high school and college, and most times in life, the “chosen ones” are the ones who will make it anyway. And it’s nice to choose the best, but  sometimes it’s better to give the overlooked a shot. My two cents.

Oh, and as not to leave the fellas out, “the West Wing also will launch a mentoring and leadership program for high school boys that the president will participate in, aides said.”

Check out the video, where the First Lady of The United States (FLOTUS) talks more about the program. And you can even read the remarks, courtesy of The Huffington Post. Sounds great to me. And don’t worry ladies, once we’re up and running, mentoring will definitely be a part of the program!

NYC Election Results 2009

11/05/2009
Local, News, Politics
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NYC Election Results 2009

(in case you missed it)

Mayor– Michael Bloomberg (R*) narrowly beat Bill Thompson (D*) and will serve his third term as mayor…hey, a win is a win is a win, right?

Public Advocate– Bill DeBlasio (D)

Comptroller– John Liu (D)

Bronx Borough President– Ruben Diaz Jr. (D)

Brooklyn Borough President– Marty Markowitz (D)

Manhattan Borough President– Scott Stringer (D)

Queens Borough President– Helen Marshall (D)

Staten Island Borough President– James Molinaro (R)

Manhattan District Attorney – Cyrus Vance (D)

Brooklyn District Attorney– Charles Hynes (D)

Over in New Jersey, Chris Christie (R) won the Governor’s race against Jon Corzine…no comment.

 

For more info. on what happened at the polls nationally, The NY Times has you covered.

 

*(D)= Democrat; (R)= Republican

Rape Victim in California Speaks Out

11/05/2009
National, News, Staying Safe
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We recently reported on the brutal gang rape of a 15-year-old outside a California high school that outraged the nation and put the community (and the school) where it happened under a very critical microscope. It also brought many in that community together to speak out against violence and look for solutions. Well, some of those concerned residents gathered together on Tuesday for a vigil/rally/support session where the pastor of a local church read a letter from the young woman.

ba-richmond04_16_0500798346

The message was simple and powerful. According to the article, she said, “Violence is always the wrong choice.”

“We realize people are angry about this,” the 15-year-old sophomore said in a statement read by her church pastor at a rally at the high school. “But let the anger cause change, change that is necessary to keep our children, our neighbors and our friends safe.“

Well said. Let your anger lead you to create change.

Also, according to the article,  “Richmond High School is accepting cards and donations for the victim and her family. They can be mailed to the school at 1250 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804-1011. Make checks out to the Richmond High Student Fund, with “For sex assault victim” written in the memo line.”