July 16, 2008

Location: HAF Bronx Office

During our visit to LYIA’s Bronx office, we shot 3 interviews including Myra Vega, their youth counselor, Nelson Torres, the Bronx site director and Luis and Jesus, each senior peer educators. We previously tried to arrange simulations of various exercises from their training program and re-enactments of past skits. Only 2 youths were available that evening and Myra and Nelson felt it best to not try to improv anything with only two people.

The interviews went very well particularly with Luis and Jesus. They openly spoke about matters around their program and their personal lives. During the interview they explained training exercises and discussions about “on top” and “bottom” stereotyping, sexual identities and “Holla Back” ground rules. They also described the community bias incident they experienced this past spring when they were victims of a hate crime and attacked not far from the office. Although the simulations and re-enactment we tried to arrange earlier fell through, their interview contained a good deal of the subject matter we originally sought.

We later briefly discussed the possibility of using the Kaltura site Josephine and Jason suggested for some of the editing. Inviting the youths to the lab to be a part of the editing process was considered, and we agreed it would fulfill more of the apprenticeship aspects we originally proposed. Luis and Jesus also gave us a list of their suggestions for music to use for the video.

July 10, 2008

Location: HAF Bronx Office

Shot footage of Movie Night, Male and Female Condom Demos, Arts and Crafts

July 2, 2008

Location: HAF Bronx Office

During this meeting w/ Nelson and youths, we passed out copies of the project plan and reviewed it together. In the write up they noted we needed to add to LGBT(QA) and that their HIV tests are rapid tests and oral mucus. We explained our ideas to create 2 videos which would consist of a 30-60 sec clip specifically for the website using the frame of their “Gozala!” campaign and a longer video which could be used as an outreach and introductory tool for their peer education training program.

We learned that the “Gozala” campaign will be used for one year only, and by next spring they will have a new campaign. Therefore their HIV/AIDs campaigns have a one year shelf life, and the following groups of youths would need to create a new clip for their website annually. Nelson seemed to like this idea, and we agreed the video we are currently working on could be used as a prototype or example for future groups to use when making new clips.

To begin getting ideas for possible video composition, we held a brainstorming session and gathered helpful information. The list went as follows:

Condom demo
Skits
Outreach (one-on-one engagement)
Ice Breakers (listed in curriculum)
Plays
Social events
Tour of office
Arts & crafts
Movie Night
STD presentations
Photos
Role play “on top” & “bottom”
Coming out experience
Coping Skills (situational examples from curriculum)
Youth counselor support
Holla Back (listed in curriculum)
Mobilize community bias incident

Afterwards we discussed music, and we gave the youths the task of selecting music they liked and thought might be good for the videos. We also arranged to shoot at their upcoming outreach event, Movie Night, July 10th.

June 30, 2008

Video taped several interviews with LYIA youth and HAF counselor. Gathered footage of HAF and LYIA marching in parade.

June 24, 2008

Location: HAF Bronx Office

During our first meeting with LYIA members, Carlos, Jesus and Luis and their site director, Nelson Torres, we focused primarily on getting a better understanding of the groups’ current projects and needs. Before meeting the group, we had some approximate ideas of possible directions for the project. However we thought for a successful collaborative effort, it was most important to understand LYIA’s needs and use those as our guide for the project and incorporate those ideas into our end goals.

At this initial meeting we learned about a few of their more recent and near future activities including outreach strategies, marketing and educational events. A few weeks previously (first week of June), they finished performing their own originally staged and written works consisting of several short skits. The vignettes covered topics such as Latino youths confronting HIV/AIDs in their communities and relationships. Some scenes addressed the challenging aspects of the “coming out” process LGBT youth experience within their families and surrounding social environments. Within the next week and under the umbrella of the national non-profit, Hispanic Aids Forum, LYIA was about to participate in both the Bronx and Manhattan Gay Pride parades. They also briefly spoke about a health fair and an upcoming movie night in July, which they sponsor in order to recruit new members for their peer education training program.

The group spoke about their training in HIV/AIDs, STDs and sexuality education. Their ages range from 13-24 and they learn about subject matter including sexual identity, emotional support groups and recreational drug use. They work with a youth counselor who can also engage in individual intervention and/or working with family members and friends. LYIA usually recruits about 15 youths per year to become peer counselors. They train 3 days per week in a 6 week program which is offered 4 times per year.

We briefly discussed making a video and asked what seemed to be an important need at this point. Nelson stated they could use help with their recruiting process, and they needed something they could use as an HIV/AIDs prevention tool to put on their website. Nelson and the youths explained that within recent marketing materials for upcoming events, they were unhappy with the outdated style used and lack of LYIA language and slang. They like lots of bright vibrant colors and active looking characters.

After the discussion, we agreed to meet the following week to hammer out further details about the videos. During the week, we would read through their current training curriculum and ruminate over some of the information shared at this initial meeting.