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Social Justice
What is Social Justice?
Social justice means being entitled to the same rights and services as all other citizens and includes a vision of society that is equitable--where members are physically and psychologically safe and secure. Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath have demonstrated how important it is for individuals and organizations to work together for environmental justice, economic justice, and human rights that afford all people food, clothes, shelter, healthcare and education.
Who participates in IWES social justice programs?
Since Katrina, IWES has established new programs that highlight particular social justice issues while continuing its work for justice and through other sexual and reproductive health and community wellness programs. After August of 2005 IWES developed:
Youth of Color Taskforce
The first statewide youth HIV risk reduction project designed to work in coalition with organizations conducting HIV prevention programs for youth of color. The statewide taskforce will include focus groups, a work group and research led by Louisiana youth to increase participation and leadership in programs, policy development, and advocacy for young people ages 13 to 24.
Reproductive Rights Fellowship
The Academy for Educational Development awarded IWES & the Women’s Health and Justice Initiative (WHJI) a two-year fellowship to focus on women’s health and reproductive rights. As an AED Fellow, Mandisa Moore, an African American female and recent college graduate, will conduct research, lead outreach activities and help to build a grassroots base of women and girls of color most vulnerable to gender-based violence, sexual coercion, poverty and risk factors of poor health. As a part of her Fellowship, Ms. Moore will be working with IWES and WHJI to develop a sexual health literacy/reproductive health curriculum and an organizing toolkit for HIV prevention and sexual education among her peers.
Youth Academy for Healthy Community & the Social Justice Series
With seed funding from the Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Ecological Health, IWES piloted the Youth Academy for Healthy Community with an interest in providing holistic health education to address the physical, mental, and sexual health issues that were manifesting among youth in post-Katrina New Orleans. Later, IWES staff and youth identified topics for further investigation after attending the 2007 United States Social Forum in Atlanta (for more information the US Social Forum go to https://www.ussf2007.org/).
IWES then developed a program of dialogues with community activists on issues impacting the lives of youth in New Orleans, such as: nutrition and food policy; sexual health and reproductive justice; forced displacement and right of return; juvenile justice and the prison system; relationship violence; and access to quality public education. These youth forums made up the first Social Justice Series, with topics chosen by young people active IWES programs.
Want to know how to get involved?
Contact us for more information and upcoming events.
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