Participation Type
Panel
(2) Appalachian Communities: Resilience and Change
Session Title
All Access EKY: A Youth Led Conversation About Reproductive Health and Access in the Mountains
Session Abstract or Summary
All Access EKY is an initiative coordinated by Appalshop, Kentucky Health Justice Network, and Power to Decide that works in ten Southeastern Kentucky counties to build support for policies, programs and services that ensure young people have access to full range of contraceptive methods.
In this panel the All Access EKY fellows from the Appalachian Media Institute at Appalshop will be showcasing some of their media pieces highlighting stories and educational information. After viewing the youth made media there will be a panel of All Access EKY Fellows to talk about their experiences with reproductive health care, sex education, and hopes for improvement in the region.
Presentation #1 Title
All Access EKY: A Youth Led Conversation About Reproductive Health and Access in the Mountains
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
With a focus on media and youth representation, the All Access EKY Fellows will share their stories about access to good reproductive healthcare, sex education, and birth control. Through a presentation of their videos about reproductive health issues in their communities, they'll set the stage to present on what it has been like to collect stories and work in their hometowns to empower young people to have the conversations and access needed for healthy family planning.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
A daughter of a retired middle school teacher and coal truck driver, Willa Johnson grew up and has returned to her home community in Letcher County. She has served as an Appalachian Transition Fellow, is a co-founder of the Stay Together Appalachian Youth Project (STAY), and is a proud foster parent and advocate for kids in care. Willa is currently serving as Interim Director for the Appalachian Media Institute and Media Director for All Access EKY.
Presentation #2 Title
Mimi Pickering
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Mimi Pickering is an award-winning filmmaker and director of Appalshop’s Community Media Initiative (CMI). Pickering is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and two Kentucky Arts Council Artist Fellowships. Her film, The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man, was selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Film Registry in 2005. Other documentaries include Chemical Valley, an examination of environmental racism in West Virginia’s Kanawha Valley after the Bhopal disaster in India, which aired on the PBS series P.O.V., and Hazel Dickens: It’s Hard to Tell the Singer From the Song, a film The Oral History Reviewdescribed as “a powerful tale told by one of Appalachia’s most reverent filmmakers working today…” Most recently Pickering and Anne Lewis produced Anne Braden: Southern Patriot, a biography of this storied civil rights and civil liberties activist. As CMI Director, Pickering produces Making Connections News, a joint effort with WMMT-FM to share stories exploring sustainable economic options for the coalfields. She also is a team leader for All Access EKY, a collaboration to leverage youth-produced multimedia storytelling and community-based decision making to raise awareness and support for comprehensive reproductive health services for women in Appalachian Kentucky.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Taylor Pratt is a 18 year old All Access EKY fellow. She is a certified MNA and She has been with All Access for four semesters. She has completed over five pieces of media with the Appalachian Media Institute and has advanced to being a Peer Trainer with All Access EKY. Taylor hopes to continue sharing her work and spread information about reproductive health as she will continue to pursue a career in the medical field.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Courtney Johnson is an 18-year-old from McRoberts, Ky. She has been with Appalachian Media Institute for 2 summers and All Access EKY for 2 semesters as well. She is pursuing her education through UVA-Wise to become an elementary teacher in the region. She loves working with cameras, and she loves sharing the stories of others.
All Access EKY: A Youth Led Conversation About Reproductive Health and Access in the Mountains
With a focus on media and youth representation, the All Access EKY Fellows will share their stories about access to good reproductive healthcare, sex education, and birth control. Through a presentation of their videos about reproductive health issues in their communities, they'll set the stage to present on what it has been like to collect stories and work in their hometowns to empower young people to have the conversations and access needed for healthy family planning.
