Julia Petty

"I received a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina and I'm currently pursuing a master's degree in public health at USC, with a concentration on Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior.  My interests within public health include reproductive health and physical activity.  I had an awesome intern experience at USC's Healthy Carolina, working with various programs on campus, as well as MTV and the Kaiser Family Foundation's Get Yourself Tested campaign.  My experience inspired me to continue my education in public health and work to aid people on their journey to become their best possible selves. I'm extremely excited about my journey as a Youth Activist, and when I'm not hard at work, you can find me teaching group exercise classes, running, biking, or at home relaxing with my dog."

Kelvin Barlow

"Kelvin A. Barlow was born March 20, 1984, currently a Prevention Counselor with AID Upstate. I am the second to the oldest in a family of three. I previously served as the Program Director for the Prevention & Education Department at The Vision Community Foundation in Atlanta, from October 2009 until I resigned after moving to Greenville, SC in 2010.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, I am a community organizer, activist, supporter, firm about gay political issues, steadfast on equal rights vs. special rights and passionate about public health. I worked as a HIV counselor & tester, group facilitator, youth mentor, community health specialist and public speaker since 2005. I plan to earn a degree in human services that will enable me to provide basic human service care. My motivation is a retrospective of crisis intervention, relationships, human growth and development and behavior change. The power of influence in community deformation, poverty, and substance abuse, and mental health, sexual and spiritual health has provoked a great concern for me in my community and throughout the nation.

I am diligent in the approaches that I make, involve myself, and lead a generation to its over-all whole self. As one that has come from a background of poverty and crisis I have overcome many of the obstacles life can lead to believe to be real. I have focused on the greater things in life that I am pleased to say makes me happy. All I'm saying is simply this, that all life is interrelated, that somehow we're caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality. ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr~"

Nicole Casey

"My name is Nicole Casey and I am a student at USC Upstate. I grew up in South Carolina and moved to San Jose, CA to work for AmeriCorps. I worked for two years mentoring children, teaching them to read, and planning free and safe afterschool programs and spring breaks. I lived in Arkansas for six years and during my time there I worked at Planned Parenthood and was the President of the Arkansas National Organization for Women. I was an activist for equal right for all people. I plan to be a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner so that I can provide comprehensive and judgment free sexual health care to men and women. My passion is teaching about safe and healthy sex, so that people can lead healthy and fulfilled lives."

Quinandria Lee

"My name is Quinandria Lee, I am a junior at Garrett Academy of Technology. I plan to attend Clemson University, once I graduate high school, and become a Pediatrician. I was born in Charleston, South Carolina, but moved to Virginia when I was in kindergarten, and then moved to Washington state, and then North Carolina. I was an army brat, but moved back to Charleston when I entered the fifth grade. I am the oldest, and shortest of two brothers. I am a very enthusiastic and optimistic person, who loves to have fun. I have recently began working as a Youth Activist in 2011, because I love making a difference, and exposing people to the truth."

Clara Brown

"When I transferred from my tiny college in Great Barrington, MA down to College of Charleston in South Carolina last year I had to chose a new major. I did some hemming and hawing about this at first but then I decided to give Women and Gender Studies a try. I’m so glad I did since this awoke a new a new passion for women’s reproductive health and rights. This is largely what drew me to become a Youth Activist since it gives me the opportunity to have first hand experience working with this issue and a chance to give back to the community in the process. In my time away from Women and Gender studies, I enjoy singing in my church choir, volunteering at the on-campus pre-k school and cross-country running."

Terrance Thompson

"My name is Terrance Thompson and I am a junior nursing major at USC Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I graduated from Ninety-Six High School in 2007. I am from Greenwood, South Carolina, and for the past five years I have worked in the maintenance department at the Ninety-Six National Historic site. I love the outdoors and being in Florida during the summer. At Upstate I am a member Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society, Student Ambassador, and OAR Leader. After graduating I plan to be a wound care nurse in the Charlotte or Orlando area."

Ra'Shawn D. Flournoy

"Ra'Shawn was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the son of Bobby & Alice Tanner. Radical, Revolutionary, Innovative, and Cutting Edge are some of the words often used to describe him. His driven vanguard has inspired many around the nation. He maintains a passion for education, particularly among adolescents and young adults, and he seeks to address sexuality issues and create strategies that reduce the negative consequences of early or irresponsible sexual involvement. Ra’Shawn serves as the Prevention Coordinator and Internet Outreach Specialist for AID Upstate in Greenville, South Carolina and teamed up with  South Carolina Youth Activist Network to serve as a youth activist. He is also the Co-Founder of the Freedom Community Center, a 501 (c) 3, nonprofit organization dedicated to provide an array of individual-level, group-level and community-level programs and services targeting youth and young adults in the community. Ra’Shawn is working on his first book entitled, “The Naked Truth”. He also serves as a member on the South Carolina MSM Workgroup Board. Prior to his role in HIV/STD Prevention, Ra'Shawn served as the Senior Pastor and Founder of Freedom Worship Church in Columbia, South Carolina. Today, his ecumenical messages have been heard on the far shores of South Africa and England."

Nicole Chisolm

"I am currently a senior in the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. I am double majoring in Marketing & Entrepreneurial Management and minors in Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism Management. My passion for Sexual Health Education began in high school as president of SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) when the student group organized a World AIDS Day event for students. As this event members disseminated information on sexual health and she has been at it ever since.

I am active on campus as a Share Peer (Men & Women sharing the responsibility to make a difference) facilitating Sexual Health & Violence Prevention presentations to university freshman as well as advocating for various campaigns on campus such as sexual assault awareness, domestic violence awareness, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, etc. I also serve on Share’s executive board as Treasurer. During my time as a Share Peer, the student organization has helped rank University of SC as No. 1 on Trojans® 2009 Sexual Health Report Card.

In the community, I am active as a volunteer for the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council (SCHAC). With the council I help with outreach initiatives, fundraising, and advocacy. "