![]() The retreats featured activities such as mental health sessions, conversations about identity, social media presence, make-up lessons and candle-making. The retreats were all-expenses-paid experiences for participants, who came in from Rochester and Syracuse. I like that.”Īfter a few years of being under the radar, Layla’s Got You experienced a major turning point when the group hosted its first retreat in March 2022 and another in August, Lloyd said. So, it feels relatable, like she’s your homegirl, she’s your friend. “It’s easy to say, and it’s a very common name. And, so, that’s what we named it,” Lloyd said. “They just pared the list down, and Layla was the last name standing. Similar to the previous community-centered advocacy Lloyd was doing, she continued to include women’s voices to ideate and find the perfect name for the chatbot. “We knew that we wanted to create some sort of engagement that would get young people through their cell phones and devices,” Lloyd said. The digital chatbot features automated answers sourced from a range of community concerns and frequently asked questions. Through a collaborative effort with the Allyn Family Foundation, the idea of an online platform was formalized. “You have to get them in the way that they communicate and relate with each other,” Lloyd said. ![]() Most importantly, it has to be culturally tailored, including use of common and explicit language, as well as popular song lyrics. ![]() The information has to come from a reputable and trusted source. “Young women find it easier to speak to someone online rather than come to an office or going to their mom or their aunt or somebody within their family,” Lloyd said.ĭuring her research phase, Lloyd discovered three important factors pertaining to the goal of reaching Black women: Timeliness, accessibility and availability. She embarked on a “tour of conversations,” visiting local colleges and schools to speak with students and young women. Lloyd refers to the creation phase of Layla’s Got You as a “blank slate” that required months of research through community forums to hear from real women about their experiences and what they needed. However, leadership within the organization realized in order to provide adequate care to babies, healthcare facilities would have to reach women well before pregnancy. The Allyn Family Foundation sought out Lloyd during their initiative focused on childhood developmental milestones from birth to age five. In her former role at Family Planning of Syracuse, Lloyd, regarding herself as the “local sex-ed lady,” visited more than a dozen schools in the county to discuss sexual and hygienic care with young women. Prior to the inception of Layla’s Got You, Lloyd led conversations and sought ways to address the concerns among Black women. Lloyd, a longtime advocate of Black women’s reproductive health and well-being, understands that for many young Black women, speaking or even inquiring about sex and relationships is often taboo. “What we found is that women didn’t feel like they had spaces to convene where they could come together with people that they felt were like them or where they could talk about what the issues were,” Lloyd said. In recent years, concerns about Black women’s reproductive and mental health, as well as resource accessibility, have grown.įor many women, speaking about personal issues – including sexuality, reproductive health, relationships and finding a safe community – can be a challenge. Tiffany Lloyd seated with members of Layla’s Got You. “We love working with the local young women and helping them to get on the pathway that they think is important and will lead to the future that they envision for themselves,” said Lloyd, director of women’s health and empowerment at the Allyn Family Foundation and campaign manager of Layla’s Got You. Yet, the organization acknowledges it has a long way to go in order to continue making strides in young Black women’s lives. Since its inception four years ago, Laya’s Got You has expanded to an on- and offline sisterhood, offering a wealth of knowledge on Black women’s concerns. Layla embodies the essence of a trusted and knowledgeable friend. The multigenerational chatbot is a space for women of color who are seeking answers to personal questions and focuses on the premise of being a community made for women, by women. For Tiffany Lloyd, this is among the reasons for creating the online big sister “ Layla’s Got You.” The importance of having a space for young women of color to inquire about sexuality and mental health is often a challenge – and nearly non-existent in some cases.
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