Mothers’ Voices, a non-profit organization that gives parents the skills they need to educate their children about safe sexual behavior, conducted an informative and interactive breakfast program on Thursday, Oct. 13, at the home of Amy Hollub.

Pictured (l-r) are Judy Henzlik, Lisa Boas, Patricia Nahmad, Laura Medina, Gloria Zaldivar, Jackie Radice, Ilana Levitt, Barbara Gaynor, Erica Melamud, Tammi Hellinger and Amy Hollub.

About 20 Pinecrest moms attended the breakfast titled “Raising Healthy Kids,” and had the opportunity to exchange stories and learn new approaches to communicating with their children about sex.

The breakfast, which was sponsored by Mellon Private Asset Management, gave Mothers’ Voices a chance to present this program to a group of moms who will take what they learned and put it to practice immediately in their own homes.

Amber Graham, Mothers’ Voices program director, facilitated the program and stressed the importance of beginning your child’s sex education as early as age 2.

“They need to be told correct names of body parts, and know that these are not taboo topics. If the lines of communication are open from early on, then the ‘sex talk’ will not be an issue because it will be an ongoing conversation that you build on as they grow.”

Barbara Gaynor, Mothers’ Voices president, explained to the group how she got involved with the organization.

“We feel like AIDS can’t happen to us, but that’s a myth. I raised three children in this neighborhood. They attended these schools and synagogues, and I thought they were healthy and safe, but my son, Johnny, died four years ago after contracting the virus from a girlfriend who had received a tainted blood transfusion.” Barbara’s other son, Charles, has been living with HIV for 14 years. For Barbara, her new grandson, Jacob, is the reason to reach young moms.

“AIDS is preventable, and if I can save other families the pain that mine endured, then Mothers’ Voices has accomplished its mission.”

Mothers’ Voices holds monthly training sessions throughout the community titled “Parents Educating Parents,” where individuals are trained to go out into their own communities and present similar programs.

Anyone who is interested in attending these training sessions or having a program presented to their church, synagogue or civic organization, should contact the Mothers’ Voices office at 305-347-5467. Mothers’ Voices is funded through grants and private donors, and programs are free to the community.

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