Thank you for visiting my web site. As a social science researcher, health educator, web designer, and President/CEO & Founder of Helping Our Teen Girls In Real Life Situations, Inc. (HOTGIRLS), I conduct research on public health issues and youth culture, educate youth about health and social justice issues, and design health programs and web sites. This site provides information about my background and upcoming events, speaking engagements/lectures, and projects. I will also share my thinking about issues related to youth culture, media literacy, body image, sexuality, and the health and well-being of women and girls. Resources for parents and adult allies will be provided as this site evolves. I hope you enjoy your visit and find the information and resources to be interesting and valuable.

Click here to view the site map.

Peace and blessings,

Carla Stokes

Latest News

Dr. Carla and HOTGIRLS, Inc. featured in Real Health: The Black Wellness Magazine (Spring 2008) "Doin' It for Themselves" (Heroes section) by Kellee Terrell

Dr. Carla's biography in "Who's Who in Black Atlanta" 10th Anniversary Edition (Community Leaders section)

"Rewriting Rap to Empower Teens" by Tara Parker-Pope
"For Clues on Teenage Sex, Experts Look to Hip-Hop" by Tara Parker-Pope

* Click here to download my research article, "Representin’ in cyberspace: Sexual scripts, self-definition, and hip hop culture in black American adolescent girls' home pages. "

Recent Speaking Engagements

• Panelist: HIV/AIDS and the Hip Hop Generation, Howard University Hip Hop and Higher Education Symposium, Washington, DC
• Lecture: “Mass Media and Minority Health.” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Minority Health Conference, Chapel Hill, NC
• From Hip Hop to MySpace: Using Technology to Empower Black Young Women & Girls, STD/HIV Prevention Conference focusing on Youth and Technology, San Francisco State University's Institute for Next Generation Internet, San Francisco, CA
• Using Hip Hop To Empower Young Women: A Workshop For Adult Allies
  Using Hip Hop To Empower Young Women: A Workshop For Young Women
  Columbia College Institute for the Study of Women & Gender in the Arts & Media / Young Women's Action Team, Chicago, IL.
• Lecture: From hip hop to MySpace: Black girls' sexual scripts, self-definition & media production, Stanford Hip Hop Archive / African & African American Studies Department : The Hip Hop Lectures, Stanford, CA.

Photos

Above: Dr. Carla with 2007 HOTGIRLS Girls' Leadership Council High School Graduates
From left: Sesyli, Amber, Jakia, Jazzmyn, Dr. Carla, Aria

Dr. Carla's Photo Album