The Block Party  

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The Block Party   *

Group of seven diverse people smiling and posing for a photo outdoors at an event, with blue tents in the background.

The SHER Lab Annual Block Party event brings together a variety of local organizations and volunteers determined to make a wide variety of community resources accessible, such as:

STI testing, health screenings, comprehensive sex education, information on sexual and domestic violence prevention and advocacy, and more.

The ultimate goal is that individuals can make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being. 

Close-up of a hand holding a small, dark stone with the words 'Here for You' written on it, decorated with small pastel-colored stars.

Our Purpose

As a coalition, we are deeply committed to proactive and preventative outreach related to sexual, reproductive, and community health in Louisiana. We strive to deliver accessible, affirming care and education to all—regardless of race, gender, sexuality, HIV status, disability, immigration status, cultural identity, income, or housing status.

A colorful spin wheel with sections labeled 'Reassurance,' 'STIs,' 'Pregnancy,' 'Birth Control,' 'Consent,' and 'Rubber' on a table at an outdoor event. The table has informational brochures, markers, and snacks. Part of a person is visible, reaching toward the wheel.

April 5th, 2025

2025 Block Party Highlights

Made possible by the dedication of 20 volunteers and 30+ community organizations and governmental programs

Health Services, Education, and Rights By the Numbers

A table with three columns labeled 'Number Served,' 'Service,' and 'Partner Organization(s).' The rows detail various health and social services provided to different numbers of people, with partner organizations listed for each service.

250 participants from 21 unique area codes!

Community Partner Highlights

A table displaying a variety of books on topics including sexuality, body image, gender identity, puberty, relationships, and social issues. The books feature colorful covers and some titles are partially visible, such as 'YOU KNOW THIS BOOK IS GAY,' 'CAN WE TALK ABOUT CONSENT?,' and 'PUBERTY IS GROSS.'
A light blue whiteboard with the word 'CONSENT' written at the top, decorated with three sticky notes; one pink with the word 'enthusiastic!' and a smiley face, a yellow one with 'active + on-going', and a faintly visible white card underneath.

  • Hosted sexual health trivia

    Distributed information on local testing site locations and initiatives on sexual education facilitation and curriculum development for local educators

    For more information, visit nola.gov/sexualhealth. 

  • Provided information on HIV testing, linkage to care, and support services

    For more information about ViiV Healthcare: https://viivhealthcare.com/

    For more information about Bounce 2 Zero: https://bouncetozero.com/

  • 50 individuals signed up to receive resources on on supporting people impacted by crime after conviction

    To learn more visit: https://healingjusticeproject.org/

  • Distributed resources on housing rights and access

    Learn more at: https://jpnsi.org/

  • Provided information on local sexual health legislation and pathways for civic action

    Learn more at: https://www.lacch.org/

  • Distributed information on accessing local doula services and supplemental resources for parents and caregivers

    learn more at: https://www.birthmarkdoulas.com/

  • Detailed the rights of survivors of sexual violence in an accessible way

    Learn more about the New Orleans Family Justice Center: https://www.nofjc.org

    Learn more about Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR): https://star.ngo

  • Provided information on the rights of families with incarcerated parents

    For more information about Daughters Beyond Incarceration: https://www.dbinola.org

2026 Block Party Lead

Mel Manuel is the Director of Operations at the Louisiana Abortion Fund, where they have spent the past two years managing LAAF’s operations, IT systems, and annual events. 

As Co-Director of Queer Northshore, an LGBTQ nonprofit with over 3,500 members, Mel has organized more than 210 community events (including the first two PRIDE parades in St. Tammany Parish) alongside political actions, fundraisers, and a research partnership with Southeastern Louisiana University over the past three years. 

A former public school teacher of 15 years and Louisiana’s first openly transgender congressional candidate, Mel continues to dedicate their work to justice, care, and collective liberation. In their spare time, they spin poi and are working towards building an intentional, LGBTQ-friendly community grounded in nonviolence and anti-capitalism.

For more information please reach out to Mel Manuel at mel@louisianaabortionfund.org

Click to learn more about our impact!

Announcement poster for a report on sexual health, education, and rights titled 'Block Party,' scheduled for July 20, 2024, with an orange background and bold purple and white text.
Event poster for New Orleans' 2nd Annual Sexual Health, Education & Rights Block Party on April 5, 2025, hosted by The Sher Lab.

Lets work together