DC Community Forum on Crystal Meth

The DC Crystal Meth Working Group held an open town hall on February 26th entitled ‘The State of the Crystal Meth Epidemic in Washington DC’, which was co-sponsored by several community groups (additional pictures from this event are available on our flickr page).

A number of speakers emphasized the connections between crystal meth (methamphetamine) and new HIV infections in the District of Columbia.

Dr. Mariana Niemtzoff, Director of Behavioral Health Services for Whitman Walker, stated that last year 73% of the clients receiving treatment for amphetamine use were HIV positive. This is an increase from previous years where the rate was around 55%.

A notable frustration during the coarse of the evening was lack of data from DOH (deja vous?), which makes it hard to know what's really happening with Meth in DC.

On a personal note as a gay guy in DC, I found myself wanting to hear more about why this drug has taken hold in the gay men's community, and why despite having all of the information and fully understanding the consequences, gay men in DC still make bad decisions about meth, about sex, and about other risk behaviors.

I know that I sometimes make bad decisions (yes, there, I said it) when I'm lonely, when I'm insecure, when I'm depressed, when I don't have my friends around, when the guy I'm with is really hot, etc .... Lots of reasons.

And for me, the solution to the meth problem is not just having a doctor make sure you understand the medical consequences of meth, and not just having a prosecutor make sure you understand the legal consequences of the meth.

For me the solution has to be addressing the heart of the matter: why, at certain times in our lives, these consequences just don't seem to matter ... and we end up making bad decisions about alcohol, or crystal, or meth, or whatever ...

As gay men we continue to live in a society that doesn't fully value who we are. And let's face it, sometimes we don't fully value each other.

We rarely talk about how depression impacts the health of gay men. And even more rare our conversations about how we build more inclusive, welcoming, and loving environments to support gay men in the DC.

I'm really inspired by work done in other parts of the country around this. Manifest Love, a group of gay men finding new ways to be with and for each other, is one example of what I'm talking about. Check out the site.

At any rate, I think the forum Monday night was a good start, and I'm glad the Crystal Meth Working Group is going to continue to work on this issue.

The mission of the DC Crystal Meth Working Group is to provide information and resources to help people make informed decisions about crystal meth. For more information, visit www.letstalkaboutmeth.org.

March ACTION Newsletter Now Online

Just a quick note to let you know the ACTION March Newsletter is now online. See the March Newsletter as a PDF file right here. If you work for an HIV/AIDS service organization in DC, please print out copies to share with your clients.

And please be sure to join us for the March ACTION Lunch. Laura Otolski, a diettician from Food & Friends, will be talking about nutritional issues for people living with HIV. The lunch takes place on March 8th. The presentation begins at 1:00 PM at the DC CARE Consortium, 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 500.

click here to download the flyer for this event.

Lunch Provided. RSVP Required. To RSVP, click here.

C2EA Metro DC Meeting March 5th

The next C2EA Metro DC Meeting will be Monday, March 5th, 2007 at 6pm. We will meet at the Whitman-Walker Clinic's Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center (1701 R Street, NW). Now is a great time to get involved, so I hope you'll join us.

If you missed the last meeting or you're just coming on board, you can read the minutes from our last meeting here. And of course, if you're not already signed up, please be sure to Join the C2EA Metro DC Yahoo Group

Update: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day March 10th

New local events added - see below

March 10, 2007 marks the second annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day which seeks to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of women and girls.

This year's theme is "Taking Action to Save Our Lives".

Women and girls can take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS in a variety of ways such as getting tested for HIV, practicing safe methods to prevent HIV, deciding not to engage in high risk behaviors, talking about HIV prevention with family, friends and colleagues, empowering oneself, and providing support to those living with HIV/AIDS.

For more information click here.

Local Events

Friday, March 9th - 3:00- 5:00 pm @ Planned Parenthood of Washington (Ophelia Egypt Program Center) 3933 Minnesota Avenue, NE
The Ward 7 HIV/AIDS Collaborative will engage young women through a "For Sisters Only Chat & Chew" rap session which will provide an open forum for women to share their experiences, successes and challenges along their journey with HIV. Whether infected or affected, the stories of our women are powerful and motivational.

Friday, March 9th - 6:00- 9:00 pm @ Planned Parenthood of Washington (Ophelia Egypt Program Center) 3933 Minnesota Avenue, NE
The Ward 7 HIV/AIDS Collaborative will engage, motivate and educate the Ward 7 community-at-large at our Community Gathering/Awards Reception. This reception will honor David Catania, Vince Grey, Justine Love, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for their involvement in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

Onsite rapid oral HIV testing will be provided by Children's National Medical Center Family and Youth Connections, and Unity Health Care's Project Orion

NMAC Open House March 22nd

The National Minority AIDS Council invites you to their Open House Thursday, March 22nd, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. NMAC is located at 1931 13th Street, NW. NMAC will be giving a tour of their facility and providing information about their upcoming 20th Anniversary Gala. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. Space is limited, so for more information contact Michael Ludwig by e-mail or at 202 483-662 ext 361.

Fight HIV in DC Cafe Press Store

Hi all. I have a lot of stuff to blog about this week, but for now a quick note to let you know that I created a new Fight HIV in DC Cafe Press Store. I hope you'll buy a shirt and help raise awareness in the District. So far, there is only one shirt design that you can see below.

I love this design if I do say so myself. For me having the distressed DC map in the background is a powerful reminder of the need to take action right here, in every part of our city; in every one of our communities.

You can order a shirt right now. Also, if you're artistically inclined, it would be great to have you create your own t-shirt design for us. Just send the artwork my way and I'll add it to the Fight HIV in DC Cafe Press Store.

Taking it to the Streets

Check out this great video about Life Guard DC

Medical Marijuana for the District of Columbia

In my February 14th blog post, I encouraged us to recommit to two important political struggles for living with HIV/AIDS in the District now that Democrats are in control of Congress: making medical marijuana legal for HIV/AIDS patients who need it, and challenging the congressional ban which prevents our city from spending any of our own money on needle exchange programs to prevent HIV transmission. While the issue of of needle exchange remains relatively dead in the water, the push for medical marijuana seems to be picking up a little steam.

This week the Washington Blade published an article on the benefits of medical marijuana for HIV/AIDS patients. The same issue of the Blade has an op-ed by Bruce Mirken with this call to action:

"We can be silent no more. The gay community must speak up, and LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations — some of which have taken supportive positions on medical marijuana but few of which have done very much about it — must make this a high priority, now."

Bruce also points out that for patients being treated for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the results are even more dramatic. Here in DC, we have a lot of folks living with HCV and a lot of folks with both HIV and HCV. I have many friends who've been treated for HCV with interferon. And let me tell you, it can be incredibly difficult.

Here are the side effects as described by the CDC:

Most persons have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, fast heart rate) early in treatment, but these lessen with continued treatment. Later side effects may include tiredness, hair loss, low blood count, trouble with thinking, moodiness, and depression. Severe side effects are rare (seen in less than 2 out of 100 persons). These include thyroid disease, depression with suicidal thoughts, seizures, acute heart or kidney failure, eye and lung problems, hearing loss, and blood infection. Although rare, deaths have occurred due to liver failure or blood infection, mostly in persons with cirrhosis. An important side effect of interferon is worsening of liver disease with treatment, which can be severe and even fatal.

Can you imagine spending six months to a year of your life physically tired and mentally depressed? According to the CDC, fifteen percent of folks who start this treatment have to stop because they just can't handle the side effects. It's outrageous to me there is a drug out there that make this treatment easier for patients that is available in other parts of the world, but not to DC residents.

What can you do to fight this? Take action:

* Contact Bruce at the Marijuana Policy Project, and let him know you're a DC resident ready to get involved in this fight.

* Join the Campaign to End AIDS Metro DC Yahoo Group for information about local HIV/AIDS Activism

* Make sure HIV/AIDS organizations and other organizations you belong to have endorsed the use of medical marijuana, and share that information with MPP and C2EA.

* Register for AIDS Watch, where you'll be trained on how to lobby members of Congress. Help educate congress members on this issue.

* Contact members of the City Council Committee on Health and encourage them to show leadership on this issue.

DC Screening of Queen Latifah's Film: Life Support

E Street Cinema is hosting a viewing of the film 'Life Support' starring Queen Latifah on February 27th.

Life Support is a riveting story that examines the crises of HIV in the African-American community. Through the eyes of a survivor, Oscar-nominated Queen Latifah, plays an inspiring role as a mother, an ex-addict, and an AIDS activist.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters(D-CA) will give introductory remarks. And a panel discussion will take place afterwords.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

For more info, click here

Lunch Forum: Nutritional Issues for People Living with HIV

ACTION will sponsor a free lunch forum entitled 'Nutritional Issues for People Living with HIV' on March 8th, 2007. The presentation begins at 1:00 PM at the DC CARE Consortium, 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 500.

NEW!! download the flyer for this event here

What role should nutrition play in HIV treatment? What unique nutritional issues do people living with HIV face? Join us for a lunch presentation with Laura Otolski, a Community Diettician with Food & Friends. We will learn more about nutrition and have the opportunity to try new and different delicious and healthy foods during the lunch presentation.

Lunch Provided. RSVP Required. To RSVP, Click Here.

How You Can Help Life Guard

The LIFE GUARD program is looking for volunteers to help get the word out that free condoms are available in Washington, D.C.

LIFE GUARD is looking for volunteers to:

1) Help attach condoms onto LIFE GUARD promotional post cards this Wednesday, February 21 from 6:00 - 9:30 p.m. at 1919 16th St NW (Corner of Caroline & 16th Streets, the entrance is on Caroline St.)

2) Pass out postcards and condoms on the Metro this Thursday, between 6 - 11:00 a.m.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering for one or both of these options should contact Tim Sevilla, Volunteer Coordinator for The Condom Project at 201-803-6643 e-mail cesarsevilla[a]gmail.com.

LIFE GUARD empowers communities to create non-traditional and comprehensive condom distribution systems that rely on the involvement of peer-to-peer social networks, local businesses, and community-based organization outreach services. The program aims to make condoms accessible by providing free condoms in overlooked communities, 24 hours a day.

Currently, the program makes condoms accessible at two locations, providing free condoms 24 hours a day. We have distributed over 3,500 LIFE GUARD packs (7000 condoms) since the program launched on 11/28/2006.

www.lifeguarddc.org.

What Should Go in the Toolbox?

I'm still working away on the four month plan I put out on December 3rd, 2006. A lot of things on the list are already done. The site has moved to www.fighthivindc.org, I've incorporated the google ads, and I've added a number of guest bloggers to our arsenal.

And our Campaign to End AIDS Metro DC List has grown from 15 to 46. There is still a way to go before we reach the goal of 100, but I'm sure we can do it.

And this weekend I spent sometime working on the 'download center', which I have nicknamed the Fight HIV in DC Toolbox. The goal is to make this an easy-to-access guide for general information about HIV/AIDS in DC, and to include PDF fliers when possible so information can be downloaded and shared easily with folks who aren't online as often.

So I ask you, what should go in the toolbox. Currently I've listed information about HIV/AIDS support groups and HIV/AIDS retreats. I hope to add an advocacy section with guides to the CPG, Planning Council, School Board Advocacy, and more. I'd like to add information on local testing sites and condom distribution sites. But I'd also like to hear from visitors to the site. What information would be usefull to you? What would you like to see in the toolbox? Check out the work-in-progress right here and let me know what you think.

And while you're at it, let me know what goals you would like to see in the next four month plan.

Nasty

The Washington Post has a disturbing article about a Montgomery County Schools invited abstinence-only-until-marriage speaker who gave students the following lessons on love:

"To demonstrate how sexually transmitted diseases are spread, a visiting speaker invited students to share gum in health classes at four county high schools in December and last month. School officials said a total of about 100 students participated in the lessons, although some declined to chew the gum."

Teaching about communicable diseases by spreading them? This is evidence that abstinence-only-until-marriage advocates care more about promoting their religious values than they do about preventing disease.

HAA Condom Distribution Plan Relies Heavily on Volunteers

The city of DC began to make good on it's goal of distributing a million condoms in the District of Columbia on Friday. The Washington Post reports that 250,000 have been 'deployed' across the city. But what exactly does 'deployment' mean?

Well, almost half of these condoms, 120,000 to be exact, went to Lifeguard DC, an entirely volunteer effort to distribute condoms where they are needed across the city. This number of condoms is approximately seventeen times the total number of condoms LifeGuard DC has given away since the organization came into existence. I greatly admire the hardwork of Lifeguard DC, but I can't help but wonder if this volunteer effort will be able to distribute all these condoms before they expire. And while I applaud the DOH moving forward on this initiative, but I'm suprised to see a well funded city agency relying on a small group of volunteers to do the bulk of the work.

Where did the other condoms go? District agencies including the HIV/AIDS Administration, have 27,300. And the rest are were given to local HIV/AIDS and commnity health organizations:

* 25,000 to Whiltman Walker Clinic
* 11,000 to the Community Education Group
* 11,000 to Us Helping Us
* 10,000 to Unity Health Care
* 8,000 to Georgetown Kids Mobile Unit
* 8,000 to Sasha Bruce Youthwork
* 6,000 to Family Connection/Children's Hospital
* 5,000 to DOH Addiction Prevention & Recovery Administration
* 3,500 to Howard University Student Health Services
* 3,000 to Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive
* 2,500 to Family & Medical Counseling
* 2,000 to Efforts (ex-cons outreach)
* 2,000 to Metro Teen AIDS
* 1,500 to Abundant Life
* 1,500 to Different Avenues
* 1,500 to So Others Might Eat (SOME)
* 1,000 to Our Place
* 200 to Rock Creek Academy

It's a good start. What matters most, however, is geting the condoms in the hands of the folks who need them.

Metro Teen AIDS Winter Wine Event

Join Metro Teen AIDS for their fourth annual Winter Wine Event. This year's event takes place on Monday, February 26, 2007 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at the Hotel Tabard Inn.

It's a great opportunity to enjoy an evening with friends learning more about wine and supporting a worthy cause. Just remember the five S's of wine tasting and you'll look like a pro (Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Swish and Spit/Swallow). To buy your tickets click here.

Not while the Republicans are in Control

It's no secret that many of the things DC residents want to do to improve our lives and our city end up getting messed up, delayed, or just plain blocked by Congress. DC is not like any other city in the United States. Congress controls our money and exerts extraordinary control over how we spend it.

When it comes to HIV/AIDS in the District, Congressional interference has had dire consequences.

First, despite overwhelming evidence that needle-exchange programs are an effective HIV prevention strategy, Congress prevents DC from spending any money for needle exchange. This means that unlike any other city in the country hit by the epidemic, we can't even spend our own city funds to support needle-exchange programs. Our only needle exchange program operates without any government money.

Second, Congress has prevented DC residents from deciding for themselves whether or not they support Medical Marijuana for HIV patients who would benefit from that treatment. Yet another study released today shows Medical Marijuana can benefit people living with HIV/AIDS. A few years ago we had a ballot initiative on this issue, and DC Voters supported the use of Medical Marijuana, yet we have been unable to move forward on this issue because of Congress.

For several years now, when you brought up either of these topics, way too many folks would politely nod and inevitably reply "If only the Republicans weren't in control of Congress". At times it felt like too easy of an excuse for not continuing to stand up and speak out about these two issues.

So I would like to point out to everyone in the District who has ever utterred those words: The Republicans aren't in control of Congress anymore. What are we going to do about it now?

I'm glad to see that the Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance continues to include both of these issues in their Legislative Agenda. We need more organizations in DC taking action on needle exchange and medical marijuana. Now is the time.

April ACTION Lunch: The State of HIV Vaccine Development with Dr. Barney Graham

Join us April 12th at 1:00 PM for the monthly ACTION lunch presentation at the DC CARE Consortium, 1156 15th Street, Suite 500, Washington DC. DC CARE is located at the corner of 15th and M Streets, and is closest to the McPherson Metro Stop.

Where are we in the search for a safe, effective HIV Vaccine? Dr. Barney Graham (pictured left) will discuss the current state of HIV Vaccine research, focusing on the work done locally at the NIH Vaccine Research Center. Read more about Dr. Graham and the work of the VRC right here.

To RSVP for this event, click here.

Articles on DOH/HAA Restructuring

There have been several recent articles about the restructuring of the HIV/AIDS Administration at the Department of Health. As most of you know, Gregg Pane, who is the head of the Department of Health, has also appointed himself as the interim Director of HAA. In this Washington Blade Article, Pane clarifies that they do plan to hire a director in the next 30-60 days.

Articles have also appeared in The Examiner, the NBC 4 Website, and of course I'm quoted in this article that appears in Metro Weekly, where they referenced previous blog posts about Gregg Pane.

I've received a lot of positive feedback from the Metro Weekly article, and a little negative feedback. Let me just say this about the article. When it comes to HIV/AIDS, DC ranks as one of the worst cities in the country, if not the world. Things are not going well, and to say otherwise at this point, is unconscionable. As long as I know in my heart that we can do better, I will be the guy in the back of the room standing up and saying those very words as loud as I can. Why? Because we can do better.

I hope those of you who believe that will join the Metro DC Campaign to End AIDS. Together, we can make a difference.

Capital Pride: June 9th - 10th

The Capital Pride Parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 9th, and the Festival for Sunday, June 10th. More information will be posted on the Capital Pride website in the near future: www.capitalpride.org.

Washington Post Columnist Examines Washington, D.C., Program Aimed at Curbing Spread of HIV Among Injection Drug Users

Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy on Wednesday examined PreventionWorks! -- a privately funded needle-exchange program in Washington, D.C., that aims to curb the spread of HIV among injection drug users in the city. According to the district's Administration for HIV Policy and Programs, injection drug use is the second leading mode of HIV transmission among men in the district, and it is the leading mode of transmission among women, Milloy writes. PreventionWorks! was launched in 1998 and provides counseling, treatment referrals and HIV tests to IDUs. Last year, the program had a budget of $600,000, all of which was donated. The program is run by Ron Daniels, four staff members and a group of volunteers, who visit 12 cites in the district six days weekly. Last year, the program provided 1,963 IDUs with access to educational materials, treatment referrals and clean needles. According to Milloy, the district has an estimated 9,700 IDUs. "The needle exchange is just the beginning," Daniels said, adding, "We use the syringe to engage in conversations with those people nobody wants to talk to. We believe in meeting people where they are, treating them like human beings and helping them avoid catching and spreading diseases"

May 25-28: Quality of Life Retreat for People Living with HIV/AIDS

The next retreat takes places May 25th-28th in Frederick, MD

The Quality of Life Retreat program began in 1988. Since then over sixty-two retreats have been conducted.

The retreats are a connecting and coping experience for persons living with HIV/AIDS. It is a chance to get away, to get together, to interact and to learn the techniques and attitudes that are effective in dealing with the issues of long-term survival.

The program includes workshops that focus on self-acceptance, spiritual empowerment, stigmas, mental health, and maintaining quality of life. There will be workshops, entertainment, singing, prayer, and a healing services. Participants support each other through a Prayer-Buddy System. The group may also design a Talent Show. The retreat is limited to 40 participants and is offered to persons living with HIV/AIDS. The program is ecumenical and opent to individuals of all faiths, religions, and beliefs.

The retreats have four objects:

• To provide a safe, loving environment in which participants can be fully themselves, free of fears and inhibitions, and can deal openly with their deeest concerns.
• To offer spiritual, practical, educational and health resources to those whose lives have been, are and will be affected personally by HIV infection.
• To listen to what HIV infected persons have to say about their journeys.
• To offer and develop a viable model of how the religious community can make a compassionate and effective response to this crisis.

The ultimate goal is to provide retreats that will be a connecting and coping experience for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

The next retreat will take place May 25-28 at the Mar-Lu Conference Center, on Catoctin Ridge in Frederick County, MD.

For more information visit www.qualityofliferetreatshiv.org

Celebrate with Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry at IMAGINE 2007 - April 28, 2007

Join the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM) in celebrating their 20th anniversary at the annual IMAGINE gala event, held Saturday, April 28. Host a pre-party with your friends and family and then meet up with guests from over 50 other private parties at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria. Guests will enjoy fabulous desserts, cocktails, dancing, live entertainment and the opportunity to bid on fantastic live and silent auction items. It's a very fun night in support of an amazing cause.

Please contact Regan Davis at rdavis@novam.org or 703-533-5505 x13 if you are interested in hosting a pre-party or attending the event, or would like information on volunteer opportunities to ensure the evening goes off without a hitch.

New Interim Director for LGBT Affairs

Longtime DC LGBT advocate Christopher Dyer has been appointed as the new Interim Director for LGBT Affairs for the Fenty Administration. I can't imagine anyone else who deserves this more than Chris, and I'm thrilled that he has this opportunity.

Chris is currently an ANC Rep for ANC 2F03. He is the founder of Youth Pride Day and the Youth Pride Alliance. He was a 2006 officer of the Gertrude Stein Democrats. He is also actively involved in the Crystal Meth Working Group. He has raised money for many DC LGBT organizations including SMYAL and has been active in many other local efforts including Capital Pride, which earned him a volunteer award from Whitman-Walker Clinic.

Mayor Fenty is lucky to have Christopher Dyer on board. You can read the official press release right here.

Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

New! Download these documents:

C2EA-MetroDC National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Flyer

Ward 7 National Black HIV/AIDS Day Media Advisory

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information Day (NBHAAD). This annual observance day was created to raise awareness among African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on African American communities. The day is part of a national mobilization effort to get African Americans to learn more about the threat posed by the disease, get tested, get treated and make a commitment to fight HIV/AIDS.

NBHAAD is a day to remember those infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic-especially African Americans who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Since 1981 when the first cases were diagnosed, AIDS has killed more than 20 million people, with African Americans accounting for 40 percent of those deaths.

To learn more about the coalition, visit www.blackaidsday.org.

Washington DC Events

Keeping it Real: Youth HIV Rap Session at Eastern Senior High School. 11:30-12:30 PM. Sponsored by the Ward 7 HIV/AIDS Collaborative

Counseling and Testing at Riverside CenterCounseling and Testing available from 3:30 to 5:00 PM. Located at Marvin Gaye Park – 5200 Foote Street, NE. Sponsored by the Ward 7 HIV/AIDS Collaborative.

Community Gathering/Awards Reception: The Ward 7 HIV/AIDS Collaborative will host a reception from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Planned Parenthood Ophelia Egypt Program Center, 3933 Minnesota Avenue, NE.

The Max Robinson Center Open House: The Max Robinson Center, located at 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E., will hold an open house from 3-5 p.m. for the local community to learn about health care services available there.

Whitman Walker Clinic Reception: Whitman-Walker Clinic will hold a community reception at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave., S.E., at 6:30 p.m. The event will include a presentation of a $150,000 donation to Whitman-Walker Clinic by DC Chartered Health, HIV testing and music and refreshments.

Northern Virginia Event: The Alexandria Health Department along with Whitman-Walker of Arlington, K. I. Services, NOVAM, Positive Livin' and INOVA Juniper will host an education/information event which will include opportunities for testing and counseling, in recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The event will be held Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street in the "Olde Towne" section of Alexandria, VA. For more info, please e-mail dakween2@yahoo.com.

Howard University Student Calls for a Semester of Abstinence

Howard University student Carl Miller has a noble goal. He wants to encourage his fellow students to know their HIV status, be informed about HIV/AIDS, and have serious dialogue about HIV/AIDS in the African American community. A noble goal especially considering tomorrow is: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day,

His approach, however, is a little unusual. Miller is calling for "A Semester of Abstinence and Advocacy".

"Howard, we have a problem and it can't be ignored," Carl Miller, a graduate student and social worker, said. "Student leaders and the entire Howard campus need to take up the responsibility of protecting future generations from the issues that we face today."

If the semester of abstinence is a gimmick to get folks talking on campus, I'm all for it. If it's a serious strategy for preventing HIV transmission among sexually active college students, well then it's pretty much a joke.

Every credible piece of research out their prooves: "comprehensive sex education, which teaches both abstinence and contraception, is most effective for young people. Youth who receive this kind of education are more likely to initiate sexual activity later in life and use protection correctly and consistently when they do become sexually active."

Read the original article here

DC HIV/AIDS Groups: Apply for this Money!

DC HIV/AIDS Organizations have an incredible opportunity to apply for funds to do awareness around HIV Vaccine Research in DC.

Organizations can apply for up to $35,000 per year for a period of two years and four months (March 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009). The NIH/NIAID/DAIDS initiative is being made available through a subcontract with AED.

Here's the thing. The bulk of this grant involves doing events for AIDS Vaccine Awareness Day. Here in DC, the VRC and Capital Area Vaccine Effort. are already making plans for AIDS Vaccine Awareness Day (read more about our plans here).

The Capital Area Vaccine Effort can't apply for this money because they are not a 501C-3, but we'll be more than happy to work with whatever DC organization gets this grant.

Heck, I can even meet with you and help you write the grant. Just apply for the money. The deadline is coming up February 16th, and despite my best efforts, I haven't been able to get any local AIDS Service organizations to submit a proposal yet.

If you're interested, please contact me ASAP.

Read the full RFP right here.

C2EA-MetroDC Update

Campaign to End AIDS Metro DC met last monday and had our best turnout ever for a meeting. C2EA-MetroDC has joined the call to action for an HIV/AIDS state of emergency in DC. We submitted this letter to Mayor Adrian Fenty via snail mail & e-mail which calls for a state of emergency and requests a meeting with the Mayor's office.

You can read the minutes from our last meeting here. And please be sure to join us for our next meeting on February 12th, starting at 6:00 PM at Housing Works (925 15th Street NW, 2nd Floor, McPherson Square Metro).

Members of C2EA-MetroDC will be at various National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Events across the city getting the word out. Dorithia & I will set up a table and hand out info at the The Ward 7 HIV/AIDS Collaborative Reception from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Planned Parenthood Ophelia Egypt Program Center, 3933 Minnesota Avenue, NE. If you'd like to join us, just let me know.

Thirty Three Days and Counting. Where's our AIDS Czar?

A while back in a previous post, I asked the question, Does that leave us with Gregg Pane (pictured left) as our new AIDS Czar/DOH head?.

To clarify, that was a rhetorical question and the answer is NO! Because obviously nobody can be the head of the Department of Health and a full time AIDS Czar simultaneously.

I regret the wording, however, because I see the Examiner has set the dangerous precedent of referring to Gregg Pane as the AIDS Czar in a recent article. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Let me make a couple points about this article that need to be said.

First, as head of the Department of Health, Gregg Pane has been the man ultimately responsible for the operations of the HIV/AIDS Administration ever since he was first appointed as Acting Director in August of 2004. Nothing has changed in this regard.

Second, nobody can simultaneously hold two full-time jobs. Gregg Pane simply can't be both a full time head of the DOH and a full time AIDS Czar. He needs to hire a full time, competent and qualified individual to assume leadership of the HIV/AIDS Administration. He simply is not going to be able to accomplish part-time what others have failed to accomplish full-time.

Third, the goals Pane has set for the HIV/AIDS Administration are nothing new. In fact, they are terribly similar to many of the goals laid out by Marsha Martin. We had a previous goal of distributing a million condoms, which we did not meet (Pane's new goal is lowered to 250,000). We had a previous goal for HIV testing which we did not meet.

The challenge is not setting goals, the challenge is in actually accomplishing them; a view that was eloquently stated by Raymond Blanks in his op-ed Between Promises and Performance.

I seriously doubt we can do this without a full time, dedicated Director for the HIV/AIDS Administration. Thirty three days and counting. Where's our AIDS Czar?

NAPWA Hiring Local Advocates for People Living with HIV

The National Association of People with AIDS has received funding from the DC HIV/AIDS Administration (previously known as AHPP, they've changed their name again!) to create a Consumer Advocacy Project for people living with HIV/AIDS in our Title 1 area. Interested? Here's the job description:

"Consumer Advocates work as an extension of NAPWA professional staff to provide outreach to the Washington DC Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) PLWH/A community to help consumers access and maintain Title I services. Consumer Advocates participate in workshops, meetings, events and education for HIV/AIDS services. Duties associated with the position include presenting Title I program related information to HIV + persons across the metropolitan area, including the consumer grievance process, assisting at health fairs/events, assisting with office work, along with other duties as they arise during the Consumer Advocacy Project. Comprehensive training will be provided to familiarize consumer advocates with the Ryan White services available to PLWH/A in the DC EMA, outreach materials, and the consumer grievance resolution process

Consumer Advocates are paid, hourly stipend positions, trained and supervised by NAPWA professional staff. Consumer advocates will report to the Director of Community Affairs, the Community Affairs Associate, or designated NAPWA Staff."

To read the entire job description click here

To download the application click here

Inspired Yoga Lends a Hand to Food and Friends

Throughout the month of February, Food and Friends will be the beneficiary of Inspired Yoga's community classes. These classes are taught on a rotating basis by teachers who are new to teaching. Community Classes are open for all experience levels and are offered on a donation basis. Pay what you can or use your Inspired Yoga class pass. 50 percent of all proceeds will be given to Food and Friends all month long. These classes are meant to encourage and enable anyone interested in yoga to experience its many gifts while helping others.

Learn more about Inspired Yoga's Community Classes by visiting www.inspiredyoga.com/community.htm