Please Join Call On Friday With The White House

Last fall, the Office of National AIDS Policy asked Americans to give us their ideas for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which is currently being developed and will be released in the coming months. From the beginning, ONAP recognized that community input would be important for our National HIV/AIDS Strategy development, so we hosted 14 community discussions and meetingshttp://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/onap/events throughout the United States, launched an online portal for Americans to send us their recommendations, and held a number of meetings here at the White House concerning specific issues important to the community. We received responses from nearly every state and U.S. territory, from people affected by or living with HIV, from men, women, and transgender individuals, from young and old, and from respondents of various racial/ethnic backgrounds, and sexual orientation.

The Community Discussion Report that summarizes the public input we received will be released this Friday. We’d like to invite you to a short briefing conference call with ONAP Director Jeff Crowley and Senior Policy Director Greg Millett to provide an overview of the Community Discussion Report on FRIDAY, APRIL 9, at 2:00 PM (Eastern). The conference call number is (877) 941-2935.

Job Openings @ NMAC Health Policy Writer & Senior Policy Analyst

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) has two job openings: 1) Health Policy Writer & 2) Senior Policy Analyst. We are looking to hire individuals with a strong knowledge of health policy and HIV/AIDS and a commitment to progressive social change. You must have the passion to change the world and the skills to make it happen.

Health Policy Writer
National Minority AIDS Council
Washington, D.C.

The National Minority AIDS Council is seeking an outstanding writer for print and online projects ranging from speeches, columns and op-eds to blog posts and policy reports. The Health Policy Writer will be able to craft compelling material that will move the audience to action, basing the writing on policy positions, polling and other data and message templates. You must have the passion to change the world and the skills to make it happen.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Technical Skills

• Translate complicated subject matter into compelling and interesting presentations.
• Locate obscure information/details to support facts in speeches and talking points.
• Articulate goals, programs and direction of the National Minority AIDS Council in clear and concise manner.
• Write a variety of advocacy and policy materials, for print and online use, that move the audience to take action.
• Rewrite or over-write additional materials as assigned.
• Use social media tools and contacts with progressive social media community to extend message reach.
• Contribute creatively to message framing, audience targeting, campaign planning, etc. and execute print and online products.
• Keep the director fully informed on a regular basis on issues affecting all project work.
• Prepare and submit regular and ad hoc reports on activities as required.
  

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in English or related field
• Strong knowledge of health policy and HIV/AIDS and the movement for progressive social change.
• Minimum of 4 years writing for social advocacy group.
• Demonstrated experience integrating messaging in social media outreach such as Twitter and Facebook.
• Involvement in the social media community.
• Ability to exercise excellent political judgment and discretion.
• Dependability and experience working in a team-oriented environment.
• Excellent research, reporting and writing skills and engaging writing style.
• Demonstrated success in writing a range of advocacy materials including op-eds, speeches, etc.
• Ability to cultivate sources and understand and translate nuances.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple competing and urgent responsibilities efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to adjust tones and capture different voices.
  

Three (3) Writing Samples Required - Must include a speech and an op-ed.

People of color and women are encouraged to apply.

Please send a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications for the position, a resume, and the requested writing samples to the contact listed below:

Human Resources
National Minority AIDS Council
1931 13th St NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
FAX: (202)202-483-1135
EMAIL: info@nmac.org

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Senior Policy Analyst (Federal)
National Minority AIDS Council
1931 13th St NW
Washington DC 20009

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) is seeking an outstanding policy analyst to work on federal affairs. The Senior Policy Analyst will work to develop and implement NMAC’s federal policy positions and strategies on a range of issues; represent NMAC in meetings with federal policymakers and administration staff; develop a variety of written materials; track relevant federal legislation; organize hill briefings and other events; and contribute to the overall work of the Policy Division. You must have the passion to change the world and the skills to make it happen.

Description of Duties

Technical Skills

• Translate complicated subject matter into effective policies
• Develop strategies to achieve these policies
• Articulate policy goals for NMAC in a clear and concise manner
• Represent NMAC in meetings with hill and Administration staff
• Provide technical assistance to federal policymakers and staff
• Represent NMAC at select coalition meetings
• Cultivate relationships with federal policy staff, researchers, other experts, and coalition partners
• Draft federal policy briefs, testimony, report language, and other written materials
• Track relevant federal legislation, activities of federal agencies, and projects and initiatives of other national organizations
• Organize hill briefings and other events
• Prepare responses to time sensitive media opportunities and write content for the NMAC website
• Garner visibility for NMAC’s policy issues through presentations at conferences and meetings
• Contribute to grant proposals and reports to funders
• Contribute creatively to message framing, audience targeting, campaign planning, etc.
• Keep the director fully informed on a regular basis on issues affecting all project work
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy or related field preferred
• Understanding of health policy and HIV/AIDS and the movement for progressive social change
• Demonstrated success working on passage of federal legislation
• Knowledge of the Administration
• Minimum of 4 years working for social justice at the federal level
• Ability to exercise excellent political judgment and discretion
• Dependability and experience working in a team-oriented environment.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple competing and urgent responsibilities efficiently and effectively
• Ability to understand and translate nuances
• Demonstrated ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables
• Ability to travel, including overnight stays
  

Three (3) Writing Samples Required - Must include a policy briefing and an op-ed.

People of color and women are encouraged to apply.

Please send a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications for the position, a resume, and the requested writing samples to the contact listed below:

Human Resources
National Minority AIDS Council
1931 13th St NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
FAX: (202)202-483-1135
EMAIL: info@nmac.org

Help Haitian Orphans Living With HIV

I am sure that like me, you are saddened and shocked by the devastation in Haiti. Among the most vulnerable are orphans affected by HIV/AIDS who already face daily hardships and challenges. Fortunately, our friends athttp://www.wecanbuildanorphanage.com in Jacmel, Haiti have been leading the way in providing a loving home to 13 children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Their co-Founder Luke Montgomery informed me moments ago that thankfully all 13 children survived the recent earthquake. However, their home was destroyed and the children and caregivers were left on the street with no possessions.

Luke and his compassionate friends have created the web sitehttp://www.earthquakeorphans.com to raise emergency funds for these children to ensure that they can rebuild their home and receive the medical care, clothing and other supplies needed to maintain their health and safety..

If you are moved to contribute, your funds will not go to One Heartland, rather they will go directly to the charity "Wecanbuildanorphanage.com"

While we are separated by distance and language, we have a sense of shared humanity with the Haitian people. I am hopeful our friends in Jacmel can rebuild soon so these children are assured of a much brighter future.

Client Support Group

Every Monday at 1pm, starting February 1st.

PreventionWorks!
2501 Benning Rd NE

This support group is open to anyone living with HIV, not just PW! clients.
This is a group for those living with HIV who would like to come out and share their experiences, encouragement, and knowledge. Refreshments will be served.

Contact: Sabrina Tate (202-684-3532) or Emanuel Simmons (202-684-3515)

HIV Working Group to Discuss Medical Marijuana

The next meeting of The DC Center's HIV Working Group takes place Wednesday January 20th at 7:00 PM at the new location of The DC Center, 1810 14th St, NW. This months meeting will include a presentation and discussion on medical marijuana, HIV/AIDS, and the District of Columbia.

Wayne Turner will be our guest speaker. Wayne Turner spearheaded a referendum on medical marijuana in DC more than a decade ago. The measure was approved by DC voters, but Congress put on a rider, prohibiting the city from implementing the law, and renewed that rider every year -- until this current budget year. With the federal restrictions gone, Wayne will discuss why medical marijuana is an important issue to people living with HIV/AIDS in the District, and how this issue may move forward.

  

POZ Party Featured on WAMU

WAMU has a story up on the weekly POZ Party at Motley Bar.

Its called POZ: thats P-O-Z. Its creator, a party promoter named Jacob Pring, has himself been POZ for six years, and says dating can be difficult once guys learn you have HIV. He has a boyfriend now, but he says "over the course of six years, I've been turned down like 20 times because of the issue of being HIV [positive]," says Pring.

Pring says he aims to erase the stigma of being HIV- positive by giving POZ guys a chance to mingle and be themselves. Or as one regular attendee, David, puts it: "basically, to meet other people who are positive without having to worry about the whole disclosure thing that you normally have to when you're at a bar."

In fact, even POZ's DJs are POZ. Though negative folks are welcome too, like Cale Shah, a bartender who says he finds the mixer downright inspiring.

"Everyone's having a good time," says Shah. "They have a better outlook on life, and it rubs off on you."

read or here the story online at WAMU

CAVE Meeting and Protocol Review January 13th

The next CAVE meeting will take place January 13th at 6:30 PM at the DC Center, 1810 14th St, NW. Our meetings normally take place the second Wednesday of each month.

One of the roles of CAVE is to review protocols for new HIV vaccine studies and to provide input to the researchers from a community perspective.  We will be reviewing a protocol for the Military HIV Working Group in January.  If you've never done anything like this, don't worry.  The meeting will include an overview of how to review protocols.

CAVE is the community advisory board for the Vaccine Research Center and the US Military HIV Research Program. Capital Area Vaccine Effort is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS. CAVE is organized to assist and advise AIDS vaccine trials in the metropolitan DC area.  For more information visit www.aidsvaccine.org.

Save-the-Date for NMAC’s December Stakeholder Call

Thursday, December 10th at 1:00 PM (Eastern)/10:00 AM (Pacific)

Save the date for the National Minority AIDS Council’s (NMAC’s) December Stakeholder Call on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. EST/ 10:00 AM Pacific, featuring guest speaker Jeff Crowley the Director of National AIDS Policy at the White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/onap/staff/crowley. The call in number is 1-605-475-6333; code: 481162. You may e-mail your questions to info@nmac.org or send them through Twitter: http://twitter.com/NMACCommunity

Due to the large number of participants expected, the call will be a dialogue between Jeff and myself. We’ve asked Jeff to update us on the National AIDS Strategy.

>From 2000-2009, Jeff was a Senior Research Scholar at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute and a Senior Scholar at the University’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. His primary areas of focus involved Medicaid and Medicare policy issues as they impact people with disabilities and chronic conditions, including people with HIV/AIDS. Prior to this, he served as the Deputy Executive Director for Programs at the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), overseeing the organization’s public education, community development, and training activities. He is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Swaziland from 1989-1991, and is a member of the National Academy for Social Insurance (NASI).

Mr. Crowley holds a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College.

The call will be limited to the first 200 participants. I am so sorry that we ran out of space last time. The call will be recorded and podcast on NMAC’s web site at a later date.

Facing AIDS: World AIDS Day 2009

This World AIDS Day, www.aids.gov invited folks from around the country to upload pictures of themselves and share how they are facing AIDS.

You can view the responses of DC residents here: Facing AIDS: Washington DC Flickr Photos.

You can view the picture responses from across the country here: Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day.

Thanks to everyone who came out and made World AIDS Day a success this year.

DC World AIDS Day 2009

Today is World AIDS Day. Below is some of the many events happening across the city. For those on twitter, please mark World AIDS Day by telling us what you are doing to Fight HIV in DC at: #fighthivindc. Flickr uses are encouraged to upload pictures of their events to our Fight HIV in DC Flickr Group Page. You can also post information about your World AIDS Day Events on the Fight HIV in DC Facebook Page.

DC World AIDS Day Breakfast: Keeping the Promise, Investing in the Future: Linking HIV/AIDS, Food Security, and Maternal and Child Health: find out more about this event

DC World AIDS Day Lunch: HIV Vaccine Research: A New Chapter (with Dr. Tony Fauci, NIH) more information about this event.

DC World AIDS Day Protest: DC Fights Back 'Systems Failure' World AIDS Day March/Rally: more information about this event.

DC World AIDS Day Reception: Our Heroes Photo Exhibit: more information about this event.

DC World AIDS Day Volunteer Opportunity: Packing Party at Motley Bar: more information about this event.

DC World AIDS Day After Party: Poz Guys & their Allies are invited to come out to the next POZ Party at Motley Bar (every tuesday at 9:00 PM). more information about this event.

If I missed your event please add it by adding a comment to this post.

The World Bank Supports Metro Teen AIDS

The World Bank Supports Metro Teen AIDS

Wed, December 2nd
6-9pm

L2 Lounge: 3315 Cady's Alley NW
(between 33rd and 34th off of M Street)

Appearances by Washington Redskins and Washington Capitals, Silent Auction, Music, Dancing, complementary hors d'œuvre, and drink specials.

World Bank Staff - Free with their E-give Receipt
Non-Bank Staff- $15.00 at the door (open to all)

Questions? aniknia@worldbank.org

WAD Events at the Georgetown University School of Medicine

Join us for World AIDS Day events Monday November 30th and Tuesday December 1st

Monday, November 30th

- 12:00pm Courage & Hope, Preclinical Sciences Bldg. GA2-4

Join GMAAN and IHIG for a 15 minute viewing of the award-winning World Bank documentary Courage & Hope: African Teachers Living Positively with HIV, followed by a discussion with one of the amazing women featured in the film - Beldina Atieno - a mother and school teacher from Kenya living with HIV. Lunch provided.

- 1-4:00pm Rapid HIV Testing, Preclinical Sciences Bldg. GE6/GE8

Free and confidential HIV testing by volunteers from the Whitman Walker clinic. Heed the advice you give your patients and take 20 minutes to know your status.

Tuesday, December 1st

- 12:00pm Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care, Preclinical Sciences Bldg. GA 2-4

Did you know that DC is home to 9% of all reported pediatric HIV/AIDS cases in the country? Come learn more about the impact of HIV on the District’s youth. Georgetown Cupcakes provided!

- 6:00pm Interdisciplinary HIV/AIDS Panel, Preclinical Sciences Bldg. GA 2-4

A discussion with five physicians treating HIV/AIDS patients in five different specialties - Infectious Disease, Palliative Care, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics. Learn how you can have a positive influence treating HIV/AIDS patients regardless of the field you choose to enter! Dinner provided.

- 7:15pm Prayer Service, Medical School Podium

Join Father McCarren and your fellow students to honor the 33 million people across the world living with HIV/AIDS.

Sponsored by: Georgetown Medical AIDS Advocacy Network (GMAAN)

For more information contact: gtownmedaan@gmail.com

Transport against HIV/AIDS: Continuing the Mainstreaming Effort

Transport against HIV/AIDS: Continuing the Mainstreaming Effort

December 1st, 3-5:30pm

The World Bank
1818 H Street, NW
Room MC9-100

The transport sector strategies, tools and project components to mainstream an HIV response will be discussed. The event is a unique opportunity for practitioners in both transport and health sectors to learn about the various tools and good practices developed over the past few years. The session will serve as a platform to discuss and learn about the role of the World Bank and its partners in mitigating HIV/AIDS and the various actions taken to help fight the disease within the transport sector. In particular, the session will review some of the most recent regional work from every region.

This event is sponsored by the World Bank's Transport and Social Responsibility Thematic Group.

Contact:
Julie Babinard: jbabinard@worldbank.org
Cholpon Ibramova: cibramova@worldbank.org

Love After Loss: Photographs by Elena Rue

World AIDS Day Photography Exhibit

A poignant view into the lives of AIDS orphans in Ethiopia as they confront sorrow and find solace in reconstructed families.

November 30th through December 4th.

The World Bank
J Building Lobby
708 18th St NW

Sponsored by the World Bank, ACTafrica

Exhibit is free and open to the public.

CAVE Meeting December 9th

The next CAVE meeting will take place December 9th at 7:00 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street NW Suite 350. Our meetings normally take place the second Wednesday of each month. The meeting will include a mini-presentation and discussion on The HIV Vaccine Trials Network Group Meeting recently held in Seattle. Please join us!

CAVE (www.aidsvaccine.org) is the community advisory board for the Vaccine Research Center. Capital Area Vaccine Effort is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS. CAVE is organized to assist and advise AIDS vaccine trials in the metropolitan DC area by:

• Assessing the concerns and serving as an advocate for AIDS vaccine participants and the general public.
• Acting as a liaison & ombudsman between AID vaccine researchers and those interested in AIDS vaccine research.
• Reflecting affected populations in its own composition.As appropriate, encouraging participation in AIDS Vaccine Trials, and acting as community educators on AIDS vaccine research
• Assessing ethical and social implications & impact of the AIDS Vaccine Trials

December 3rd: Hepatitis C And HIV Coinfection

Alpha Drugs invites you to attend their Survival Forum VII: Hepatitis C and HIV Coinfection: Current Issues and Challenges to Treating HIV presented by Dr. Michael Pistole, Private Practice HIV/HCV Specialist.

Thursday December 3rd at the Hotel Palomar (The Phillips Ballroom) - 2121 P Street, NW DC. (202)448-1800. (1/2 block from the Dupont Circle Metro).

Free Admission/Dinner Served
Registration: 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Dinner/Lecture: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Sponsored by Alpha Drugs and DC Community AIDS Network (DC CAN) 1638 R Street, NW, Suite 230, Washington, DC 200009.

RSVP AND INFORMATION CONTACT: leigh@alphadrugs.com - (202)265-5757

DC Fights Back 'Systems Failure' World AIDS Day March/Rally

What: Systems Failure - WORLD AIDS DAY Demonstration and Rally

When & Where: December 1st, 12:00 Noon, White House to the Wilson Building

It was just a little over three years ago when city leaders were "shocked" and "appalled" to find that one in 50 DC residents was believed to be living with full blown AIDS. We got another "wake up call" on March 17th of this year with the release of the new data revealed that that HIV & AIDS in the District is classified as a "severe epidemic" and another "wake up call" when the Washington Post exposed what many of us suspected.

How many "wake up calls" do we need? We were presented with plans that have no ambitious goals towards ending the epidemic. The FY 10 Department of Health Performance Plan's ( http://capstat.oca.dc.gov/Pdf.aspx?pdf=http://capstat.oca.dc.gov/docs/fy10/DOH.pdf ) ambitious goal for housing actually calls for 11 LESS units of HIV/AIDS housing than last year! Now DC's $12.2 million in federal HIV & AIDS Housing funding is threatened due to this gross mismanagement.

Today, our communities continue to be under attack and we will fight back! To end the HIV/AIDS epidemic we must fix the system!

Who: DC Fights Back, Campaign to End AIDS, Health GAP, Women's Collective; START at Westminster, National AIDS Housing Coalition, Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association, Housing Works, ACT UP Philly, Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches

We Are Demanding:

A Washington DC Comprehensive HIV & AIDS plan* that identifies the gaps, describes the services needed to fill those gaps and sets ambitious time-framed goals and targets, and includes a strategy for accountability.

Doubling of the city resources allocated for HIV/AIDS to include housing, substance use/abuse, mental health, prevention of violence against women, comprehensive sex/sexuality education, prevention, stigma as well as care and treatment.

This comprehensive plan must include:

A. AIDS treatment for every person in need and programs that ensure continuity of care.

B. Housing for every person on the HIV & AIDS housing waiting list, and developing a strategy to prevent the list from growing again.

C. Access to high quality substance abuse and mental health treatment as part of a continuum of care.

D. Expanded prevention programs including harm reduction and clean needle programs to reach all in need.

E. A strategy implemented to address the role sexual violence and violence against women play in rising HIV infection rates as well as barriers to education, care, and other supportive services.

F. Competent, science-based HIV/AIDS education to reach all students, parents, and seniors.

G. A campaign to build unity among dc residents to fight HIV and the stigma that blames and attacks people for illness.

H. Remove barriers that restrict employment rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

To end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we must fix the system!

For more information on how to participate, questions about transportation, to add your organization as a partner, and to rsvp, please contact Larry Bryant at 202.408.0305.

Persistent Voices: Poetry by Writers Lost to AIDS

Join us Thursday December 10th as editor Philip Clark reads from his new anthology 'Persistent Voices: Poetry by Writers Lost to AIDS.' Forty-five of the most admired poets who died of AIDS are remembered in this new and groundbreaking collection

From Reinaldo Arenas, Tory Dent, and James Merrill to Paul Monette, Essex Hemphill, and Joe Brainard, Persistent Voices memorializes these poets and many others by presenting their work--often dealing with AIDS but also about other enduring topics--in the context of an unending epidemic that has profoundly affected our literature.

This event takes place Thursday December 10th at 6:30 PM at the DC Center, 1111 14th St NW Suite 350.

The editors' advance and all royalties from this book will go to the PEN Fund for Writers and Editors with AIDS.

New Weekly Bar Night for POZ Guys & Allies

Motley Bar is launching a brand new bar night for HIV positive guys and guys who don't have hang-ups about dating HIV positive guys. The party starts at 9:00 PM on November 24th and every Tuesday at Motley Bar, which is located directly above EFN Lounge at 1318 19th Street NW.

Tuesday night will feature HIV positive bartenders and DJ's. The event is being organized by HIV positive party promoter Jacob Pring. Of course, everyone is welcome, whether you are HIV positive or not!

You may recall that we normally do Packing Parties at 7:00 PM on Tuesdays at Motley. Due to Thanksgiving week, there will be no packing party this Tuesday. But going forward, we'll have packing parties on Tuesdays at 7:00, followed by the weekly POZ bar night. And Motley will still have great drink specials including $8 pitchers.

For more information, Join the POZ DC Facebook Fan Page.

World AIDS Day at the World Bank

Keeping the Promise, Investing in the Future: Linking HIV/AIDS, Food Security, and Maternal and Child Health
December 1st, 8:30-10:45am
Preston Auditorim, The World Bank, 1818 H St NW

Please be sure to rsvp to worldaidsday@worldbank.org in order to arrange for a security pass, ideally before Nov 20th.

With the Obama Administration now shaping a new Global Health Initiative and global development program, WAD this year is a critical opportunity to underscore the progress made in the global fight against HIV and highlight the challenges ahead in scaling-up treatment, prevention, and integration of HIV programs with programs in maternal and child health, nutrition, and food security.

This will be a high-level panel featuring senior leaders for the World Bank, Global Fund, US Government, the research community and civil society. In addition to key agency leaders like Michel Kazatchkine from the Global Fund, one of our compelling speakers will be Beldina Atieno. Also at the event we will be releasing new research linking food security and ART effectiveness.

Speakers include: Robert Zoellick (President, World Bank), Michel Kazatchkine (Executive Director, Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria), The Honorable Jack Lew (Deputy Secretary of State), Ambassador Eric Goosby (US Global AIDS Coordinator), Jean Pape (Director, GHESKIO, Haiti), Joy Phumaphi (Former Minister of Health Botswana, Former Assistant Director General WHO); Beldina Atieno (HIV+ school teacher and mother from Kenya, featured in award-winning film "Courage and Hope" ); Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director, The World Bank.

The event will be moderated by Frank Sesno, Director of the School of Medica and Public Affairs, George Washington University. Formerly her was a bureau chief, anchor, White House correspondent, Senior Vice President of CNN.

Breakfast will be served.