Spotight: HOPE DC

Recent HOPE DC Blog Posts

HOPE DC
www.hopedc.org

HOPE DC finds friendly people who want to throw a Social, and then spreads the word about them to the poz community. The Socials are held in individual homes in DC, MD, or VA, typically once or twice a month, usually on a Saturday evening, bringing together 30 to 45 primarily single gay males. Although the socials are intended primarily for HIV+ gay men, all are welcome. This is an uncomplicated, friendly, upbeat bunch. Discretion is respected.

HIV Working Group Meeting May 27th

The next meeting of The DC Center's HIV Working Group takes place Wednesday May 27th at 7:00 PM at The DC Center, 1111 14th St NW Suite 350. The HIV Working Group focuses on HIV prevention for gay, bisexual, and transgender (GBT) men in the District of Columbia.

Currently the HIV Working Group has two committees. The Safer Sex Packet committee,and The New Media and Technology committee. The next meeting will include updates from these committees and a discussion about coordinating van-outreach in the District.

To find out more about these meetings or the HIV Working Group in general, contact Dan O'Neil.

HIV and Tobacco Use Focus Group: Earn $25

The DC Tobacco Free Families Campaign, in partnership with the American Lung Association of DC, American Cancer Society, and DC Department of Health will be conducting a series of focus groups to gather the opinions of DC smokers who are also HIV positive.

DC Tobacco Free Families is currently seeking volunteers to participate in one of four focus group. To be eligible, focus group participants must:

• Be a current or past smoker
• Be a resident of the District of Columbia
• Be HIV positive

Focus group participants will receive $25 to complete one 2-hour session. Snacks will be provided.

Focus Groups will take place at the American Lung Association of DC, 530 7th Street, SE (Located 1 1/2 blocks away from Eastern Market Metro)

• May 6th for Women
• May 7th for men
• May 12th & 13th for men and women
• 6:15-8:30 PM.

If you would like to be a part of one of the four focus groups contact Colleen Dermody at 202 887-0500 ext 18 or e-mail hivtobaccouse@witeckcombs.com.

For more information about Smoking and HIV, visit www.outtoquit.org.

National HIV Testing Day 2009

National HIV Testing Day, June 27th, is an annual campaign produced by the National Association of People with AIDS to encourage at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.

HIV counseling and testing enables people with HIV to take steps to protect their own health and that of their partners, and helps people who test negative get the information they need to stay uninfected. For more information about National HIV Testing Day, visit www.napwa.org.

Spread awareness of National HIV Testing Day on Facebook! click here for the National HIV Testing Day Facebook Page

Free Condoms & Lube at The DC Center

Free Condoms and Lube are available at The DC Center, courtesy of The DC Department of Health.

The DC Centeris located at 1111 14th St NW Sutie 350. Pick some up between 2:30 and 6:30 PM, or the next time you stop by the Center for a meeting.

Join C2EA at AIDSWatch 2009!

Registration is open for the 17th annual AIDSWatch 2009! If you haven't registered, go to www.napwa.org and click the AIDSWatch logo.

You are invited to come to Washington DC April 27-29 along with hundreds of advocactes from across the country to tell Congress that this is our year! We must demand that our leaders develop and outcome-driven strategy to end the HIV & AIDS epidemic in the United States.

C2EA, in collaboration with NAPWA and DC Fights Back, will have a rally April 27 at 1:30pm on Freedom Plaza - 2 blocks from the White House and across the street from DC's Mayor's office. The theme of the rally is We are Watching and Tired of Waiting!

In the 17 years of AIDSWatch, tens of thousands of American citizens have died of HIV & AIDS while waiting for our leaders to answer the call. We will demand that our nation's leaders complete a plan that provides an outcome-driven strategy to end the HIV & AIDS epidemic in the United States. We will also demand that the communities that make up the core of the epidemic across the country be given opportunity for meaningful input and leadership in its development - for example, AIDSWatch host city Washington DC has the highest HIV infection rates in the nation with no comprehensive plan on the horizon. If we end the epidemic in the Nation's Capitol, we can end it anywhere.

We will also celebrate the creation of the Denver Principles. Created in 1983, the DP demanded that individuals living - and dying - of HIV & AIDS would be treated with respect and dignity regardless of sex, sexuality, gender, race, and religion. In 2009, as people are living - and still dying - it is more important than ever to take our place in leading the fight in ending this epidemic. With Ryan White Care Act reauthorization, the creation and implementation of a national HIV & AIDS strategy, and a historic revamping of national healthcare, people living with HIV & AIDS must show our faces, voices, and actions to ensure urgent action.

For more information, contact:

Larry Bryant, Director of National Organizing Housingworks - Advocacy & Organizing
727 15th Street 2nd Floor, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202)408-0305 office
(202)408-1142 fax
(202)419-9810 cell

A Community Update on HIV Prevention Research

Could a pill a day protect you from HIV? Could a gel, liquid, or foam prevent vaginal or rectal HIV transmission? Will we one day have a safe, effective HIV Vaccine?

Join us for a discussion on HIV prevention research taking place around the world and right here in Washington DC. We’ll discuss vaccine research, microbicide research, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) research. We’ll also talk about crystal meth and other substance use among trial participants, the connection between substance use and high risk sexual behavior, and how researchers incorporate harm reduction counseling into clinical trials for at-risk individuals.

Thursday May 14th at 7:00 PM at the Human Rights Campaign Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW.

To see the facebook event page, click here.

Sponsors: The DC Center - DC Crystal Meth Working Group - NIAID NIH Vaccine Research Center - Capital Area Vaccine Effort - Department of Health - District of Columbia - This program is funded in part by the Government of the District of Columbia

HIV Working Group to Meet April 22nd

The next meeting of The DC Center's HIV Working Group takes place Wednesday April 22nd at 7:00 PM at The DC Center, 1111 14th St NW Suite 350. The HIV Working Group focuses on HIV prevention for gay, bisexual, and transgender (GBT) men in the District of Columbia.

Currently the HIV Working Group has two committees. The Safer Sex Packet committee, which meets on March 30th, is working on marketing and packaging for a new safer sex packet distribution program. The New Media and Technology committee, which meets next on April 1st, is exploring new media approaches to HIV prevention and outreach.

To find out more about these meetings or the HIV Working Group in general, contact Dan O'Neil.

Advocates for Youth launching a Young Men’s Project

Advocates for Youth is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a community-based, minority, youth-serving organization in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Advocates for Youth is a national organization dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates provides information, training, and strategic assistance to youth-serving organizations, policy makers, youth activists, and the media in the United States and in developing countries.

Half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur in young people under age 25. Moreover, rates of HIV infection are disproportionately high among youth of color. To prevent HIV infection among young heterosexual men of color, Advocates for Youth is launching a Young Men’s Project. Advocates seeks to build the capacity of a local organization interested in and committed to improving the sexual health of young heterosexual men of color.

Through the Young Men’s Project, your organization may receive culturally relevant publications and materials on adolescent sexual health programming, strategic technical assistance and training, and a seed grant in the amount of $8,000 to implement an HIV prevention project for young heterosexual men of color, 13 to 24 years old.

Please see the attached materials for more information about this opportunity, including criteria for selection. The application form and/or proposal are due by March 23, 2009. Please mail or fax applications to Trina Scott, Program Manager, Advocates for Youth, 2000 M Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 419-1448.

Working together, we believe that we can strengthen efforts to prevent HIV infection among young heterosexual men of color. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your organization to broaden and increase the positive impact we ALL can achieve in the lives of young men. If you need further information or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (202) 419-3420.

Trina Scott
Program Manager, Young Women of Color Initiative
Advocates For Youth
(202) 419-3420 ex 17
www.advocatesforyouth.org
www.mysistahs.org

Stigma Reduction Work Shop Saturday, March 28

The Ethiopian Community Center, Inc. along with the DC Department of Health is organizing a Stigma Reduction Workshop on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm at the Ethiopian Community Center, 7603 Georgia Avenue, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20012.

The theme of the workshop is "Creating Better Understanding within the African Immigrant Community in regards to HIV/AIDS". It will focus on identifying the different roots, causes and forms of stigma and clarify misunderstandings about HIV/AIDS.

Due to limited space, please RSVP your participation by March 23, 2009.
Contact Person: Woubedle Alemayehu Tel: 202.726.0800| Email: eth@prodigy. net
(Please include full name, telephone, email).

Refreshments will be served.

Thank you

Woubedle Alemayehu
HIV Program Coordinator
Ethiopian Community Center, Inc.
7603 Georgia Ave., NW, Suite 100
Washington, DC, 20012
Tel:(202).726. 0800

Advocates for Youth launching a Young Men’s Project

Advocates for Youth is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a community-based, minority, youth-serving organization in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Advocates for Youth is a national organization dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates provides information, training, and strategic assistance to youth-serving organizations, policy makers, youth activists, and the media in the United States and in developing countries.

Half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur in young people under age 25. Moreover, rates of HIV infection are disproportionately high among youth of color. To prevent HIV infection among young heterosexual men of color, Advocates for Youth is launching a Young Men’s Project. Advocates seeks to build the capacity of a local organization interested in and committed to improving the sexual health of young heterosexual men of color.

Through the Young Men’s Project, your organization may receive culturally relevant publications and materials on adolescent sexual health programming, strategic technical assistance and training, and a seed grant in the amount of $8,000 to implement an HIV prevention project for young heterosexual men of color, 13 to 24 years old.

Please see the attached materials for more information about this opportunity, including criteria for selection. The application form and/or proposal are due by March 23, 2009. Please mail or fax applications to Trina Scott, Program Manager, Advocates for Youth, 2000 M Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 419-1448.

Working together, we believe that we can strengthen efforts to prevent HIV infection among young heterosexual men of color. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your organization to broaden and increase the positive impact we ALL can achieve in the lives of young men. If you need further information or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (202) 419-3420.

Trina Scott
Program Manager, Young Women of Color Initiative
Advocates For Youth
(202) 419-3420 ex 17
www.advocatesforyouth.org
www.mysistahs.org

Free Training: Working with At-Risk Youth

Free Training: Working with At-Risk Youth
Thursday, April 23, 10am-4pm
Prevention Works!
2501 Benning Rd NE

This is the second in our series of monthly trainings facilitated by technical experts from the Harm Reduction Coalition in New York.

The description is as follows: “Interacting with youth to educate, empower, and enlighten is the most beneficial thing one can do to ensure that the youth of today can build self-efficacy to be leaders who act in the spirit of self-determination for tomorrow. This workshop is open to providers of youth who are interested in learning how societal factors (racism, sexism, heterosexism, militarism, etc.) play a role in youth’s at-risk behavior, and how to mitigate the dangers involved that place them at-risk. Participants will look at not only how to incorporate social factors into their prevention intervention programs, but also consider activities, such as advocacy, and peer education that can be used as effective harm reduction strategies for at-risk youth at their own programs and agencies.”

Spaces are limited so please reserve a space now by sending an email to Mary Beth Levin, Director of Programs and Services: mlevin@preventionworksdc.org.

HIV/AIDS Prevention Video Targets Maryland African Americans

To combat the HIV/AIDS crisis in the African American community, Montgomery County recently commissioned local filmmaker Cintia Cabib to produce a half-hour HIV/AIDS prevention video targeting young African Americans in Maryland.

“Let’s Talk About HIV/AIDS” presents the candid and personal stories of young African American adults living and working in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. They explain how protecting yourself, knowing your HIV status, talking to your partner and loving yourself all contribute to HIV/AIDS prevention.

Karlene Mighty, who is HIV-positive, describes the serious health issues she faces and her efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS by sharing her story at schools and community agencies. Youth Center Coordinator Lamar Anderson of the non-profit organization Metro TeenAIDS explains how he reaches out to young people in the streets and provides them with information packets and counseling. Artist and writer Monte Wolfe talks about how HIV/AIDS affects black gay men and how he has personally dealt with his HIV diagnosis. The program presents HIV/AIDS facts and statistics showing how African Americans are disproportionately affected by the disease. The video also demonstrates an HIV test.

The video was recently honored with a prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award.

The video will be airing throughout March on Access Montgomery's Cable Channel 21, including tonight at 10:30 PM and Thursday at 11 AM.

For more information and to see clips visit http://www.cintiacabib.com/.

HIV Working Group Meeting March 25th

The next GBT HIV Prevention Working Group meets on Wednesday, March 25th, at 7pm at the DC Center (1111 Fourteenth Street, NW, Suite 350).

Work has been done to scout out locations for several pilot packet dispensers that will be used to launch the safer sex packet distribution campaign in the coming months . Also solid progress has been made on the safer sex packets' preliminary packaging strategies.

The next safer sex packet ad hoc committee will happen the last week in March/first week in April to finalize the packaging artwork and messaging for the first versions of the packets in time for National STD Awareness Month.

Remaining hurdles include financing the packaging piece and developing a broader network of businesses willing to have dispensers. More to follow in these issues as they progress.

CAVE Meeting April 2nd

On Thursday, April 2nd the Capital Area Vaccine Effort will host a community meeting reviewing local HIV Vaccine Research. The event will include a round table discussion between clinical researchers from the NIH Vaccine Research Center, clinical trials volunteers, local health care providers and other community members of D.C.

Topics to be discussed include current vaccine clinical trial protocols, upcoming studies and events for HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.

The event will be held at the DC Center, 1111 14th Street Suite 350. from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Dinner and stipends will be provided.

Capital Area Vaccine Effort is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by HIV/AIDS. CAVE is organized to assist and advise HIV/AIDS vaccine trial units in the metropolitan DC area by:

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

Spotlight: Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care

Recent Blog Posts





Pediatric AIDS HIV Care
P.O. Box 77543
Washington, D.C. 20013-7543
Phone: 202-347-5366

www.pediatricaidshivcare.org

Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care, Inc. provides children living with HIV/AIDS with education, therapy, and youth programming to empower them to live healthy and successful lives. Pediatric Care has been serving youth for over 20 years and will continue to do so until the stigma of HIV/AIDS is eradicated.

HIV/AIDS Administration Oversight Hearing

On Friday February 27th, The DC City Council Health Committee, chaired by David Catania, held on oversight hearing of the Department of Health which included an update on the HIV/AIDS Administration.

Dr. Pierre Vigilance provided opening remarks. He was followed by the head of the HIV/AIDS Administration, Dr. Shannon Hader who provided testimony. Dr. Hader also answered questions about the HIV/AIDS housing waiting list and Changes to the Ryan White Planning Council and HIV/AIDS Community Planning Group.

What was perhaps the most remarkable thing about this hearing was the lack of any major problems or controversies when it comes to HIV/AIDS. A great sign. Overall the presentations were encouraging. Dr. Hader, who has already distinguished herself from her predecessors simply by staying in the job for well over one year now, laid out clear, and focused agenda. It may be a while before we see the results of changes made at the HIV/AIDS Administration, but it seems we are definitely moving in the right direction.

Highlights from the hearing are shown below and available on the Fight HIV in DC YouTube Page.

Opening Remarks: Dr. Vigilance



Opening Remarks: Dr. Hader



Dr. Hader on Changes to the Planning Council and CPG



Dr. Hader on the HIV/AIDS Housing Waiting List



Adam Tenner, Metro Teen AIDS

Meeting to Discuss HIV Housing in DC

On Saturday, February 7th, Housingworks will host an HIV & AIDS housing meeting. The event will include a round table discussion between health care providers, policy experts, HIV positive residents and other community members of D.C.

Topics to be discussed include supportive, transitional, and permanent housing, and the future of Ryan White funded programs in the city.

The event will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I Street SW, from 3 p.m. to 5p.m.

Reminder: Be Bar this Sunday!

Join us for our first ever Fight HIV in DC benefit event.

Stop by Be Bar on Sunday on February 8th from 5:00 to 9:00 PM for drinks and fun. Ten percent of the proceeds for the night will benefit Fight HIV in DC outreach, education, and advocacy efforts.

We'll also be taking $5 donations at the door and raffle off some great prizes (if you have a raffle prize you would like to donate, please send an e-mail here)

Be Bar is located at 1318 9th Street NW DC 20001.

To RSVP for this event on facebook, click here.

Event to honor National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

On February 7, the Center for Minority Studies of Washington, DC will be hosting a charity basketball game and information fair in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Attendees will have the opportunity to win an assortment of prizes, including an ipod and giftcards.

The event will be hosted at the Trinidad Recreation Center at 1310 Childress Street, NE from 11 a.m.until 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www.cms-dc.org or call (202) 396 5404.