A Positive Story About HIV

This video about Emma and the treatment her doctors used for her leukemia relapse will inspire you. Please take a few minutes to watch it - science is accomplishing incredible things every day.

amfAR

amfAR is America's first AIDS research foundation. According to their website: "In the course of its 25-year history, amfAR has invested more than $366 million in its programs, spawning numerous significant advances in HIV prevention, treatment and care. These accomplishments have helped extend, improve, and save the lives of countless people around the world living with HIV/AIDS or vulnerable to HIV infection."

Celebrity Kenneth Cole is a designer and supports amfAR. He joined the board in 1987 and became chairman in 2004. "It was really apparent that there was a looming dark cloud that needed a voice. ...I got involved and it changed me." Four of the six drugs that are used for people with HIV/AIDS have roots at one point in amfAR funding. "So, amfAR has had a very profound impact," Cole states.

ARTvision 8 - the promise of peace

In the recent past, ARTvision Atlanta was an online celebration of the expressive arts, representing offerings from emerging and established artists that created new funding and much-needed resources for Positive Impact. Launched in 2006, ARTvision was conceived by Will Pollock to honor his aunt, Betsy Weedon, who was a philanthropic leader in San Francisco's Bay Area for more than 40 years. Betsy lost a fight with cancer in April 2006.

This year, ARTvision 8 - the promise of peace, returns to Old Fourth Ward for a spectacular encore! ARTvision will be presented to the public at Stone Four Media at Studioplex on Friday, December 13 from 7pm until 10pm. Complementary wine, live music performed by pianist George Lollar and appetizers will be provided.

ARTvision is unique because all artists present their pieces for your consideration as unfettered donations - so that buyers' direct, tax-deductible donations to Positive Impact can constitute purchases.

Tickets to ARTvision are $10.00 per person. Read more...

World AIDS Day 2013

Today is World AIDS Day. How are you recognizing the day?

Act Aware this World AIDS Day

On World AIDS Day - and all year round - we're asking you to Act Aware. Acting aware means finding out the facts about HIV and using this knowledge to protect yourself and others from HIV infection.

This World AIDS Day we are calling on the nation to Fact Up about living with HIV in the 21st Century. World AIDS Day created a handy fact sheet of the five facts we think everyone should know. Spread the word!

Several local organizations are offering services and different ways to commemorate and educate people about AIDS.

I Design is asking people to take a pledge for World AIDS Day and visit their site today to see the image all of the pledges created.

Sister Love has quite a few events planned for World AIDS Day, and some are taking place throughout the week.

Operation HOPE and the American Red Cross Sign National Agreement to Deliver Services in US Cities

HOPE Coalition America the financial disaster preparedness and recovery division of Operation HOPE has provided guidance after 100 disasters in last 12 years

Washington, DC – November 26, 2013 – Operation HOPE (HOPE) and its financial preparedness and disaster recovery division, HOPE Coalition America (HCA) shared details around the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Red Cross announced during the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit in Atlanta on November 14^th.

The agreement provides for an expanded partnership between the two organizations. Included in this agreement is a shared commitment to ensure effective and inclusive service delivery to help Americans prepare for and recover from disaster through pre-disaster planning and client access to financial support services following a disaster.

“When disaster strikes, HOPE Coalition America will join the American Red Cross to provide financial recovery services to individuals and families, said President HOPE Coalition America Fred D. Smith. We are honored and pleased with this new agreement to jointly provide guidance on pre-disaster preparation and recovery to those affected in a disaster.”                    

HCA will provide trained volunteers from the financial services industry and HOPE employees. These individuals will, among other things, conduct training to community-based groups including employees of large corporate and government organizations. The objective is to encourage and energize individuals to take actions before a disaster or emergency that will allow them to recover with limited assistance from “first responders.” In addition, Operation HOPE and the Red Cross will engage in community preparedness events. Both organizations agree to support each other’s efforts in identifying appropriate mechanisms for volunteer training and engagements.

“Operation HOPE has been a valuable partner supporting the Red Cross mission and we’re pleased to continue our joint work through this new agreement,” said Richard Reed, senior vice president of Disaster Cycle Services for the American Red Cross. “Our combined efforts will help communities be better prepared and expand access to financial support services after large disasters.”

Read more...

HOPE Coalition America

America’s First Line of Response for Financial Recovery.

HOPE Coalition America is the only financial emergency preparedness and recovery service in the country. Through partnerships with industry leaders in a wide range of industries spanning banking, financial services, insurance, social and community services, we provide financial and economic assistance to those affected by natural disasters.

On April 27th, we renewed our partnership with FEMA to  strengthen and expand the financial counseling resources available to help individuals and families prepare for disasters and recover in the shortest possible time. Read more...

Georgia Gives Day

Whether you know it or not, you live your life in nonprofits. From the hospitals where we are born, to the day care centers, schools and colleges that educate us. From the clubs, sports leagues and cultural institutions that entertain us, to the religious institutions we worship in. From the invisible impact of groups working on literacy, hunger, blight, disease, disability and job development, to programs that train our doctors and police and rally volunteer firefighters, to groups that fight for our voice and for justice. From the preservation of our green spaces and great places, to parks and paths, farmers markets and pet adoption, hospice providers and historic cemeteries.

Whether you have ever given a dime or a minute of time, your life has been affected by the work of a nonprofit. Now, we are creating an opportunity for everyone, in every corner of the state, to support the causes that make Georgia great. Read more....

DHS Opens the Energy Assistance Program to Help Georgians with Their Home Heating Bills

ATLANTA - As the colder months approach, Georgia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is once again preparing to help those in need with the cost of heating.

Beginning Nov. 1, residents aged 65 and older or who are homebound can apply for assistance through the Department’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). All other eligible families may apply for assistance beginning Dec. 1.

The federally-funded program assists low-income, elderly and disabled Georgians with heating bills through direct payments to home energy suppliers. Funds are administered through local Community Action Agencieson a first-come, first-served basis through April 30, 2014 or until all funds are exhausted.

Depending on income and household size, those who qualify for the program will receive between $310 and $350 toward their home heating bills.

To qualify, a family’s annual income must be less than or equal to 60 percent of the median income for a Georgia family. For a household of one, the income threshold is $21,029; the income threshold for a household of five is $46,912.

Those seeking assistance must contact their local Community Action Agencies. All applicants will be asked to provide their most recent heating bill or statement of service from their heating providers, as well as the following information on every member of their household: social security numbers, proof of citizenship and proof of income for the last 30 days. Proof of income can include, but is not limited to, a paycheck stub, a letter granting public assistance, Social Security or unemployment benefits.

 For more information on the program, contact DHS, Division of Family and Children Services, LIHEAP/CSBG Programs toll free at 1-877-423-4746. To find the Community Action Agency in your area, visithttp://www.georgiacaa.org.

Meet the SHARE Project Staff

Daniel Driffin, serves as the Project Manager with the Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) on the Think Twice Project. With experience working in hardest affected communities, Daniel has leadership in providing Rapid Pre/Post HIV Test Counseling and facilitating numerous evidence based interventions (EBIs) such as Many Men, Many Voices (3MV), Defend Yourself (d-up!) and Mpowerment to Young African American men who have sex with men (YAAMSM). Mr. Driffin is active in volunteering in local, national and international programs to addressing social determinants of HIV/AIDS. Nationally, he currently serves as Chair of The Young Black Gay Men’s Leadership Initiative which is a collection of committed young black gay, bi, SGL and other men who have sex with men from around the country who work towards addressing the HIV epidemic in the United States. The goal is to lead this initiative to educate, inspire and support our peers. YBGLI is a national initiative by the National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition. Daniel is also currently completing coursework towards a Masters of Public Health.

Harlan Smith started out as a volunteer with AID Atlanta, then left his job in corporate America to become a fulltime employee with the organization.  Harlan was hired as the HIV Tester & Counselor for AID Atlanta’s Evolution Project, a drop-in community center for young black gay/bisexual men and transgender individuals between 18 and 28 years of age.  Harlan also did HIV testing in the community at clubs, bars, parks, health fairs and many other events and locations. Harlan was awarded the honor of Best Male Activist in Atlanta in 2012. 

Larissa Zohren is one of the newest members of the SHARE Project.  She came to work here after she graduated from the University of Connecticut.  Larissa’s adventurous nature keeps her friends and family on their toes.  She is full of enthusiasm and loves to talk to new people. She and Megan will be answering your phone calls.

Lisa Eaton is interested in developing and implementing behavioral interventions for health improvement. She has both international and domestic interests in disease treatment and prevention, including projects to improve HIV testing and counseling for HIV negative MSM in the US. She is also interested in researching effective ways to deliver biomedical interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, male circumcision and microbicides; in particular, how to address product adherence and changes in behavioral risk taking, and how to bolster wide spread availability.

Megan McNerney has been working with the SHARE Project since 2003.  She wears many hats in the office, including answering calls from participants.  She looks forward to hearing from you and hopes to help you get involved in a study!

Mike Bailey has a Bachelor's degree in Education from Georgia Southern University. He has worked in outreach services for fifteen years. He started at the National AIDS Education and Services for Minorities program, next the AIDS Survival Project, then to Positive Impact and now he has been with the SHARE Project for two years. If you see him out, say "Hi!"

Robert Baldwin is a U.S. Naval veteran who served in-country and in Iraq as medical support for marines. This four-year tour initiated a love for closely connecting with individuals from all cultural backgrounds. Robert followed this interest through the study of Cultural Communication at the University of California. Since 2005 he has enthusiastically participated in multiple community outreach forums as both a professional and a volunteer; the most recent being the Many Men Many Voices program through the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center as a member of their Leadership Advisory Board. With a heart to serve others, and an interest in being a part of positive community and cultural advancement, Robert is elated to be a part of the Think Twice team.

Shawn Miles has been an outreach coordinator since 2005 for Someone Care Inc. His roles include providing education and support to LGBT to increase knowledge about HIV/AIDS and safer sex practices. Shawn is frequently in the clubs in downtown Atlanta conducting HIV testing and handing out safer sex kits.

Christopher Conway-Washington works at the SHARE Project in the role of assessor and phlebotomist. He is a Sr. Research Assessor with the University of Connecticut, where he has the privilege of working across multiple studies at the Atlanta facility. His previous professional experience includes coordinating a Men's STD Clinic, providing HIV testing and counseling to both individuals and couples, case management, and behavioral research, working with diverse populations, infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS and other STI's. Christopher has had the great opportunity of presenting data at local and national conferences, from the findings of the aforementioned research. Christopher attended Temple University (go Owls!), where he studied Human Resource Administration as an undergraduate. He attended Drexel University and the Keller Graduate School of Management, where he studied Public Health and Public Administration, respectively, as a graduate student. In the hours when Christopher is not at work, he enjoys exercising, music, dancing, the performing arts, black & white classics, reading, and the emotional rollercoaster that is life.

Chauncey Cherry (with Lisa Eaton at PRIDE) has been a huge part of the SHARE Project for several years. Many of you have worked with him and know how crucial he is to the success of our programs.

Understanding the Affordable Care Act

Do you still have questions about the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare)?

The Washington Post has put together a variety of consumer posts, frequently asked questions and chats into one location. This is a great place to find answers to your questions about how the Affordable Care Act will affect you. An online calculator will help you determine how much insurance will cost, the plans are detailed and there is advice from health care experts. If you have any questions at all about the Affordable Care Act, the Washington Post's resources will be the right place to look for answers.

AIDS Walk Atlanta

THE 23RD ANNUAL WALK IS 5 DAYS AWAY!   

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO
REGISTER TODAY AND START FUNDRAISING!

   

 Sunday, October 20, 2013
 join us for our 23rd annual AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run in Piedmont Park!

A big event.  A bigger cause.
Every Life Deserves Hope.

Miss USA 2012, Nana Meriwether, is proud to be our
AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run 2013 Spokesperson--watch her tell you why!

Free HIV Testing Services at AID Gwinnett

Learning your HIV status is important to keeping you and your loved ones healthy. Persons who test HIV negative will learn more about how to protect themselves from infection. Persons who learn they are HIV positive will be linked to care services that can keep them healthy for many years and  learn how to prevent spreading the virus to others.

The Ric Crawford Clinic provides both anonymous and confidential HIV testing using the OraQuick Advance Rapid Test  orasuretechnologies

The HIV test is simple enough. No needles-just a quick mouth swab and 20 minutes later you will be award of your HIV status.The testing is accompanied by HIV Prevention Counseling to help reduce future risks for HIV infection or transmission. Condoms provided.

Walk-in testing services are provided on:

Tuesdays from 9 am-7:30 pm

Thursdays from 9am-4pm &

1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 9:00 am-11:30am

 The average wait time is usually less than 10 minutes.

Prior to having an oral, rapid HIV test, please do not chew gum, eat, or drink fluids (including water) a minimum of 15 minutes prior to the test.

For more information contact: HIVtest@rcclinic.org

The Journey Back from 3 T Cells

Surviving and thriving with an HIV diagnosis takes more than medicine. Longtime Atlanta resident Dee Dee Chamblee is the perfect example of will, perseverance and self-esteem. She bounced back from drug use, sex work, jail time and living with only 3 T cells to a healthy, happy life and is the founder of LaGender, a prominent Atlanta transadvocacy group. Dee Dee was recently profiled by thebody.com as part of their This Positive Life series.

“I was diagnosed 25 years ago, in 1987. And it was during the time when I was expecting it,” Dee Dee begins. “There were people dying all around me. We couldn't even keep up with the people that were dead.”

“You know, it was like a Holocaust. And it was a tragedy. We had no counseling to get through it. And so, when I became positive, I kind of denied it, went into denial for, like, seven years. Did drugs, alcohol, prostituted, and did the whole realm. And, really, literally was trying to kill myself; because that's the way it seemed that the world wanted me to just disappear. Nobody wanted to look at me. People were very discriminatory towards transgenders, as far as getting jobs and stuff like that. So my only choice was to prostitute at that time.”

“Once I found out, and after the seven years of denial, I realized that I hadn't went nowhere. So I decided I better brush the dirt off of me and kick the flowers to the side -- that the funeral is not going to be held, it doesn't seem. So I got up and I started trying to find me a support group, someone that could help me love myself again.”

With the help of Common Ground, Dee Dee did survive and flourish. She now runs a support group for transgenders in the prison, counsels young people, and is an advocate for transgender rights in the city, among other things. “We have to build an exterior to be able to withstand what we have to go through,” she states.

Dee Dee offers this advice to others: “Go to the doctor. See about yourself. Love yourself. And start on a new path, with new boundaries that you set for yourself in your new life that you're starting to live. Don't look at it as a curse. Look at it as: It has opened your eyes that you should not live the way that you live in order to contract this disease, and that "I need to live a healthier lifestyle for myself, because I can today. Today I have more opportunities that I can go about it and do it the right way, and come out and be a success story."

HIV Patients Desire More Dialogue with Doctors

HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy are very involved in engaging with their healthcare providers in the management of their HIV a new survey shows. The results were published in the Wall Street Journal and noted that 300 people living with HIV were surveyed online from across the country and 97% said that they are proactive about managing their HIV condition, including drug treatment.

Three out of four participants did say they would like to spend more time discussing their concerns with their doctor – specifically HIV drug treatment and the impact of HIV on their lives. The survey also showed that most respondents were active about managing their HIV, from scheduling doctor appointments to discussing treatment options with their doctor and researching HIV topics.

“The results of this survey are very encouraging, however they underscore the need for more in-depth discussions between people living with HIV and their doctors - not only regarding their treatment regimens, but also how the disease is affecting their lives overall," said Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA. "Communication between healthcare providers and patients is the cornerstone of developing and maintaining a successful HIV treatment plan."

Some of the topics patients would like to discuss include: how their current HIV drug treatment regimen is working, other HIV treatment options, health conditions other than HIV and side effects of their current HIV medicine.

People living with HIV and taking antiretroviral medications are encouraged to speak with their doctor about HIV and their concerns. Preparing topics and questions ahead of an appointment and prioritizing those questions can be useful tools to improve communication with your doctor.

HIV Care Continuum Initiative

by AID Atlanta's Interim Executive Director Cathy Woolard In recent weeks, President Obama and HHS Secretary Sebelius have made major statements about the Administration’s HIV/AIDS strategy.  Nationally the number of total new infections has remained relatively stable at around 50,000 people annually, while the number of people living with HIV infection has increased.  This is a reflection of the impact of accumulated years of improvements in medical care as well as better systems of outreach and education regarding the importance of early diagnosis and adherence to treatment. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) should help make those numbers even better as more people will have access to insurance and the essential benefits that come from being insured.  Since the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination based on preexisting conditions and eliminates lifetime caps on medical expenditures, we hope to see more people with HIV getting into care early and staying connected over the course of their lives. But we still face challenges in the South.  Poverty, racism, stigma and discrimination all play a role in higher rates of transmission in the South.  These are not easy issues to confront or overcome and we have to work extra hard to stay ahead of the curve. The rates of HIV transmission among women and young men of color are significantly worse than other regions of the country.  We must learn, advocate and innovate to change the conditions that make our part of the country at such high risk for poor outcomes. Read more...

SHARE Project at PRIDE!

We had a great time at PRIDE - thank you to everyone who stopped to visit us!

Upcoming Event: AIDS Walk

The annual AIDS Walk helps raise critically needed funds for Positive Impact. Last year, Team Impact (the agency's fundraising team for the AIDS Walk) raised over $93,000 for the agency. In 2011, Team Impact raised just over $70,000!

This year, Team Impact has a goal of $100,000. To reach that goal, Positive Impact is asking every teammate to challenge themselves, and to get a friend to join the team.

To register as a member of Team Impact and begin raising funds, please click here and select "Join Our Team". Once you've registered, please be sure that you have selected Positive Impact as your team. (Should you encounter errors, please contact Michael Baker, Director of Advancement via email or 404-589-9040 Ext 115.)

Remember: 100% of the funds you raise will go directly to support the work of Positive Impact! Even if you cannot join the Walk on October 20, you STILL can help raise funds! Please consider joining Team Impact, and help us continue our good work.

For questions about the AIDS Walk or Team Impact, please contact Michael Baker, Director of Advancement, via email or by calling 404-589-9040.

Event date and time
October 20 

AIDS Walk 2013 will be held on Sunday, October 20th at Piedmont Park.

Run Starts @ 1:45 pm

Walk Starts @ 2:00 pm

Location
Piedmont Park
Atlanta, GA 30309 USA

Visit SHARE Project at Pride

Photo: Forbes magazine

The SHARE Project will be at Black Gay Pride again this year. In case you missed the earlier announcements, the dates of Pride Week are August 26^th through September 3^rd.  SHARE Project will be at Pride from 12 PM to 8 PM on Sunday, September 1st. Stop in and visit us, we will be talking to people about a paid health related study we are currently recruiting for. In addition to that, we’ll be having fun – playing trivia and handing out stress balls, water bottles and candy.

Black Gay Pride began in 1996 with a picnic over Labor Day weekend and has grown every year since then. SHARE Project is excited to be participating for the fourth time. This year’s host hotel is the Hyatt Atlanta Midtown, numerous bars, restaurants and shops throughout Atlanta will also be hosting special events. We’ll see you there.

What is the SHARE Project?

The Southeast HIV/AIDS Research and Evaluation (SHARE) Project is a research program dedicated to stopping HIV/AIDS. The SHARE Project is a program of the University of Connecticut with a research site located in Atlanta, GA.

What is the SHARE Project?

The SHARE Project is a research group which has been working in Atlanta since 1996 and is now affiliated with the University of Connecticut. All of the research done by the SHARE Project has the goal of eliminating the ill effects of HIV infection, either by preventing new infections or by improving the health and well-being of those affected by HIV/AIDS.  The SHARE Project does studies with people living with HIV and studies with people not living with HIV.

The SHARE Project’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and has been approved by the University of Connecticut Ethics Committee.

Why should you get involved?

Your participation in SHARE Project studies helps us find new ways to prevent HIV infection and to improve the health and welfare of people living with HIV. Some of the SHARE Project’s studies help us learn about the challenges facing people living with HIV today, as well as new ways to manage those challenges.  Other studies are focused on finding better ways to prevent HIV infection.

The results of the research are published in research journals and presented to service providers in Atlanta and across the country. By volunteering your time and effort to participate in the SHARE Project’s studies, you are helping numerous other people for years to come. Thank you for your help.

Past SHARE Project studies include:

· Healthy Relationships

· Stick To It

· CONNECT

· 3&1

If you are interested in seeing results from these studies, please ask the staff at 404-892-3500.

Directions to the SHARE Project

SHARE Project

1 Baltimore Place, Suite 280

Atlanta, GA 30308

404-892-3500

Driving from the north:

Take I-75/I-85 S. Take exit 249D. Turn left on North Ave. Turn right on Spring Street. Get into the far left lane. Spring Street will curve around to the left. Stay in the left lane. Turn left into Baltimore Place.

Driving from the south:

Take I-75/I-85 N. Take exit 249D. Stay right to get on Spring Street. Get into the far left lane. Spring Street will curve around to the left. Stay in the left lane. Turn left into Baltimore Place.

Coming on MARTA:

Get off at the Civic Center Station. Head north on West Peachtree Street (toward Pine Street, Emory Hospital, and the AT&T Building). Cross Pine Street and stay on West Peachtree Street. Turn left into Baltimore Place across from the Emergency Room entrance.

Once you arrive at 1 Baltimore Place, enter the building under the green awning and take the elevator to the second floor.